The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1870-05-04
Depofso 10 news, polities, JnteIliaenese,
ieftes ans Jmpropeate, 81 ibf 5fa au0 goari1 n


In the belt of Equatorial calms.
the sea is generally smooth and
glass-like in appearances, under the
bright rays Of the tropical sun.-
"A turtle may be seen floating lazi-
ly along with the Equatorial cur.
rent, exposing his she'll to the
balmy Influence of the warm trop.
ical atmosphere, The wild seagull
skins slowly round and round the
vessels, and from4a life long habit,
understands the sbrill calf of the
boatswain and his mates; three
times to each days meal on board
ship, the gull claims any bits. OF
biscuits that may be swept into
the water. The long, lazy cold.
blooded shark understands tn Q
movements of the birds, and may
be seen not far -astern, hanging
round for his. share Of any bits Of
meat that shall fall overboard.--
There are at times exceptions to
the law and rule laid down for the
government of the circulation of
atmosphere about the globe, and
for the motion of the waters, which,
more or less, effect the daily life
of birds in the air, or fishes in the
sea, as well as the human races.
From calm repose, Thecla's
dream became disturbed. She saw
at a distance, away among the
West India Islands, q noble ship
of war, with great guns; burnis6
ed swords /; bright revolving pis.
tolls musketry and dangerous look:
ing boarding pixies, manned and
of6cered by a vel, disciplined crew
of white men. The gallant ship
was contending, for life, with one
of those terrible gales of wind SO
frequent in that region of the
world. As the danger in a storm
on the ocean is greater near the
land than in the open sea, orders
were given to run before the storm,
which carried the man of-war in
the direction of Thecla and the
feet Of the blacks. The storm in
creased to a hurricane. The framers,
builders and architects of this great
ship, had given her unusual length
of lower masts, 80 as to give her
more spread Of canvass, and there
by gain additional speed for her
beautiful and clipper-shaped hull.
The sea rose mountain high, and
it became unsafe to expose her to
the violence Of the waves by run
ming any longer; she was there
fore hove to under bare poles,
with a mess cloth in the mizzen
rigging she was knocked down
and lay OIL her beam ends. Thecla
saw a handsome boy attempt to
secure one of the small boats
The sea struck the boat tore it
from its davits-for a moment the
boy was seen beckenipg to his ship
for help great wave passed over
him, and he was buried-forever
lost to the trials and troubles of
this world. The ship strained and
struggled; her buoyancy became
paralyzed, pressed down with the
force of a terrible wind. The furl
sails broke away; became loose,
and were torn into ribbons, crack
ing with hideous noise, equal to
tens of thousands of coach whips
the roar of the winds and waves
mingled; the clouds lay heavy upon
tho sea four strong men were at
the wheel. AS the ship was about
to sink, the order was given to put
the helm up. 1t was too late. The
helm could no longer be obeyed.
" Cut away tho mizzen mast !" AS
the mast came down with a crash,
st. M** son of Virginia, mourn.
fully signed q last farewell to the
bride he loved SO deeply. The
ship was sinking. "Cut away the
main mast!" As it plunged into
the sea, st. Rxx*x&*, a con of
Pennsylvania, offered a prayer for
his young and weli.loved wife,
i" On your knees" said the Captain.
Three hundred brave men repeat
ed: " Hear our prayer, o, Lord,
and let our crying come unto Thee.
Hide not thy tace from us in our
time of trouble; incline thine ear
unto rs when We call. 0, hear
US, and that right soon." The
ocean yawned-the Al6any went
down. ~ "
Very truly, yonrs,
. ....H LARDNER GIBBON.
&*& k%&x&xxxxk x&x&&x