A STRANGE STORY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 998, 13 December 1910, Page 5

A STRANGE STORY.

MYSTERY OF- THE ■ SEA;.'.;''••'.■ A rather strange story, of the sea,'a' mystery at the. time, .was published in.-: a The Dokikion of September 10. ■".. It con-V. i cerned the finding of: flie Britisn -barque. Invern.jssshire, in perfect condition,, at:, anchor west of the-Falkland'lslands, iuj ■ south latitude 52," longitude.3o west, ,on, ; ' 1 June 15, by Captain Hancho, .of 'tho' Italian steamer Vernia. The .barque was:. J deserted. Everything was in order, and l .. J every sail was furled, and the ■ vessdV- • boats in position. A thorough search, disclosed nothing. There lay.the barque,.; with both port and starboard anchors holding fast in 10 fathoms of calm, water, technically a derelict," yet in per-; j feet condition. The vessel was towed to> r Port Stanley, in East Falkland Island,! r where she awaited the pleasure of her. owners, T. Law and Company, of Glas---gow. "What became of ! her crew and! skipper (Captain M'Kinnon) none could';, explain. Why he deserted her there/ within sight of land, close to Cape Hbra^ - was also a mystery, and even to-day.the ; greater part of the proceedings still, re-'»• • mains a mystery. Some light, however, is thrown on thiai mysterious happening in a letter from. • tho owners, to Mi'.■■Murray, of Painter-; , ston North, in reply to ono sent,.during ; . J September asking for particulars.. The" letter reads as follows :— 123 Hope Stseet, ■'."', Glasgow, October 29, 1910. „" , Dear Sir,--Wc duly received your ..let-. - ter of 15th September, and note what i you write. • Captain M'Kinnon took com-, mand of this ship in .. Hamburg, ■ but through ill-health did -not go. in; the. 3 ship. Ho has,left the sea in the mean- ' - time, and is proprietor of an hotel in., t West Highlands. The Invernessshire'9. crew reached Port .Stanley safely, and: tho ship.is now on her way to Santo . c Rosalia, with the original crew on board. : i ■' j Yours truly,-, t . THOS. L.VW'AND CO.,■-V - i . (Signed) W. T. LAW.';