The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-31

resorted to for the purpose of hoodwink-
| ing us.
At 4 o'clock that afternoon. Mr. Austin $
body having been deposited in the coffin
! which had been prepared for II, the hands
| were mustered on deck In their clean
| clothes, the boats were hoisted out, and
the body was deposited In the launch.
with the union Jack spread over the coffin
/ as a pail, and the ensign hoisted half
mast high on the stan In the boats stern.
| Just as the procession was on the point
OF showing off from the ships side. the
officers OF the Vestale, who had inciden-
tally learned the particulars OF Austin s
murder. approached In their two gigs,
with the French flag floating at half-mast
from the tnsign slaves In the sterns of
their boats, and took up a position I'm the
rear. We then showed OFF; the first and
second cutters taking the launch In tow,
and proceeding up the creek in charge OF
old Mildmay, the master. the captain and
officers following In the two gigs. As
soon as We were clear OF the ships side
the Daphne began firing minute guns, to
which the Vestale. hosting her ensign
half up to the peak replied and so we
moved slowly UP the creek. the minute
guns continuing as long as the boats re-
mained within sight OF the ship.
We proceeded for a distance of about
two miles, which brought up TO a lovely
himself sought 1t out during the morn
ing and there we landed. The body was
shouldered by six petty Officers: Smellie
and ] supported the pail on one side.
whilst Armitage and old Mildmay per-
formed like duty on the other; the
and reading the burial service as he
went, whilst the remaining officers and
Zen, followed by the contingent from the
yestale. formed In the rear of the cof-
m.
was placed on the ground, the ropes for
lowering IL TO the bottom were adjusted.
and finally II was gently and reverently
deposited in its last resting place. the
skipper meanwhile reading impressively
those solemn sentences beginning with
Man that Is born of a woman hath but
was made at the conclusion of these pass
ages. and Smellie. deeply affected,
stepped forward and threw the first earth
upon the body of his dear friend and
brother officer. after which the service
again proceeded and soon came TO an
end. The firing party OF marines next
formed on each side of the. grave. and
rendered the last honors to the dead the
grave was filled In, a wooden cross be-
Ing temporarily planted at its head and
we turned sorrowfully away, entered the
boats. and with the ensigns now hoisted
to the staff-heads returned TO the ship
realizing fully perhaps for the first time,
the fact that we had lost forever a ge-
NAL, brave. devoted, and sympathetic
death" Never did | so thoroughly real
ize the absolute literal truth OF this as
whilst sitting I'm the sig, silently strug-
Cling with my feelings. on our return
from poor Austins funeral We had Just
laid him I'm his lonely grave on foreign
shore, far away from all that he held
dearest and best on earth. In spot con-
secrated only by the solemn service
which had just been performed over II.
a spot which could never be watered by
a mothers or sisters tears where his
last resting-pla would be at the mercy
OF the stranger and the savage and
where in the course OF n very few years
II would only too probably be obliterated
beyond all possibility Of recognition. Yet
"a short hours ago he was alive and well.
rejoicing I'm the strength Of his lusty
manhood, and with, apparently, the
promise OF many years OF life before him,
never euspecting, as he went down over
the ships side, with a CHEEKY smile and
y reassuring nod TO me- that he was go-
Ing thus gany to meet treachery and
death. Poor Atpstlnl l struggled sue
cessfully with my feelings whilst the
eyes OF others we're upon me, but am
not ashe med to admit that wept long and
bitterly that night when l reflected In
privacy upon his untimely and cruel fate.
Nor am ! ashamed TO acknowledge that
| then also prayed. more earnestly per-
haps than had ever prayed before. that
! might be taught so to number nv days
that i might incline my heart unto that
truest OF all wisdom; the wisdom which
that death may never find us unprepared.
On passing the Virginia II was seen
that her new fore-yard was slung and
rigsed, the sail bent. and the other re-
more ready for sea Smellie shortly af-
terwards shifted his traps over into her.
returning to the Daphne 10 dine with
Captain Vernon and to receive his final
instructions.
(To be Continued Tomorrow