The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-08-10


woud share his fate. We could SEQ by tic
looks of half dozen Of our countrymcn that
they would have bcch with lis, but it would
have been worse than useless.
"Blow after blow dcscshdcd, and Old Sam
never uttered cry or word More than
forty had fallen, aud the blood was streaming
down his back from the deep cuts which had
been madc when the captain perceived thnt
he had become ipscnsblc, and gave the orders
that he should bc cut loose and carried below.
which we did, caring as tcndcrly for him as
possible.
'Thc first of that evening, we who had
charge Of Old Sam, including the surgeon,
who was cOuntrymcn Of ours, held consul
tntion upon very important subject, and then
the latter went out and reported to the mon,
that Old Sam was very low, and it was doubt
full if he lived till morning; at any rate. he
must not be intrudcd upon, MS only quiet could
save his life
"He went to the captain with the same re-
port, and the unfceling brute replied with a
horrid oath that he hoped he would die, and
that he wne glad he had done as he did,
'Thc second night watch had not been set.
when the surgeon went again to the cabin and
reported that Old Sam was dead
Throw him overheard mt once exclaimed
the captain and l shall be rid of linn forever =
But this haste, captain, is not right
There should be services on the morrow :
"'Oyerboard with him. I won't have a
dead man OH board tonight Call the crew, as
many us you wish. if you have not men
enough
"But you will read the services for the
dead 2
"No, I don't believe in such mummcry.
Throw him overheard, without word
The surgeon left the cabin, and came to
where VIC were waiting with the ssemblance of
human form sewn up i'll hammock. He.
gave his orders. and VIC carried our burden on
deck. and III tc presence Of Il large portion of
thOtcrews that. had clrsuinoIsed wYECOmNfIts-
ted it to the deep. and the men turned away in
silence. feeling that their turn might come at
any time.
ga week wcnt hy, and matters had improved
somewhat. The captain kept his cabin Il great
deal Of the time, and when he did como OH
deck, it was noticed thut he glanced wildly
around, IS cxrcctin:, TO sec something terrible !;
and the men said among themselves that I'D
WAS drinking harder than ever.
''Onc day new horror was added TO the
ship. The men declared that it was haunted!
Two on three declared that they had seen Old
Sam i'll various parts Of the ship the night bel
fore. This found its way to the captains ears !
and it set him in such Il rage that those who
reported the story were glad to escape without
Il Aogging, and dire one was promised them
if they reported anything Of such character
again
''Ihc second night after these reports had
been made, there up one Of those sudden
e"lee sat are so common in the Southern seas,
Tor VIC were now in The nciglborlood of the
Horn The wind howc,l and shriekcd among.
the rigging that you could hardly hear your
own voice. .~2 Inc mass grnancd rs though,
they were being torn from their places. Tho
thunder ever and anon shook the vessel from
stem to stern, and the glare Of the lightning
showed the waves around lis to be mountains
high. 1t was an hour when every sailor was
needed at his post; and an hour of deadly
peril to tho Flying Mst and all on board
",Thc captain came on deck, possibly more
the worse for liquor than usual Yet he knew
his duties, and trumpet in hand he gave off his
orders to the crew as well rs ever
"Suddcnly the pitchy darkness Which had
for several minutes hung over the water, was
rent by vivid glare of lightning, and with it
there arose such = cry of mortal terror, that 1
can seem to hear it ringing in my cars yet. 1t
MS the voice Of the captain, and it was echoed
the ncxt moment by the most OF the crew; for
there upon the deck in plain view Of all,
stripped and with his back mass Of gore, as
they had seen it last, stood Old Sam Mar
line?
"Anothcr lightning flash, and with the same
awful sight blasting his eyes, the captain rushed
to the side and the next moment threw himself
into the sccthing water and was gone forever.
"'Kccp to your duty shouted the mate.
Your conradc is alive. II you fail now, the
ship is gone.
Can hour later, tho tempest was dying away,
| md thou tho wondcriur man t1,oc, MOI in bo