THE COM UBIA ll HOI K T.
I hare sworn npou tho Altar of God, eternal hostility to every form of Tyranny over the Mind of Man." Thomas
Jefferson
MINTED AND PUBLISHED BY ll. WEBB.
Volume VI.
OFFICE OF THE DEMOCRAT,
Opposite t. Paul's Church, Main-st
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From BostonEvening Journal.
SaltWater Bubbles.
BY HAWSEK MARTINGALE,
SCENE ON THE OCEAN FEMaLE
HEROISM.
A number of yetrs have passed away
ainte the occurrence which 1 am now about
to relnto tool; place' But how many strange
ivonls how many scene of guilt, iniquity
and bloodshed have been enacted on the
uiudii ulcaiii a iu lure 1 1 , 1 1: i i r.nii icl iiuein
Hvmr ran n at . wriiinn
The ship Astulfo, belonging to a dors in
SW bnirund. was on her nasuaPG frnm
o i
nuenee 01 a une iraue winu in ine lauiuue
about 36 uegrejeSfNorth, and longitude
Til rtmrmm IVaali if lunr inn 4v mnlSA IIia
W VI V KkbWO II DOli I111WUMIIJK tU UlUBV 1I1U
,fl flnanail Miira riainn enn IIia I
I no! Ivan nnnrn irnm n man nn in nrn
le. anil imiMAflinlft! v llm nttpnltrm nf iVi
. .j . -'
er of the deck was directed to a tchoon
lif nnnrr hvn iit tfir nnmli rn ih hr.
ru bow. I Ilia vessel presented a singu
nd quite a suspicious appearance She
lying to, but her sails were clumsy set
p.
ring in the wind, the sheets loose. The
s braced in dilterent directions, and
au i i i n iru nil uiiiiiii iiixi wr-r-i rr.
these signs of distress, an American
us was hoisted in tiie shrouds union
a sight, which, always denoting wo
ininent danger, can never be witnessed
KHitnr wiinniii pmnimn
iiv vuuiuiii w t i i v noiuitii ii mu)u li n ill v.
Atkins, was immediately called. After
eying the schooner through his perspc-
glass, lie ordered all hand to be sum
ed, the studing sails and other light
to to be taken in, and preparations to
ade to lay the main-top sail aback. He
oauered the small arms to be cot in
iness for the sevicc, bain? ignorant of
ause of the difficulties on board the
tsnce in his power. As the ship ap
fhil lh Ahnina I" nnlm. A ilti.. k
need to behold the fluttering of a fe
garment anu soon ascertained that
were only two persons on deck one
a woman the other a boy, apparently
twelve or fourteen years of age!
stontshed at the circumstances, he rang-
Innir sin, and linvn tn tv.ilt iUm m.in.
ail to the mast. Ho then hailed the
oner.antl inquired respecting the fate of
deondition. The woman in a tremu.
and weak voiee replied stating that the
y,
tain and mate had been murdered that
(mates were now confined in the forcas.
and in the most urgent language im-
d us to serd assisuuee promptly on
It was then remarked that the wo-
lftlil n nlatnt in hnr ti.ml Im.
in great disorder; and her whole
rAiim a t-i a II Ma it... f i L I i
bv lirr inm.tiniiA (Lit t. i
had occurred
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA. SATURDAY, JUtfE 11, 1842.
CaptairAtkins ordered the quarter boat
to be lowered and manned, and arming" him
self with pistols h nd sword, and giving to
each of the boat's crew a cutlass, he resolv
ed to visit the schooner himself, and ascer
,ain the meaning of these strange appearan
ces and to protect and assist the innocent
and to punish or capture the truilly.
In Mew minutes thc.boat was alongside
the schooner." Captain Atkins sprang on
board, followed by his men; but as he sup
ped on deck he was startled with the sis-h1
of the body of a man, who had evidently
been shot through the head. At this mo
ment the woman came toward hirn and seiz
ed bis hand; and poured out her feelings of
gratitude for his aid. She was young of a
graceful form, and exceedingly lovely, not
withstanding her cheeks were deadly pale,
and her costume in great disorder.She had
evidently suffered much for mental agony
was stamped on her countenance; her eyes
were red with weeping, and she trembled
in every limb, through nerveotis excite
ment. Captain Atkins was at once convinced
that the woman, who had been the wife of
Captain Howard, the late master of the
Kchoouer, had told him tho truth. He
learned that tho pirate's, two in number
were confined in the forcastle. They
ere immediately taken out. Their looks
were enough to convict them of any crime
and they were pinioned and sent on board
the ship Mrs' Howard was also sent on
board in a state of insensibility, for she
fainted soon after.t.ie schooner was boarded.
The strength and courage-, almost super
human, which had supported her through
trials and perils, which few of either sex
could have borne, failed her jghta they
seemed to be no longer requiienT
The boy spake of some' boxes of money
which were in "the captain's state room.
They took them out also . the writing
desks, trunk, anc either property belonging
to the murdered captain and his wife, and
then the schooner was set on fire. The pi-
rates were put in irons on board the Astolfo.
Airs. Howard was placed in a convenient
state-room, and made as comfortable as the
cieumstancea would permit, sail was made
on the ship, and after an unpleasant inter
ruption of a few hours, the Astolfo again
proceeded gallantly on her way toward her
destined port.
On recovering her senses, Mrs. Howard
received with mucji astonishment and dis-
appointment the intelligence that she had
beenremoved from the schooner Arion and
was now on board the ship Aslolfoiand she
reflected that she could not again embrace
the body or gaze upon the pallid counten
ance of her murdered husband. Severa
days clasped before her energies were suf
ficiently restored to enable her to relate the
particulars of the events which had caused
her sorrows; and the tale of the beautiful
but unhappy woman sank deep into the
hearts of the listeners for there is nothing
calculated in a great degree to enlist the
sympathies of a true sailor, than an act of
outrage or oppression upon weak and de
fenceless woman.
It appears that this lady was the daughter
of respectable parents, residing in one of the
New England states. Her marriage with
Captain. Howard was tho result of deep
sealed affection on the part of ioth; and at
the time when the marriage look place a
few moths previous to the occurrences of
he events recorded above, he had become
the principal owner as well as master of a
fine schooner, the Arion, nearly ready for
sea, bound to St. Thomas and a market
with a cargo of lumber, dry goods, and
Yanke noitons.'
Tho idea of leaving Caroline, his bride
behind him during the few months which
he expected to be absent, never one? enter.
ed his head, and she, with cheerfulness and
alacrity, agreed to his proposition tnat she
should accompany her husband on the voy-
ago, and bo, on the ocean as well as on the
and, his constant companion, his helpmeet
and the participator of his joys and his
sorrows. The rabin was fitted up accor
dingly, and the Arion. with her fair freight
j left port but a few days' after the joyous
ccicorauon oi ner marriagej
The passage to St Thpmas was propi
tions. The weajher waspeasant, and the
winds were favorable, atujtf-ivcr a couple
enjoyed true happinnesia a distance from
their hme, and on the fcotm of the stormy
sea, that couple Wis Johnaf.an Howard and
his lovly wife. A new w&rd ofhappiness
seemed open to them, an 'fancy painted
gorgeous seenes of enjoyment in the dis
tance; and evenings us they' paced the deck
they loved l talk f jjneir orn dear
home in their native landjjand to conjure
up pictures of domestiefha'ppinesi, equalling
in vivid coloring a poet's' dream.
Tho Arion arrived atjSl Thomas after a
passage of twenty days. Capt. Howard
succeeded in selling his lumber, to advan
tage but concluded to proceed witb his re
maining cargo( cnnsisjing; chiefly of drv
good, to St. John, In tlie Spanish Island of
Porto Rico. The yellow fever was pre
vailing nt St. Thomas whin he left, and the
fear least his life might become a victim to
this drcadfur disease, doubtless hastened
his departure from the island. But on the
day on which the Arion arrived at St. John
two his crew.bolh youngjAmerican seamen,
were attacked with thawijreadful fever, and
died on the following day. The remainder
consistingof two seamen, and one green
hand, who scerelly resolved to leave the
schooner with the first opportunity, on the
following night slowed themselves away in
the brig erusalem', bouud to N. York and
were far enought offin the offiing, before
their desertion was known. Besides the
captain and nuto, the ca6in boy, an A:ucri
can lad. named EdwardJonpa, about four
teen years old, was the only persons belong
ing to the vessel left on board.
IT.I - .1 . .
v nen tne Arion was ready lor sea. u
became necessary to procure a supply ef
seaaicn but no American or English sea
men were to be had, "and Capt in Howard
was compelled to ship three ferocious look
ing Spaniard, who came on board the
schooner one morning and offered to engage
by the run. He had dome doubts of the
seamanship of the savage looking rascals,
although they declared that they had per
formed many voyage, but he consoled him
self with the reflection, that a few weeks
would terminals the voyage; and with rt
gard to their character, he did not couceivo
in necessaiy to make any particular inquiri
s they would doubtless succeed in ena
bling him and his mate, Mr. Newton, to
navigate his -essel to a New England port,
and more he did not require of them. On
Ihe second day after the Arion left port.the
Spaniards were observed by Mr. Newton
to hold some whispering conversation to
gether, which seemed rather suspicious
Caroline told her husband thai she did not
like the looks of those swarthy Spaniards
that one of them in particular, by the
qame of Garcia, whose low stature, broad
shoulders and low forehead, gave him a
peculiar and sinister appearance was a
dangerous man. She bade her husband
brtware of him. Slio did not tell him how
ever, thai this man as he pasted her that
morning, had given her an impudent wink;
and with a savage grin, had asked her, in
broken English, how sho would like to be
the wife of a Spaniaid.
Captain Howard did not altogether like
the appearance of his crew. Besidei, he
had a few thousand dollars in specie on
board, which might prove a temptation to
men of depraved character But he pos
sessed undoubted uourage' and "ai never
in the habit of brooding over imaginary
dangers, He laughed at the fears of his
wife, and bade her not to be alarmed as
tlie;e wss not the slightest symptom of dan
ger. Nevertheless, he though' proper to
advise Mr Newton to watch the action of
the Spaniards; he also loaded a pair of
pistols, and planed them in his state room
by the side of nis berth. A poinard also he
took from his trunk, where it had been by a strange; and till then, unknown feel
lying for years, and concealed it beneath 'ing to avenge, if possible, her husbands
his vest. lie was a man imiiUwpi! u-ltli iliili.
,...;...,: r " I
uuwii uoiutiuiuauuii u biididiiuri u u
Jhe resolved that 913 the inlul hasaw sny I
conduct which would justify him in sua
peeling the Spaniards of entertaining anv
improper design, he would put them in
irons, or sheot them down on the spot
But nothing passsd.durino ihai .lat
confirm the suspicious of Mr. Newton
the Spaniards were obedient aud respect
ful, and conversed but litite with each
other. But there was a fierce
malignant expression in their eves, which
reminded one of the venoacd serpent, jusi
as he is about to plant his deadly fangs in
his Unsuspecting victim. Mrs. Howard
could not look upon these men without
shuddeiing. although they were respectful
lo her, and smiled as ihey passed her. in
the performance of their various duties. Bui
Captain Howard saw nothing to excite
alarm. Ho hardly deemed it possible that
his men woud dare plan and execute a
scheme for mutiny and murder. But he
knew litite of tho character of ihe men who
were on board,
The succeeding evening was remarkably
pleasant-" The wind was light, and hardly
ruffled tho surface of the opean the sky
a lich canopy, thickly studded with spark!
ing gems, never looked mors lovely the
air was soft and balmy the schooner glid
ed gently on her way, leaving behind her
a brilliant and illuminated wave, which
.the eye could follow to a great distance
Tho whole scene was of a iranquilizing
character, and furnished a rich source of en
juymcnt to the happy pair who took pos
session of the quarter deck that evening; for
itjwas capt. Howard's first watch and Car
oline would not suffer hethusband to remain
on deck,. solitary and alone, on sucha night
os that.
At-twelve o'clock the larboard watch
was called, and Mr. Newton came on deck.
Howard after he had communiicted some
instructions to his mate, retired to his state
room, with his wife hanging on his arm.
It was about three o'clock in the morning,
when this couple were nrouqed from sleep
by a noise on deck, as of the fall of
heavy body at the same lime a cry of
murder' was heard, intermingled with sup
plications for mercy. Captain Howard
sprang from his berth. A light was burn
ing in the cabin. He seized a pistol in one
hand and his poinurd in the other, passed
through the steerage and rushed up the
copanion stair-way, folio wod by his faith
ful wife, who, although much alarmed;
determined to re nain by tho side of her
husband in danger as well as in security
But one of the Spaniards was stationed at
the head of the steps as a guard, and the
moment the unfortunate Captian Howard
thrust his head aboa the companion-way,
he received a blow from a handspike.which
shattered his skull, and he fell bleeding and
senseless into the arms of his wife, who
was at the bottom of the stairs!
Few women could have retained their
courage and presence of mind at such a
time. Caroline Howard wns in a moment
made sensible of the horrors of her situa
tion. She knew then that pirates had pos
session of the vessel that they had mur
dered the mate and that her hutband
whom she so dearly loved, was also a vic
tim to the treachery and cruelly of these
sanguinary monsters. She knew too, for
she felt it instinctively, that her life must
also he sacrificed and perhaps, what was
ardesrer, her honor for the words of
Garcia, in living characters, appeared
blazo.ied on het memory How would she
like to be a Spaniard's wife! Bui her resolu
lion did not fail her in thai dread hour; al
though her cup of happiness, which, few
minutes before, was filltd to the brim, was
dashed to the earlh; although infamy and
deal slared her in the face, yet sho did not
give way to despair and irresistingly resign
herself lo her terrible fate. The initinct of
lelf.preservattnn braced her nerves in thai
dreadful hour, and gentle kind and affection
ate woman as uhe was she felt stimulated
.n." s ... . . .
I J " . I
i iu ij raies warn un.iv in mrmvinrr nvmr j
bojtd tho body of poor Newton, end did
Number 7.
not immediate proceed below. In ,n
the mean lime, Caroline called Edward.the
cabin boy.- Alarmed at the slrango nnise,
wnioh had awakened him, he Jl ' ,
t ,.. ..oiii the steerage, and
was standing terrified and amazed at the
entrance of the cabin Edward loved anil
respected Mrs Howard and her hiisband.
They had ever treated him with kindness
and when he heard the rund ef her
voice calling upon hirn for aid and saw liar
wild and pallid features deaply agitated
with tht contending passions that raged
within, he shook off the convulsive fears,
which had almost paralyzed his energies,
and with a courage and manlinesB 'which,
could hardly been expected from one so
youngit feeble, he told his mistrsss that hi
life was at her servicethat what ever or
ders ehe might give' he would obey
As the body of her husband lay on the
floor of the cabin, the rays of light from tho
cabin lamp fell on his changed features, and
confirmed ihe terrible conviction that ho
was dead. Bnt she knew there was no
time for vain' laments and wailings Sho
took from her hnsband's relaxed grasp
pistol, and handed it to Edwad.
She picked up the poniard from Ihe floor
and placed it within the fold of her garment
then, taking another pistol from the raoks,
she bade the cabin bey to follow, ai.d bold
y went upon deck.
The priatts were then standing in a
group near the companion way, consulting
with regard to ihe best Hep to be taken,
and were mueh started at the sudden ap
pearance of Mrs Howard amone
The moon had risen hours before, and
threw a bright and. silver light over the
scene of iniquity and her pure a'nd holy
rays never illuminated features whero vil
lainywas utampted in more legible characters
tharraf those of the Spaniard Garcia- and
swarthy accomplices. By that light, too,
the beautiful' features ofCarolineHoiward-
tht mingled expression of wo. fear and
revenge and the compressed lipi.deuoling
stern resolution, were distinctly visible
She stood upon deck clad in an airy
costume of dazzling white with her hair
loose and disheveled, am! resembling a
Pythoness of olden times, who urged by
prnternmural excitement, and the spirit of
prophecy uttered the oracles of fate- For
a moment, the hearts of the pirates quailed
and they forgot that the distracted being
before them was a woman a young, week
dnlicate woman unable to contend, but who
deficient in physical strength, must submit
almost without a struggle, to what over
tenible fate they might design her.
The wretch Garcia, with a frown and a
horrible oath' moved toward her with the
intention of compellirg her to return to
the cabin but with a menacing gesture sho
warned him to ktep off. Willi a scornful
liugh the villain continued to approach, ut
tering language of insult and rebaldry. But
ere he could lay his unhallowed hand upon
her, she presented her pistol at his head
and fired! The ball peiformed its mission
well; it penetrated his brain, ami stretched
him upon ihe deck. His comrades beheld
the act; they saw their leader killed, and
cowards, as they were, they bgan lo
tremble for their own safety.
Caroline saw thorn falter, and snatching a
pistol from the boy who stood by her side
in a fiim voiao ordered them 10 go forward
under the pain of instant death: They
siw before them undoubted proo fof, her
determined spirit; they know thai she had
the moans to execute her threat?, and the
cowardly wretches after hesitating a moment
and rinionstraiing in vain took wainintr br
the fate of their comrado and loader aad
eluctanily obeyed her mandate. They
went forward; they did more; awed by her
unearthly appearance, and repeated man
aces, tliov decended into thn
- iKivkwMm
Wit'i the assistance of Edward, she tnstan
ly shut down the scuttle placed upon it at
Ketige anchor and several other heavy ar
ile to prevent the possibility of opening it
- ueiievng ,ltoi r she ihrevr
nd then uelievng hrrjelf anfe
llt.l0l.ll Ull Lit
r rt a.
a deck and indulged in all the
jextisvagar.ee of gtuf. And when