LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 643, 11 July 1876, Page 3

LITERATURE.

AN EVENTFUL VOYAGE. (Continued.) The captain answered for her, and said : ‘ She will go with me. ’ Captain Benbow, as became the man and his name, declined to leave the vessel until all were embarked in the boats. He seemed dejected; but it was enough to make any man sad. This was his last voyage, and with a long experience at sea, this was the first time he had ever lost a vessel. He had, too, on board all bis silver, and a valuable collection of charts ; and then there were the chronometers and the ship’s papers. These last must be saved. The gig was still hanging to the stern davits, when the captain turned to Miss Talbot, and said : ‘ Here, Blanche, get into the boat; don’t be afraid !’ and be helped her and Mrs Silver to their places. Mr Blake reported : *We have launched the raft, sir, and I think you have done all that can be done.’

* No,’ answered the captain ; ‘ I must have the manifest and chronometers. Blake, see the ladies safely lowered, while I go and get them ; and let the quartermasters get in, and have all ready for pushing off.’ They were shouting from one of the boats : ‘ Chief officer wanted on board.’ Blake, however, stuck to the captain; and after lowering the boat with the quartermaster, he ran down the stern companion-ladder to help the captain with his chronometers. He had no sooner descended than Vanghau came rushing across the poop as if possessed, and shouting to the quartermaster who was waiting for the captain : ‘ Over for your life !’ jumped overboard. He had scarcely disappeared, when an explosion of a terrilic nature was heard ; and a long spiral pillar of smoke and a terrific flame of fire showed that powder in the hold had taken fire, and that Captain Banbow had found his funeral pyre on board his own vessel. At the same moment the mainmast fell lengthways on the poop. The flames had now caught the cabin, and were issuing from the ports. Vaughan had no sooner jumped overboard, than he was quickly on the top of the water again, and was pulled into the boat by two of the midshipmen. * Pull round to the quarter,’ he said ; ‘ the captain will be burned alive.’ They hauled the gig under the captain’s port. ‘ Captain Benbow!’ shouted Vaughan. There was no answer. The quartermaster also hailed with the same result. * Good heavens !’ said Vaughan, ‘he will be burned alive. Captain Benbow !’he roared out again; and getting hold of one of the davit fails, hauled himself up, and looked through the port of the captain’s cabin. Ihere was no sign of him: the floor was strewed with charts; two of his chronometers were missing. ‘ Is he there ?’ called Miss Talbot.

‘ The cabin is on lire,’ returned Vaughan, ‘ and he went in that last explosion. There was all the ship’s powder in the lazarette. ’ There were two midshipmen and two quarter-masters in the gig. The boats and raft were so crowded that it was impossible to hoist a sail or to use the oars. In the long boat, in which were the colonel, his wife, the judge, and several ladies and officers, besides a number of soldiers’ wives, it was impossible to move, much less to row, and the boat lay like a log upon tire water. This boat -was to have been commanded by the lirct mate, but as that officer had perished with the captain, the third officer, Dodman, took command of her. In the gig, Miss Talbot and Mrs Silver sat in the stern-sheets. Miss Talbot seemed much distressed, but Vaughan assured her that they were in the track of vessels ; and hoisting the lug sail, the whaleboat began to skim along, a course being shaped for the Cape. The Bangalore was now -almost burned down to the water’s edge, but every nowand then the flames burst out afresh. Mr Sparks, who was in charge of the cutter, ordered the boats to keep near the burning vessel, thinking that if any vessels were in sight, they must be attracted by the flames. No one knew that the captain was not in the gig The ladies and women suffered great disdiscomfort from crowding, and all were longing lor daylight it was about 4 a.m, when one of the cutter’s men shouted : 1 Steamer’s lights ahead! ’ There was much

excitement at this announcement, and the men involuntarily gave a cheer. In a few minutes the three lights of a steamer were now distinctly visible, and in about fifteen minutes she was almost abreast of ns. On she came, with a stately steady swing, the steam roaring from her pipes, and light* shining from her port-holes. She was steer* ing for all that remained of the Bangalore. With the exception of the captain’s gig, all the boats were picked up, and the cast* aways were embarked on board the steamer, and treated with the humanity usual on such occasions. The steamer put back to Table Bay ; and upon her arrival there, and knowledge of the cause, the greatest rejoicing and excitement prevailed at the merciful deliverance from what threatened at one time to be a dreadful catas* trophe. There were missing the captain, chief officer, Miss Talbot, Mrs Silver, two midshipmen, and about twenty of the troops, petty officers, and sailors. These last were supposed to have helped I themselves to the cased spirits in the hold, i and drunk themselves to stupor, and perished | in the flames.

No sooner were the crew and passengers landed, than they began to talk among them* selves as to the origin and cause of the fire ; and the boatswain, who was one of the saved, told his story about ordering Vaughan to get the tar from the forepeak : and the second mate did not scruple to aver that it was purposely done by Vaughan, to get clear of the vessel, and revenge himself for his punishment.

Vaughan in the meanwhile was in charge of the gig. He took the tiller, and seemed to have such confidence in himself, and to know so well where he was, that both the ladies were reassured. Whatever happened, he made the best of it, and almost seemed to make light of their misfortunes. He said that they were in the track of vessels, and that if they were not picked up, in two days he would make Table Bay.

We had been in Cape Town some two days, when the Marlborough Indiaman, outward bound from London to Calcutta, brought up in Table Bay, having picked up the boat containing Miss Talbot, Mrs Silver, and the quartermaster. Vaughan had navigated the boat so well, that when picked up, he was only one day’s sail from Simon’s Bay. He narrated the history of the burning of the vessel, and the death of Captain Benbow and the chief officer. The captain of the Marlborough knew old Bobus well; and when he heard that the. young — lady who was saved was the daughter of a judge, his politeness and attention were very marked. Miss Talbot attracted as much attention on the Marlborough as she had done on board the Bangalore ; and on arrival at Table Bay the news soon spread of the missing gig having been picked up, navigated by Mr Vaughan. For the short time that Vaughan was on board the Marlborough he was a great favorite ; by the ladies he was looked upon as a hero of the most approved type ; while the officers envied him in having rescued such a young and charming lady. Directly the Marlborough came to anchor in Table Bay, she was boarded by Colonel Boyle, his wife, and the judge, who had come to look after Miss Talbot and Mrs Silver. The colonel took Vaughan on one side, and although congratulating him on having safely brought the gig and its occupants through their dangers, told him that there were some ugly stories afloat of his having wilfully set the vessel on fire, and that the papers had published the account. ‘ However,’ said the colonel, ‘we shall all be glad if you can exonerate yourself,’ Miss Talbot, who overheard this remark while talking to Mrs Boyle, burst into tears, aud said: ‘ Colonel Boyle, you little know bow nobly Mr Vaughan has behaved, or you would be one of the last to credit such things.’ And Mrs Silver vowed that she never could forget his having saved their lives, and his noble attention and delicacj . The colonel and his wife were disposed to be friendly to Vangban, although many of the passengers and crew were wroth at having lost all clothes aud possessions, and,were anxious for him to be brought to justice. They took Miss Talbot and Mrs Silver with t them to their hotel. Arrangements were made for forwarding as many of the Bangalore’s passengers as possible to Calcutta by the Marlborough, which was to sail in three days; and many of the officers and passengers were occupied in getting fresh outfits.

There was at this time lying in Table Bay a French transport, Lo Oerf, which had put into the Cape, being short of water, and having lost a number of her men with small pox. On board this vessel Vaughan at once enlisted. He spoke French well, and as the transport was on the point of sailing, and was short handed, there was no objections raised by the French officers. That day, a warrant was issued for his apprehension, on the charge of wilfully setting fire to the Bangalore, and causing the loss of the vessel and a number of people. All the hotels were searched, all the resorts of sailors, but without success. Indeed, there were some who did not scruple to say that the colonel had helped him, and that he had gone into the interior, to avoid being sent prisoner to England. The crew and officers of the Bangalore were forwarded home by steamer; and the death of Captain Benbow created much discussion among shipping circles in London, and the underwriters raised difficulties in paying the vessel’s insurance. Advertisements were inserted in the Ti mos, and principal papers in India, Australia, and the Cape, with a description of Vaughan, offering a reward for any information respecting him. The reward, however, was fruitless : nothing was scon or heard of him. Meanwhile, in due course, the Marlborough arrived out safely at Calcutta ; and Mias Talbot was met at the Sandheads by her father the judge, who went down the Hooghly in a tug boat to meet her. lie was introduced to Colonel Boyle and his wife, and was much shocked to hear of the death of his old friend Benbow. ‘I should have liked,’ said he, ‘to have seen and thanked that young fellow Vaughan, to whom 1 feel I owe my daughter’s safety. [ To be continued ]

Detroit husbands and wives sometimes—once in a great many years—have disputes. The other day, when a Beech street couple were holding an argument the husband raised his hands and exclaimed, '‘Oh, Consistency, thou art a jewel! ” The wife at once broke down, and as she sobbed she gasped out, “You saw her at the opera, I suppose ; but if she had to split wood, wash dishfs, and take care of six chi dren, she wouldn’t look any better’n I do—hoo ! ”