Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-04-20

aA dark night, captain remarked
tke first lieutenant, laughing; "Just
the kind of one to. enjoy ourselves as
we are now doing.' i
"Aye, aye, Mr.. ,Winton,' answered
Morrill,, as with unsteady hand ne
poured out another glass of wine'
!. hut. somehow, l don't like the shrek
ing noise of the wind in our rigging to-
night. 1t sounds unpleasant"
The captain shuddered, as he spoke,
while his officers looked surprised. ! I
= aOf course Pm used enough to it,
continued the captain, draining the
glass.
Still the wind kept bowling. The
noise would seem to go with unearth-
ly sound right through the creaking
timbers Of the craft.
"Ha! what was that :" exclaimed
Morrill,, suddenly rising with unsteady
limbs. AZ a sort of scream seemed to
run dniveringly along, right nnder his
feet.
alt is nothing, sir,' answared the
first lieutenat,I" but til" grating OF the
mainyard in the sings"
What "A nervous fool Tn getting to
be ~ laughed the captain, hoarseiy,
sinking back in his seat.
| More wine-more and more! There
was laughter, there was shouting, 10
king and sinking, down in the cabin o
that storm driven vessel!
And in the midst Of it all was sud
denly heard long, grinding crash
that threw the jewellers of their feet
that sent tie cutter, half buried in tn
sea, upon her beam-ends, with shak
ing, cracking tirnbers and reelin
nasts
Above the din rose the shouting q
voices, the shrieks OF women ard mel
1.-THE trampliug of many feet
Down into the cabin, holding to
rope, fell mangled form headions
the midshipman, Mr.. Ward, who ha
been knocked over and badly injure
by falling spar.
|" We've ran mto---"began tl
poor fellow but that WAS all he coul
say. His eyes were turned with an e.
preston OF half reproach upon the y
; toxicated Morrill,.
The latter, somewhat sobered, sta
gered up, with his officers, to the dec
! Through the gloom he could ju
| make ont vessel-a brig-apparent
: sinking. Only the s.u,nis of her mas
remained, while, by the lurid light
her lantern, hung up in the mizen ri
! giny, her huh was seen, half buried.
!. Down helm! Back the mainyard
howled Morrill,, now completely sob'
: ed.
l. AS his own vessel has suffered
: damage except the loss Of her boo'
y forward. aud the splittitg mp ot :
starboald bowrail, the men were I
|" aIIled to obey orders.
|! Morrill, was about lowering his boa
10 wheIi he saw those Of the other YES
approaching.
H. !" An saved p he thundered throu
~ his speaking trumpet.
III "All but one !" was the boa
response.
III Two of the boats were soon alo
''n side, nd their occupants aboard
AZ cutter. The brig had, by this III
~ gone down.
Oh You said you lost one life n s
f' Morrill,, in an agony Of self-reproacl
u" ayes; she took passage in our
ST sci at London Miss Mentom-l
Laura Mentoni"
ne, "What p screamed Morrill,, start
me back as if shot. My God, it is {
the vessel in which Laura was bo
III to New Yofk that have run into {!
me "She must have gone down in
brig said his informant, "as we
'w- nothing of her after the collision
though some of the passengers
10 they heard her scream"
all just then the third boat, contain
,on besides its sailor crew, something W
cry came alongside.
IL The men mounted the gang
the bearing that white object bety
on, them. A horrible fear possessed
had rill. Snatching lantern, lie ru,