That night they were coming close to her, when the Captain of the Fairy Queen told them that the vessel in sight was the Will-o'-the-Wisp, and that she was moving slower than usual.
"During the night, perhaps about two o'clock, they were aroused by fog-horns and various noises. They arose and went out. It was dark and the fog so dense that nothing could be seen. The fog-horns indicated that the vessels were coming dangerously near to each other. The running to and fro and the language of the Captain of the ship all betokened danger.
"By this time the passengers were all up and out in so many different garbs that it was laughable, though the danger was imminent. The two vessels were nearing each other in spite of all that could be done by officers or crews. Finally the Fairy Queen was turned and run in the contrary direction from her course, and by that movement we got out of the swing of the Will-o'-the-Wisp. All remained up, filled with alarm.
"In the morning the fog lifted, and again they could see their way. The Will-o'-the Wisp was still in view, but seemed to be struggling. Nearing her again they found she was crippled in some way. The Captain of the Fairy Queen spoke her and inquired her trouble, when he found one of her shafts was broken. The arrangement was being made to get her tow-line and aid her on her way. Just as they were fastening it they saw a stream of fire pour from her that looked as if the whole ocean was in a blaze.
Their vessel had to cut loose and move rapidly to save herself. The fire seemed to leap into and out of the water, like great burning shafts, seemingly reaching the very heavens. It would then play on the surface of the water and reach apparently miles away.
[Illustration: The Burning of the Will-o-the-Wisp 284]
"There was no possible means by which any assistance could be rendered.
No one could live near her, nor could a vessel of any kind approach.
They could hear such frightful shrieks as would have made a demon shudder. Finally nothing could be seen save sheets of sulphurous flame jumping and skipping over the water as if playing with the waves. Then all became dark, and a streak of suffocating smoke hung over the water, as if a lake of burning brimstone was belching forth over the sea.
"All on the Fairy Queen stood aghast and looked as though stricken with paralysis. When the dark cloud of smoke had passed away there was nothing in sight save one small boat, perhaps a mile away. The Will-o'-the-Wisp was gone forever, and it looked as though all on board had gone with her. The Fairy Queen steamed up and steered in the direction of the small boat, and found that it contained but two persons. It was found that one sailor and Dr. Blackman had escaped by cutting loose with the little boat when the first signs of trouble were discovered. The doctor knew what was coming, and made away for dear life.
"When Jackson and Capt. Redingson made themselves known to him he was greatly surprised. They then talked the matter over, and all agreed that all the schemes of the Professor and Dr. Blackman were at an end.
"Capt. Redingson turned to Jackson, saying, 'There is my dream.'
"Blackman said Dr. Mears and the Professor were lost, and their great secret with them.
"Capt. Redingson asked how this fire could have occurred.
"The Doctor thought some of the Professor's material must have ignited in some way. 'The truth is,' he said, 'the ship was wrapt in flames in an instant. I saw this sailor jump into the life-boat, and I followed him. We are the only ones of all on board that are saved. The rest were all burned to death before they could possibly get from the vessel into the sea. There has never been any such combustible made before, and perhaps never will be again. But it is lost.'
"He seemed very despondent all the rest of the voyage. When they arrived in Montreal and conveyed the sad intelligence to Jacob Thomlinson and Mr. Carey, they were overwhelmed with disappointment. Their schemes were all blasted and they were bewildered.
"Finally, after some days of talking and consulting, they concluded to send Dr. Blackman to Richmond for instructions as to further operations. The first news that reached Richmond of the burning of the Will-o'-the-Wisp created great consternation. The loss of Prof.
McCullough and Dr. Mears was thought to be the severest blow they had received.
"Dr. Blackman left Jackson and Capt. Redingson to go to Richmond, but which way he went they never knew. Capt. Redingson took passage for Nassau, there to run the blockade, and was never heard of again by Jackson. I hope he is alive, as I think he was at heart a good man, full of noble impulses. Jackson was very fond of him, rebel as he was."
Col. Bush said: "Well, Prof. McCullough and Dr. Mears got their just deserts; their own fireworks did the business."
"Yes, yes! but the innocent officers and crew suffered with them."
"Yes," said Col. Bush, "but this had to be; the Lord did not intend that such infamy should be permitted to succeed."
"But," said Maj. Clymer, "there was Dr. Blackman, just as bad as either of the others; he escaped most miraculously."
"Yes," said Col. Bush; "his material, however, was all lost, and he had a warning against trying the same thing again. There was no great secret in his material to be lost; but there was in the others', and the gain to mankind was in the loss of their diabolical secret."
"Uncle Daniel, what became of this vile conspirator, Dr. Blackman?"
asked Dr. Adams.
"Well, Doctor, I am sorry to be compelled, with shame, to state the fact, but nevertheless it is a fact, that this same man, Dr. Blackman, has been made Governor of one of the States since the war, and at the same time his record was known by his constituents. But it did not seem to lose him any friends with his party, but, on the contrary, seemed to help him. Yes, yes, my friends, this is the sad phase of the whole matter. It matters not what a man did if he was a rebel; but if a Union man, and he did the slightest wrong, he was disgraced forever. None of the great and inhuman wrongs are remembered against the individual rebels who violated every instinct of humanity."
Here the old gentleman became silent, and placing his hands over his face, wept like a child. At length he continued:
"I, with all my sacrifices, even here at home would be thrust aside in order that the citizens might pay homage to the men who would have afflicted their own household with loathsome disease, and at the same time mocked at their calamity. If God wills, let it be so. I do not believe, however, that He is doing more than trying the Nation, to see if our people are worthy of such a Government as ours."
CHAPTER XVI.
A HAPPY WEDDING.--MARRIAGE OF SERAINE WHITCOMB AND HENRY LYON.--FIRE AND PLAGUE.--THE PLOTTING IN CANADA TO BURN CITIES AND SPREAD DISEASE.
"I did not fall in love--I rose in love."--Bulwer.
"After Jacob Thomlinson and C. C. Carey had recovered somewhat from their alarm and demoralization, they spoke freely to their friends in Montreal (and they had many there) about the burning of the Will-o'-the-Wisp, saying it was a great loss to their interests, without specifying in what way. In a few days Jackson, (after finding that they had invited Valamburg, of Ohio, Strider, Bowen, and Bryan, of Indiana, for consultation,) could remain no longer, as he would be known by Valamburg at once. He bade his friends good-by, saying he would travel through the West and would return if it became important to do so. He left for Toronto, remained there a day or so, and then came to Windsor, where he remained for several days. Finally he met Henry, who had just returned from Montreal to Windsor, where he was known as Henry Davis. He was introduced by Henry to one Samuel Wintergreen, who was in the employ of the Confederacy, or, in other words, of the rebels, getting everything ready for raids on the cities and villages in Ohio and Illinois. This man was very shy of Jackson, but spoke freely on all subjects save what he was himself doing. Henry and he were chums and seemed to understand each other perfectly.
[Illustration: Thomlinson and friends in Consultation 299]
"Wintergreen was from Thomlinson's town in the South, and was fully trusted and posted by him with all their plans and schemes. The only remark he made to Jackson was that he knew, from Mr. Thomlinson, who Jackson was, and merely asked if he saw the burning of the Will-o'-the-Wisp; to which Jackson replied in the affirmative. Jackson and Henry had arranged so that they should leave for Detroit the next day. Henry informed Wintergreen that he must visit Detroit on matters of importance, and that he might, perhaps, be detained for some considerable time, but that he would keep his eyes and ears open at all times during his absence. The next morning Jackson and Henry met in accordance with their agreement and immediately left for Detroit. Upon arriving they drove directly to the house of Mr. Whitcomb, where they found the old gentleman, his wife, and Seraine; James, her brother, now a Lieutenant and Aide-de-Camp to Gen. Anderson, having some time prior left for Allentown, in order to be with the General, where he had since remained, giving to him every attention. While spending a pleasant evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb, in conversation, in reference to the army, Henry remarked that he longed to be in the cavalry service once more, so that he might get even for the suffering he had experienced at the hands of our enemies while nearly starving to death in Pine Forest Prison.
"Miss Seraine here spoke with much feeling, her eyes filling with tears as she said: 'I think there are quite a sufficient number of your family already in their graves by the hands of the rebels without any more of you taking the chances of death that must be taken in the army.'
"'Yes,' said Jackson; 'and there seems to be one less at almost every turn. I feel that my time will surely come sooner or later, before this war closes.'
"This was uttered in such a sad and melancholy tone that Henry could not for a moment control his feelings. Recovering, he said:
"'It does seem that our family are struggling against fate; just think of the barbarous manner in which Harvey was killed, and see how, recently, the fiendish bushwhackers murdered poor brother Stephen. Would you not desire to be avenged on such wretches as these? Ever since I heard this, which was but a short while ago, (first told me by Seraine,) I have felt almost desperate, and certainly very revengeful.'
"'Yes,' said Jackson, 'revenge is saia to be sweet; but suppose you cannot get it, and instead of being revenged, you lose your own life?'
"'That is not all, Capt. Lyon,' as Seraine called him by his title; 'Mr.
Henry Lyon promised me that he would not enter the service again, but that he would stay at home and take care of his father and mother, and I hope he will do so, and not break his promise to me. I have periled my life for him, and would do the same again.'
"Henry clasped her in his arms and said: 'Seraine, I will do anything for you, and now I want to say right here, in the presence of my brother, that I am now and ever have been, ready to fulfill all of my promises to you.'
"Seraine looked him in the face and said: 'I have never doubted you, Henry, nor do I now.'
"'Jackson here interrupted, and turning to Henry, said: 'What are your promises to Seraine?'
"'That she and I would become man and wife whenever she should say that the time had arrived to have the marriage take place. Is it not so, Seraine?'
"'Yes, Henry, that is true; but I have never thought that the proper time had arrived.'
"'Well,' said Jackson, 'if you will allow me to suggest, I think the time has now arrived. Seraine, your father and mother are growing old; your only brother is in the army and may never return.' And to Henry he said: 'Our mother and father are also growing feeble from so much grief.
Mother, I think, cannot survive very much longer, and all of us who are now left, save yourself, are in the army. From our experience thus far the future is not full of hope. You and Seraine may soon be all that are left of both families, except, perhaps, some one or more of our parents.
Now, Seraine, let us get your father and mother to go with us to ALLentown, and there, in the presence of both families who yet remain above the sod, (save brother Peter, who cannot be with us,) have this marriage solemnized. Henry, our mother and Jennie would be very happy over this, and so would Mary Anderson and the children, all of whom love Seraine very much.'
"By this time the tears were rolling down Seraine's cheeks. Henry stood looking at her, and grasping her by the hand, when Jackson had finished, he led her into the presence of her father and mother and told them the proposition, and asked them to consent. They gave Seraine to Henry, and blessed them both as their children. Seraine, in answer to Henry, thought, in consideration of the whole situation, that the time had come, and that she would acquiesce in the arrangements as proposed by Jackson, who was happier now than he had been since the beginning of the war, and so expressed himself to Seraine and Henry. The next day being agreed upon for their departure for ALLentown, Jackson repaired to his room, leaving Henry and Seraine together to talk over the details of their prospective marriage.
"Leaving Detroit the following morning they arrived at my house in the afternoon and found a warm welcome awaiting them, my wife and the two other ladies of my household doing everything to make Seraine's father and mother feel that they were more than merely welcome. When we were all together Jackson became spokesman, and waxed quite eloquent over the whole affair. When he had finished Gen. Anderson cried out:
"'Bravo! Bravo! Henry and Seraine!'