Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-07-13

with those used by the ships of the old
East India Company. 1t is surrounded
bv crown, is oval in form, and the
duarterings contain an inner shield,
also ouartered. The heraldic emblems
emblazoned upon it unite the leopards
of England, the elephants of the Com
panv. with various other eyphers and
devices, which the learned In heraldry
nav recognize and decipher. 1t is
carved ont of Norway pine, and was
evidently gilded and gaily painted, but
the suns and rains of half a century
have despoiled it of Gil its garnish
fnery, and left it q cracked, bleached,
rotten and decayed memento of gem
Grafton no life of which exists to-day.
In the vicinity of the camping place
where this relic was discovered, were
| found also several spoons and platters
of wood. 1t has been suggested that
these are exactly similar to such as
were commonly used by the LascaT
sailors in the Company's employ, and
It is possible that the Canton was so
manned, but when the frigidity of the
climate in which she traded is consld-
cred. it may be regarded as uniavora-
BILE TO this view, it being we'll known
that Lascars, though making excellent
seamen IN the tropics, became almost
useless in cold weather.
THE experience of every sea captain
who has doubled Cape Horn with q
Iascar crew will verify this assertion.
Several old tea chests were strewn
around, but they were empty as were
| also fine compass boxes of the lost yes
sci. No trace of writing or inscription
of any kind could be found by the
people of the Mills, though the Captain
searched narrowly over every part OF
the beach where the wreck was lying
In the course of their investigations
the party came upon a very singular
scene. The frame of the main hatch
| way of the Canton had been cast NJ
whole. and through the opening tree
had sprung up and attained its full
| growth; and as it was as large as any
frees in the Island, this must be taken
as irrefutable proof (even If none Other
existed,l of the many years which
have elapsed since the ship was cas-
away. As TO what had become OF the
crew nothing is known.
The islands and its surrounding reefs
| inclose a large lagoon, and Captain
Nichols is of opinion that they escaped
across this, aud endeavored to reacf
some Of the neighboring islands
Whether they succeeded and were i'm
prisoned or killed by the inhabitants
who are cruel savageS, or whether they
were drowned at sea, will probably re
main undiscIosed forever. The Canton
record. however. goes as far as this
| According to Lloyd's register, the
| Bengal British ship Canton rs reported
/ to have left Sitka, on the northwes
coast of our newly acquired Russlat
! American possession, IN the year 1916
and was never more heard of. Who
was her captain, who were her officers
and what her lading was, If, any, there
| is no means of ascertaiDing. Far away
in England many an aching heart wait
ed patiently for tidings of the MISSING
ship. until the eyes that once beameC
bright with hope grew sunken and In
ded, ard the rosy cheeks grew wan,
and the raven tresses silvery grey
/ Far away across the ocean many G
wistful gaze must have been directed
long. long long ago, for the vessel that
was never to re-enter home port
/ Anxiety and fear, conjecture, doubt
and uncertainty, must have merged al
length into the dull hopelessness which
weighs down the loving spirit through
a life of painful endurance; but hops
and doubt and anxiety and fear were
alike frutless, for the expected ones
we're sleeping the sleep which knows Nc
waking, among the iathomless deepi
where the heavy waters swell and rol
among the coral caves, on lying unbur
ied aud unblessed on the ard soil q
the savage haunted isles of the Pacific
fore more touch of the old romance o
the ocean. one little lifting of the daTl
curtain of the past, and the veil o
mystery fails again, never to he lifted
again in the world.