The Shasta courier., 1866-11-24
SH HASTA COURIER.
THE PLAGUE SHIP.

nv oiU P"0hOt UPS IrUI1 tue stds, Hiiducl
phla was the port to which the best and most
popular vessels belonged. There was one
line, especially that held its place in the pub
lie favor long after the steamers commenced
to make such havoc in the old state of affairs
The largest and heetest of the vessels of this
line was the Sovereign of the Seas and
l am sure that finer ship never spread her
canvas to the breeze. Everything was fitted
up on scale OF the utmost magnifcence,
and nothing was left undone that could in
the least contribute to the comfort of the
passengers.
The Captain, Bridges by name, was an
old sailor. He had been born at sea and
had passed all but the first twelve years
of his life on salt water. He loved the noble
old ship which he commanded better than
himself, and her loss was the hardest blow
that ever fell upon him. How this came
about it is the purpose of these lines to re-
late.
The year 1882 is memorable for the fury
with which that terrible scourge, the cholera,
swept through the busy, populated cities OF
Europe and America. There are many still
living who remember with what terror peo-
pie watched the progress of the pestience
through the land, and how they suffered
almost death from their tears.
1t was on a bright July morning in this
terrible year, that the Sovereign of the Seas
sailed out of the Mersey for Philadelphia
She had thirty passengers in the cabin, and
three hundred in the steerage. All were
cheerful and happy, and no one dreamed of
the troubles that were to beset their voyage.
They were leaving land in which the pes
thence was just beginning to appear, and
seeking new world, which as yet the scourge
had left untouched The fine weather and
balmy breezes gave them great cause for
hope, and it would have been strange had
any one experienced fear for the future
Among the cabin passengers was a young
officer of the American navy, Lieutenant
Walter Fairfax. He had been stationed in
the Mediterranean; but his health had fail
ed there, and he was now going back to the
United States to recover it, He was fine,
handsome fellow, and withal a genuine sea-
man. The Captain, who was also an Amer
lean, took fancy to him from the first, and
his friendship seemed to be fully returned by
the Lieutenant. He kept the Captain com
pany in his watch and frequently relieved
him of his duties.
The Sovereign of the Seas had now been
at sea six days. The weather had been all
that could be desired, and the swift sailing
craft had made excellent time. The log
showed that she was fully up to her usual
speed, and the Captain declared there was
no doubt that they would reach Philadelphia
quicker this time than on any previous voy-
age.
On the seventh day the weather grew cool
er, and misty, disagreeable rain began to
fall about twilight, which continued all
night and the next day. On the eighth day
"a heavy fog settled down over the ocean,
completely shutting out everything. 1t was
impossible to see across the deck, and the
mist was close and sitting. Very naturally,
such unpleasant weather threw gloom over
the passengers. This time it even affected
the crew, used as they were to such occur
rences. The mate said to the Captain that
he felt as if something was about to happen
and could not shake off the foreboding The
Captain laughed at the idea; but somehow
the laugh had not the usual hearty ring.
The fog was not only unpleasant; it was
dangerous. The ship was right in the track
of vessels to and from America, and it was
not improbable that in the impenetrable
gloom collision might occur. This made
the Captain anxious and uneasy, and kept
him on deck long after his watch was ended.
Lieutenant Fairfax, whose experience made
him fully alive to the danger, bore him com
pany.
The two were standing by the cabin door
and had relapsed into silence. Suddenly the
young man raised his head, and peered anx
iously into the mist.
''What is the matter ?" asked Captain
Bridges.
g l am confident" replied the Lieutenant,
=" that there is a large ship near us. You
are an old sailor, Captain, and you must
have felt that inexplicable, mysterious con.
scousness which often assures men of our
profession of the presence of ship, even
when we cannot see it. L"
He was interrupted by a sound like the
creaking of cordage.
Keep her away" cried the Captain to
the man at the wheel. Down with your
helm. Hard hard There's vessel off
the port bow
'ohip ahoyl" came rattling across the
water through the fog, the voice having that
hoarse, brazen sound which the trum pet i'm
parts to it. ''What ship is that?"
:. The Sovereign of the Seas, eight days
out from Liverpool bound for Philadelphia, :"
hailed the Captain, promptly in reply
:" What ship is that?''
" ell them In America 10 Watcn ior me.
| am on my way," said the strange voice, in
a tone that made the Captain shudder in
spite of himself.
What ship is that ~ Capt. Bridges
thundered, vexed that his question had not
been answered.
You will know soon enough. Ha. ha,
hal
The laughter seemed to ring through the
ship with terrible echo. The Captain shook
off the feeling of dread which had erept over
him at first. At that time the high seas
were not entirely free from the presence OF
rovers. and he thought he had now encoun-
tered one of these crafts He turned to
Lieutenant Fairfax, and said
g. think | had etter assemble the crew.
That rascal may attempt foul play with us,
and"
He paused abruptly. The light from the
cabin was shining full in the face OF his com
nanion. who had sunk back against the
woodwork for support. The young mans
face was as livid as that of corpse, and be