South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-04-30

from the presence of royers. and he
thought he had now encountered one of
these crafts. He turned to Lieutenant
Fairfax, and said:
II think L had better assemble the
crew. That rascal may attempt foul
play with US. and
lie paused abruptly. The light from
the cabin was shining full in the face of
his companion, who had sank back a.
gainst the woodwork for support. The
young mans face was "a liyid as that of
a corpse and he was trembling rs with
an aeue.
Great heavens, man r. exclaimed
Captain Bridges. What is the matter?
You must be ill.,
Il am not well,' replied the lieuten-
ant, feebly. II have had sudden and
terrible shock. Let the crew alone. cap
tain. You will not be troubled by this
stranger again. 1 know what | say. and
tomorrow / will explain it to you. To-
night cannot"
With these words, the young man
passed into the cabin, and hurried into
his state-roon, leaving the commander
Of the ship overwhelmed with astonish-
useht, and not n little alarmed. The
captain passed slcepless night, and
paced the deck restlessly until broad day.
BY the morning the fog had cleared
away, and the weather had grown as
warm as when the voyage began. All
hands. passengers aud crew, were de-
lighted with the change.
AT breakfast, the seat OF Lieutenant
Fairfax was vacant, and upon sending
to his stateroom to know the cause. an
swer was returned that he was very sick
Towards midday, Captain Brydges re-
celved message from him to come to
h'm at once. Upon entering the state
room, the skipper found the ships sur
geon sitting by the berth, looking very
grave and sad. lie was astonishel and
shocked at the change in the youny lieu
tenants face. He seemed n COMPLETE
wreck of what he had been the day be-
fore.
81 had no idea you were so sick said
the skipper, cor l would have been here
before
Il ana doomed man, captain" said
the lieutenant, family. Il am almost
gone"
20 no. not so bad rs that :" com.
menced the captain; but the sick man
interrupted him.
Captain Bridges" he said. in low.
startling voice, Il shall be dead man
by sunset. Ih1ve he Asieic cholera ia
ITS 'cOrst form
The skipper started back in alright.
Only God. - he exclaimed.
1t - true. said Lieutenant Fairfax.
speaking with great difficulty. II had
no cause TO fear it when came OF board.
God grant that mine may be the only
case. As soon rs / am dead, captain,
sew me mp in n blanket, and drop me
overheard at once" He paused n mo-
ment, as if to gather strength. FOR he was
very much exhausted, and then went on.
Il promised last night to explain nv
strange words about the vessel we spoke.
w ho the person was that hailed YOU. or
what is the character of the vessel he
commands DO not know. | only know
that your being spoken by him bodies
you no good. Two years ago, the fri
gate to which | was attached was spo.
ken IN similar manner in the Straits of
Gibraltar. and during the next week VIC
lost one hundred of our men from chol-
era. | fear this is IN evil omen. and
that ] am but the first OF long list Of
victims
lie sank back exhausted. and the cap
tain turned to the surgeon in a state of
bewilderment. 0ad asked if the lieuten.
ant was not wandering in his mind; but
the surgeon answered that the mind of
his patient was perfectly clear, and that
there was no doubt that he would die
before sunset. It was the most rapid
case ofcholera he had ever known. lie
advised his commander 70 keep the cir.
secret. No other case migbt
occur, and the knowledge Of this one
would be sure to produce a panic among
the passengers and crew, that might lead
to serious results.
Lieutenant Fairfax died that after.
noon The surgeon told the passengers
hc had died Of heart.disease. and accom-.