The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1885-05-30

r.or, the Deck of a Man.of.war.

pror, the Deck of q MaTi.of.War.
(CoNTlNUED) H-
Since my last communication nearly
ii that was left of Aspinwall, has been
;sstroyed. We connot butremark upon
md admire its improved appearance,
mt mt there is room for more yet as some
half dozen buildings are still standing.
a few wooden shanties are ia course Of
eonstruction to be utilized when COM
oleted as barracks for the marirAs and
asamen stationed here. The work upon
the canal has been almost discontinued
and the negroes who were imported from
Jamaica to work upon it, can be seen at
ali hours of the day and in all attitudes
Of picturesque laziness and primitive ap-
narel, The destruction of Aspinwall was
toilowed by a general hegira Of its white
inhabitants and in the sea of faces which
oue meets ashore there is tiresome uni
formity of that pronounced color which
seldom strikes the fancy. The .monoto.
py is occasionally relieved by a COM
plexion of lighter color on whose tea
lures are written the characteristics
which reveal the various nationality Of
their various owners. The haIrassed
faces of the ubiquitous American can Of
course be met with.
Provisions are very scarce and very
dear, Apropo of scantiness oursupply Of
patience is by no means unlimited and
as we have before us the prospect of a
long hybernation we think it best to be
economical with it and not exhaust it.
unnecessarily by letting our minds dwell
too much on Aspinwall.
To keep strictly in the sequence OF
events, this very accurate bit OF chrono>
logy, must be dated back to the evening
Of April 18th when We very unexpect,
edly received orders to "up anchor and
away" Our destination was only a few
hundred miles and our absence Of course
could not be very extended. But we are
thankful for small mercies and like honest
Sancho bid "God bless the giver."
Owing to a deficiency in our coal sup
ply, it became necessary that we should
replenish it before we could put to sea
and all of the afternoon was employed
in warping a collier alongside, which
being accomplished the work of getting
the coal aboard commenced and not
until the gray dawn streaked the east
was it completed.
A few hours later and we were upon
the high seas, ostensibly to convey a sups
DIV of stores to the "Powhatan" at
Carthegena, but in reality to search for
Preston the instigator of the atrocities at
Aspinwall and the primal cause of that
city's destruction. He was then SO
rumor said, in possession OF an armed
schooner and in the vicinity of Sabanilla
seeking new Aspinwalps probably.
About eleven o'clock in the forenoon a
sail was reported by the lookout and our
vessel was Immediately headed for it and
the preparations usually made when ap-
preaching possible enemy were not
neglected. But nearer view soon
satisfied us, that if foe at all it were a
very insignificant one merely small two
masted schooner-"only thi, and noth|
ing more"
When about n mile distant fcoms the
suspected craft q blans cartridge from
our five inch rifle was fired. If any rea>
ders have ever heard the boom of sixty
pounder from the bows of an approach
ing war steamer they will readily under
stand its ominous import, which is
"heave to, or look out for consequences. s."
The crew of the schooner evidentally
understood 1t, for the smoke had hardly
cleared away, before her sails were "lltt.
ing" and in few moments was "hove to-
with lib sheet to windward. There was
a long heavy swell rolling from the East
ward and having no sail on our vessel to
steady her, she consequently rolled
considerably, the waters one moment
gurgling over her port channels and the
next lifting them, pouring like cataracts
to submerge her starboard ones. Under
such circumstances, the lowering and
manning of boat was exceedingly dit
ticult, but it finally was accomplished
and on investigation into the character
of the schooner entered upon. But it it
had any secrets it did not betray them,
and was allowed to proceed upon her
course.
After two days of cruising finding
nothing (but a coral reef to reward our
search we arrived at Carthegana one OF
the most Interesting and ancient cities
On the continent. 1t has spacious
natural harbor in which it is said all the
navies of the world could ride at
anchor, But this advantage is balanced
by corresponding difficulty of access to
it which is through an exceedingly IN
tricate and narrow lagoon. On the banks
at either side of the entrance stand two
venerable tenantless forts evidently
Cushioned by long forgotten hands"
for their once white walls are
now discolored by time and incrusted
by lichens and pellices. But rich
tropical verdure has nearly hidden their
infrmities from view.
Steaming slowly up the winding
lagoon, which at intervals widens into
broad sheets of water, startling OCCASION
ally from the reeds. flocks of scarlet
breasted famigoes-We about MONDAY
reached our anchorage in the bay which
lies between the main land and the mar
row peninsular running parallel to it
upon which the city is built.
Even a South American city can have
i ko To tar