The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-10-19
THE PROPHECY.


The Black Eagle been taken up
by the company as a transport to con-
vey troops TO Calcutta We had nearly
two hundred rank and file on board;
the major, who commanded the party,
three lieutenants. and . doctor. We
are now about leaving Cork Harbor;
the chain comes in merrily to the songs
of the seamen.
1.-THE anchor is right up and downg''
shouts the boatswain.
'.Heave and haulI" says the mate.
sLoose sails!' "All readyr' is shout
ed from the respective yards. LET
fall-sheet home to tho topsails-over-
haul that starboard clewline-let 90
that starboard buntline-that will do.
The sheets belay-man the halliards."
The halliards are manned. and the
three topsails ~mast-headed at the same
time. In a few minutes the ship is one
crowd of sails from her decks to her
trucks; the starboard main-braces are
hauled in, and the larboard..fore braces,
to cast the ship the right way. The
jibs are loosed ready for hosting, the
windlass is again manned, again the
chain comes in, but now it comes more
~slowly-they are breaking the anchor
out Of the ground. Il is away; the
ships head falls off heavily from the
light breeze. the jibs are run up, the
after-sails fill, the fore-yard Is hauled
round, the anchor Gated and fished,
the good ship Black Eagle gathers way
through the water, and is now standing
gallantly out of Cork Harbor.
We were scarce clear of the harbor's
mouth, certainly not three miles from
it, when q fearful change came DER the
heroes composing the gallant seven
tieth. The night before, while at
anchor. they had sung many songs,
nautical; among others. one whose ev-
cry verse terminated with
'Hurrah for . life of war and strife, and a pr
rates life for me;
For we are the pirate kings. the demons of tho
sea-"
All the r~ed-jackets had given chorus
to this song. Scarce twenty-four hours
had passed since these words we're flow
ing from their lips, yet how changed
were their feelings. Now they utterly
abhorred the life they had been signing
for; repentance had come suddenly,
like q thief in the night. and the ode
mons of the sea- might have been seen
in every part Of the deck. in every
possible attitude expressive Of sea-siok-
moss. /,
l win now pass over a few weeks,
and bring the Black Eagle close 70 the
line. During this dime shS has had 10
share Of fair and foul wtndH As -
rates" have quite Uoovsrsd from tAs1
'~HArsiokness. and seem kgain 10 ~,
acquired a taste for that roving lile. i,r
nightly do they sing the same Ii II
song, with the same stentoriar chr :.
The weather each day becomes warn =
and the trade winds lighter.
Among the mon belonging to H.
SEVENTEEN was q Young man naia
Palmer; he was tall and weil-ms
and, report said, not n slight y.@c
among the fair sex. He mad barn mar
ried a week before sailing, and is.t
tried all he could 10 desert. but ie II
no luck; he was carght. and brc:. I
on board TIE Black Eagle with the r
From tho time of his arrival he spo .
to no one, and from his wild way mAi
flushed cheeks you would almost ha ,
fancied he had been drinking. or u
evening, dancing, boxing, single-sii :
went on among tho soldiers. sailor.
and officers; yet he who used 10 DO tGe
first in all these exercises now took 10
part in them. Each day he grew thia-
ner; but the doctor of the regiment,
whose ideas were never extended boz
yond the necessary duties of eating,
drinking, and sleeping, said there could
be nothing the matter with him, or he
would complain.
At last the heat became SO oppres-
sive between decks that the sick were
brought on the spardock to enjoy the
air during the cool part of the day.
One morning the corporal reported to
the doctor that Palmer could not rise
from his hammock. The doctor went
down to him, and found him in u high
state Of fever; he was delirious, and
knew no one; he talked alternately ol
home, his wife, and his brothers. Ile
was carried IN deck. that he might en-
Joy the fresh breeze and cool air; at
least so the doctor said; but such u
thing was impossible, so near tho line,
and under q nearly vertical sum-. The
sick man laid in his hammock beneath
the spars away from all his former
friends, and there was no one br 10
moisten his black and parcl,ed lip'.wiir
a drop Of water, for even his own IN js-
mates seemed to shun him.
1 went to him and said, '.Pa.ma = n
1 get you anythingp" but at ilia. l. +.
ment he was delirious, and mall 10
answer, but rambled on in his ou.., v
| manner about home. Poor fellow, No
was dying, and dying fast. Sner ;
the soldiers were playing car u ruI :
or neal his hammock, some ,nr vA,t
dice, and others playing at pit;
ing.
Toward evening he seem d T., .
better, and tho doctor ho oni b
of his recovery; but the ships snr
shook his head. and declaring IL ii"t. =.
sible. However, hc passed. q h.
night, and toward morning bee
sensible. N
Daylight broke-it was q dead ca !.
and the ocean lay like a sheet OF m5i.
ten lead. In vain the eye was stretched