The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-10-27
MYSTERIOUS LEGACY,

M1DlUIGkOUD uUUAOl.
My grandfather was q sea csptain-not
mere claimant Of the title, like the water
men Of the lakes and the coast skipper
who never got out Of sight Of land, ant
who, il they got there, could never get bacl
but a genuine cold salt" trained from
boyhood under a tarpaulin hat, and as "a
miliar with the "paths OF the sea" as
shepherd is with those Of the sheepwalk
Spending his life on extensive voyages, h,
was seldom at homelong enough at q tint
for the salt spray TO dry on his weather
beaten cheeks, and there was hardly q por
on The habitablo globe in which he coult
not shake hands with an old acquaintance
civilized or savage.
OF courEe his history was crowded witt
curious incidents. Most CT these, at which
my childish ears tingled and my eyes dils
ted, have become 80 faded in memory 81
to be incapable Of a tolerable narration
The following, however, made q most last
ing impression:
During the calm between the Old French
war and the American Revolution, q large
ship was lying at q wharf In the town o.
New York, loaded with q valuable cargo
and ready to sail for Liverpool, and thence
10 whatever part OF the globe the chances
OF commerce might dictate.
This was my grandfathers ship, only
waiting for her papers and a fair wind.
The papers were soon ready, and shortly
them came a breeze. Presently everything
on board was in active motion-the casting
of and coiling OF ropes, the unfurliug OF
canvas and the running up CT sailor boys
along the ra!lines like spiders on their
webs; while the sharp, imperative orders Of
mate and the hearty "ye-hoy.yel" OF the
cheerful crew echoed over the ripping
waters OF the harbor, which looked in the
rays Of the setting sun as II 1t was covered
with a cream Of liquid gold.
Just before the last plank was hauled Ia
a stranger stepped hurriedly on board and
inquired for the captains stateroom. Be.
ing conducted hither he entered, and, with
a slight bow, accosted the captain, who sat
writing at his desk:
"You are for Liverpool, l believe, sir?"
"Ycs, SIR"
clam in poor health, and, intending to
spend the winter IN LAZY, wish to get pas.
sage in the first ship that sails for Europe.
viii you take a passenger"
"Yes, sir, II my accommodations will
suit yon?"
mo matter about accommo l~ations, Cap:
tain. am an old sailor and know how TO
accommodate myself. Besides, the trim Of
your ship suits my eye"
The allusion to his Ill health attracted
my grandfather's scrutiny, and the intro
duclion Of himself as an old sailor touched
his heart. On noticing him more particu.
arly, he was struck wit. an undetinable
Ietling Of curiosity and sympathy ut bis
appearance. Tall, straight and rather slen.
der, he was dressed in fine black broad.
Goth, with a sort Of Spanish cloak Il the
same color and quality. A t~wo-edged
sword, common on shipboard at that time,
and Improperly called a %cutlass, was part
iy covered by mis- cloak and hung by his
side Without a sheath. His hair was quite
gray, and his manly features would have
been handsome bad they not been so ema.
SlakSu go W AhflCdShLk PlOhlllCAto "
half dozen deep tears On his face. His
eyes were blue and full OF expression, but
restless at times, showing a sud
den abstraction. The l%ooseness OF
one OF his black gloves gave evidence that
be had lost q finger or Two from his left
hand. Thtse observations were made by
Inc captain while the Q ranger was looking
at a beautiful sextant on the table. Turn
ing, as II startled by the forgetfulness, he
IT snned:
Name the price, captain, and I will pay
1t now."
My grandfather had already fixed the
price in his mind, and replied
"You are a sailor, sir, and sick. The &C.
c%ommodation Of my ship, as well as my
services, are at your free command"
The Language OF a sailors heart cannot
be misunderstood, and knows no interpre.
tel; and the stranger knew that remon-
STRANGE would DO ungenerous on his part.
lie made no reply, but eagerly extended
his hand, and my grandfather, as he shook
Il, thought he saw a tear in the strangers
eye. But noble hearts are impatient Of
exhibitions OF gratitude, and he quickly
added:
lam rta1y to saiI, sir. Is your baggage
on board {"
"This Is all my baggage, sir" he replied,
showing him a small black satchel under
his cloak.
Leading him to s!ate-room the Captain
left him and went on deck, and found the
ship already under way, the sails filled
with q stiff breeze, and wharves, ware
HOUSES and spectators fast growing small in
the distance. At length, as darkness shut
In the view, The wind increased TO a gale,
and from q gale to a tempest; and for ten
lays and nights the noble ship, which had
plowed the seas OF every latitude, from
S~piizbergen 10 New Zealand, underwent
such q conflict with the elements as she
had never before encountered. During all
this time the stranger had been confined
below with an apparently fast consump'
lion, which rough weather had swiftly ma
tured.
During The storm the duties Of the cap
tain were 60 urgent that he could only
make snatChed and hasty visits to the sick
man; and although they could have been
spared from their quarters, he could have
hoped for little aid or sympathy from any
Of The crew, who, with the easy tendency
10 superstitions peculiar TO their class, had
associated his preteace with the perils o.
the ship.
1t would have required but slight en-
consignment from their officers to induce
Them TO pay him the same compliment
that the sailors Of Joppa paid to Jonah, OF
a similar occasion, when "rhe sea wrOugh
,,I ,.,au kn1apautunIa
But on the tenth sight, just as the cap
tain was ready to answer o summons L
visit the sick mans berth, the storm ceaset
with a s%uddeDness that was startling; tn,
wind was entirely lulled; and no eviderc,
OF It's fury renamed except the long swell
Ing pillows OF the sea-the deep aiier-sigh
OF It's mighty passion.
The sudden stilling Of the tempest ant
,ha .nanrnE1t ~, tNG TtiS al fhp GhArR nnV