EXTRAORDINARY TALE OF THE SEA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1728, 6 December 1887, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY TALE OF THE SEA.

A remarkable ocourrenco waa reported by Captain Doward, of the Glasgow barque E3trella de Oblle, who arrived at Qaeenatown from Basaein on September 28ih for orders. Captain Doward's statement is as follows ; — *' On September 19, m longitude about 20deg W., and 45deg N., we Bighted a barque under Bhort canvas hove-to. She reduced her sail until we oarae up with her, and then she ran up an Italian flag. Subsequently she hoisted signs informing us that there waa a mutiny on board, and requesting ua not to leave her, bat to remain sailing In her company. By her aignala I learned she was bound to Falmouth from Buenoß Ayres, and was forty days oat ; but the name of the vessel I could nut- ascertain, aa she gave us false letters. Over the strange vessel's port bow was placed a large piece of canvas like a sail, aa if put there to stop a leak. According to elguals we remained m close proximity that night, each vessel displaying bright lights. The next mornlcg I asked her if the veseel was leaking, and after & great deal of hesitation aha signalled m reply that she was, and had been making water from September 2. The second night we kept m cjmpauy, again burning bright lights. We then commenced to see that during the light of day the stranger would keep a long distance aw*y from us, bnt as soon as darkness set In she would come op quite close again ; and being a much faßter eailer than oure, ahe waa able to do so. then conoluded she did this for the purpose of not disclosing her name. About 12 30 a.m. she steered quite close to us, and to avoid her striking our vessel we held a light over our side. She then ran aoroas our bow, and macoeavred about m a most extraordinary manner, which looked aa if she wanted a collision to take pl-.co. The next day the stranger again sailed away from us, and kept along distance off, but steered the same course as we did until darkness had sot m, when she again Balled np m close proximity with u<j, aud exhibited fhah lights twice m succession. Wo however made no signs ia responso. The stranger then suddenly put out her lights, and leftua completely m tho dark. Fearing that the foreigner would run into us, we at ones extinguished all the lights on board the Eatrella de Chile, and changed out course to bbfflj the Italian vessel's pursuit, which we succeeded m doing. The rest of the night we saw nothing of her, and the next morning she waß nowhere to be Been.