The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-08-22
TO the Editor ofthe Sun:

SIR-To those whose minds are
troubled with doubt as to whether or
not there is q hell, the following from
the British Naval Chronicle, 1907
may not be embarrassing:
In abstract from, the Journal cfthe Ship
SPHINX, IN the Year 1886, up the
Straits.
MAY l2.--When he arrived at Manson |
we found three ships lying there from
London commanded by the Capts. Bris--
toll, Brown, and Burnaby; all going to
Lipari to load.
MAY l3.--These three ships sailed in
company with the Sphinx (wind N: W.
10 Lipari, where they anchored In
twelve fathoms water (wind S. S. W.
MAY 14.--'rhe four Captains and a
Mr.. Bell, a merchant went on shore
upon the Island of Mount Stromboll 10
shoot rabbits. About three o'clock
they called their men together to 90 on
board their respective ships, when, to
their inexpressible establishment, they
saw the appearance of two men, coming
very swiftly through the air toward
them; one of them; one of them ap-
psared to be dressed In black and the
other in gray clothes; they passed close
by with the greatest rapidity, and. to
their extreme CONSERVATION, descended,
amid the the burning flames, into the
mouth of that dreadful volcano, Mt.
Stromboli. At their entrance there is-
sued tremendous noises; the flames
rushed out most terribly, and Capt.
Burnaby cried out, "rhe Lord bless me
the foremost of the two, in black
clothes, is old Mr.. Booty, my next door
neighbor at Mapping; but l do not
know the other.'' He then desired
them all to write down in their pocket
books, or note it on something, what
they had seen; which was immedi-
ately' done by the three Captains
and Mr.. Bell, and likewise entered in
the different ships journals at the same
time.
When these four ships bad taken
10 their loadings at Lipari, they sail
ed together for London. When they
arrived in the River Thames, at
Gravesend, Capt. Burnaby's wife
came from London to him. He then
sent for the olhe three Captains to
come on board his ship to congratu-
late him on wife's arrival. After
they had thus met, little conversa
tion passed between them iu the cab
in, when Mrs. Burnaby suddenly
started from her chair and said to
her husband, "My dear, I'll tell you
some news. Old Mr.. Booty is dead!
He directly answered, owe all
saw him 60 into hellr' and told her
what they had seen, as before relat
ed to her serious alarm.
When Mrs. Burnaby had returned
to London she went to an acquaint
ance and related this serious event.
that her husband had seen the sou
of Mr.. Booty 60 into hell on the l4tl
of May last. This gentlewoman ther
mentioned the same to Mrs. Booty
widow of the deceased, who immedi
ately took a writ out of the King
Bench Court in the penal sum o
$1,000 damages, and arrested Capt
Burnaby for defamation upon her lat
husbands soul. Capt. Burnaby CAV
bond to stand trial; and be then too
out of the Court of the Kings Benct
in Westminster Hall, sommonses 70
all the people that had attended tn
late Mr.. Booty in his last sicknes
and at the time of his death; ais
the sexton of the parish who burie
him, and clothes be last wore befor
his sickness, he had taken care of, (
be introduced in court on the day
trial.
When the trial came on the diffe
ent persons, with the black clothe
were brought into court, and we
there met by Capt. Buruaby, tt
Captains of the other three ship
and the men of the four boats, vii
Mr.. Bell, who were all on the sa
Island of Stromboli and saw the tv
spparitions descend into the bu'uil
flames on the aforesaid l4th of Nj
last. Ten of the men of the boa
made oath that the buttone on Il
coat which the apparition had
were like the one present, beir
moulds covered with black cloth, u
same sort that the coat was made G
- The different persons vic ~''