The weekly Butte record., 1867-10-19

grandeur Of God. and feebleness Of man,
which those alone can feel who 6 go
down in ships and see the wonders of
the deep"
took my place among the other
passengers. Not word was spoken,
and l discovered that We were about to
witness the last rites performed over
our late friend, and consequently, stood
In anxious silence when suddenly a
steady tramp was heard, and the lar
board watch, with drawn cutlasses,
slowly marched down the waist, escort
ing the murderer, whom they conduct
ee to the side of the corpse, and then
withdrew few PAGES. and formed a
line, which completed the hollow square.
We now began to exchange glances.
Surely, the assassin had not been bro't
here to witness the burial of his victim !;
and what else could it be for? Had it
been for trial las we had heard that the
Danes often proceeded to instant inves-
tigation and summary punishment) we
would probably have seen the tackle
prepared for hanging the culprit at the
yard-arm. This was not the case and
We all, therefore, felt puzzled as to the
meaning of the scene.
We were not long kept in doubt
The second mate read from a paper
which he held in his hand the full pow
ers delegated to the captain to hold
court-martial, and carry the sentence
into effect, the law in similar cases, etc.
ETC.. and called on the prisoner to
know whether he would consent to be
tried in the Danish language. To this
he willingly assented, and the court was
declared open.
The flag was withdrawn from the
face of the corpse, and even the mon
ster who had struck the blow shuddered
as he beheld the calm, almost seraphic
look of him whom he had stricken. The
trial proceeded in the most solemn man
ner. Evidence of the crime was ad-
duced, and the deed clearly brought
to the accused. l must confess that
my blood turned cold when | saw the
knife produced which had been used as
the instrument of the murder, and the
demon-ike smile of the prisoner as he
beheld it. stained as it was by the blood
of one who had been forced by his duty
to punish him.
After strict investigation, the cap
tain appealed to all present, when the
prisoner was unanimously declared gull
ty.
The officers put on their hats, and
the captain proceeded to pass sentence.
Great was my surprise-not under
standing one word which the captain
said-to see the prisoner throw himself
on his knees, and begin to sue for mer-
cy. After the unfeeling and obdurate
manner in which he had conducted him
self, such an appeal was unaccountable ;
for it was quite evident he did not fear
death, or repent the deed he7had COM
mitted. What threatened torture could
thus bend his hardened spirit?
Four men now approached and lifted
up the corpse. A similar number seiz-
ed the prisoner, while ten or twelve
others approached with strong cords.
In moment | understood the whole,
and could not wonder at the struggles
of the murderer, as l saw him lashed
back to back-frmly, tightly, without
the power to move-to the dead body
of his victim. His cries were stopped
by sort of gag; and, writhing as he
was, he, with the body, was laid on the
grating and carried to the gangway.
The crew mounted on the nettings and
the shrouds. A few prayers from the
Danish burial-service were read by the
captain on board, and the dead and the
living, the murderer and his victim,
were launched into eternity, bound to-
gether!
AS the dreadful burden separated
the clear water, sudden flash darted
through their transparency, and gen.
eral shudder went around, as each one
felt it was the expectant shark that
rushed forward for his prey. l caught
glance of the living mans eye as he
was falling. 1t haunts me even to this
moment-there was more than agony
in it.
We paused only for few moments,
and imagined we saw some bloodstains
rising to the surface. Not one among
US could remain to see more. We
turned away, and sought to forget the
awe-inspiring punishment We had seen
inflicted.
Of course, strange sights were rclat-
ed as having appeared to the watches
that night. For myself, l can only say
that was glad when sudden breeze
drove US far from the tragic scene.
THE LAST WAGER OF BATTLE IN EN-