Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-07-06
4 Romance Of Rhode Island.

4 Romance Of Rhode Island.
I'm connection with Newport and
piracy the " History Of Rhode Island
records touching story which, as
the author says seems more like fic-
ton than fact. We give the dOmes-
tic tale-which would make Il much
more charming theme for the poet
and dramatist than "Enoch Arden
in the words of the historian:
Samuel Cranston, "a gentleman of
noble descent, and who had highly
distinguished himself as merchant
in Newport, on the breaking out of
the French war of 1755, finding busi-
ness completely paralyzed and being
of an active temperament OF mind.
was induced to start on voyage to
the scenes and events which he was
destined to endure in the prosecution
of the voyage.
When off the keys of Florida they
were attacked by piratical vessel.
They defended themselves to the ut
most. satisfied that, should they fall
into their hands, no mercy would be
given them. but all efforts were in
vain, and they were compelled to
surrender to the enemy. Such was
the savage cruelty of these bucca-
neers that neither prayers or expos
tulations had the least effect on
their hard and Obdurate hearts. The
passengers and crew were all inhu-
manly butchered on the spot with
the exception of Mr.. Cranston. who
was spared in order to labor on the
vessel as common menial.
To "a mind like his it must have
been deeply humiliating to be sud
denly thrown from an eievating po
sition in society and compelled to
herd with brutes in human form In
this condition he was doomed to la
Dor for seven years. The thoughts
of home would rush on his mind, pro-
ducing pain and disquietude, and
anxiously looking forward to the mo-
ment of deliverance, when he should
once more participate in the enjoy
ment of the domestic circle. He had
watched every moment from the
time of his captivity for an opportu
nifty to effect his escape; the propi-
tious hour seemed now to have ar
rived and he availed himself of it.
Having secured boat and secreted
some provisions he committed him
self to the winds and waves, trusting
in Divine Providence for protection.
After having been tossed about for
many days he was so fortunate as to
fall in with an English ship bound
from Jamaica TO Halifax, who kindly
with marked attention. On his arri-
val at Halifax a passage was given
him to Boston, and on his arrival
there he was startled by the rumor
that his wife was on the eve of being
married to a Mr.. Russell, OF Boston.
This was an additional stroke, and
rendered his mind prey tn the most
gloomy thoughts. Poor and penni-
less, he started from Boston on foot
for Newport, there to await the issue.
On his arrival he entered the back
door of his former residence, in the
character OF mendicant, and cTaved
food from the servants, which was
readily granted. After appeasing the
cravings of hunger, he inquired il
Mrs. Cranston was the mistress of
the house. On being answered in
the affirmative, he stated that he had
message which he wished to COM
municate to her. On being informed
that it would be entirely out of her
power to comply with his wishes, as
she was then making preparations
for her nuptial celebration, which
was to take place that evening. the
heart of Cranston was seized with
the most painful emotion, that his
lovely, adored wife was about to es-
pouse another. He requested the
servant to tell her mistress that he
had seen her husband that day at
twelve o'clock crossing Howland's
Ferry.
Such intelligence, so unaccounta-
BILE, yet highly interesting, brought
Mrs. Cranston from her toilet, to look
on the bearer of such intelligence.
| He briefly rehearsed over the suffer
| ings which her husband had endured,
which she listened TO with the deep
est interest He wished to know of
Mrs Cranston whether she had ever
seen him before. Dressed i'm sail
or's garb, with tarpaulin hat par
1
piled in the negative. Finding him
self stranger. and unknown in his
own mansion, he at last raised his hat
and gave her significant look, and
at the moment pointing to a scar on
his forehead, exclaiming: "Did you.
Mrs. Cranston, ever see that mark be-
fore?' She at once flung herself on
his bosom, and exclaimed, in trans
ports of joy: You are my own, own,
dear long-lost husbandl"
1t required. as you may well i'm
agine, some little time for the par
oxsym to subside, and for Mr.. Gran
ston to dress himself in a manner to
his rank and station, before entering
the drawing room, where the elegant
group had assembled to witness the
ceremony.
Mr.. Russell and the officiating
/ Il ..-~,<s ,IrooIx, ,,rocont .nl