A ROMANCE AT SEA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 828, 1 March 1878, Page 3

A ROMANCE AT SEA.

The Sydney Morning Herald of the 26th ultimo gives the following “ A Romantic Story—A captain of an English ship which arrived at San Fraucisoq. lately related a romantic story to a reporter of the San Francisco Mail with regard.lo the following entries which appear in the official log of his voyage ‘ August 15th ; latitude, ; longitude, ; James Colton; a stowaway, fell from the tore-topgallant-yard to the deck, and was instantly killed.’ August 16th ; latitude, - ; longitude, ; William Bean, an ordinary seaman, while the funeral service was being read over Colton, jumped from the topgallant-rail and sank immediately. Ship hove to at the time. A boat was lowered, but no traces of the man were discerned. The circumstances, according to the captain’s statement, were as follows Bean shipped in Liverpool, and Was a tall, good looking, young fellow, active and zealous in the performance of his duties. Two days after the sailing of the vessel ‘ a little bit of a fellow with short curly hair and a round face’ was found by the mate stowed away under the fore-hatch. Ho gave his name as Colton, and was claimed by Bean as an old ‘ chnm’, who, wanting a passage to California, but having no money, had secreted himself on hoard the ship. Colton was set to work to assist the steward, and was employed in odd jobs about the cabin. He also coloured some photographs in the captain’s album, in a manner which showed .considerable artistic skill. He and Bean were observed to be constantly in each others society, and from their intimacy it was supposed that Bean had induced Colton to run away from school and try his fortune in California. One day a squall came, -on suddenly, and Colton jumped into the fore-rigging to get aloft and stow the fore-royal. Beau followed ; but Colton got ahead of him, and, missing his footing, fell with a ‘ thud’ on the deck, breaking his neck. Bean on seeing what had happened, was seized with a fit. On recovery he confessed .that Colton was his wife, who had disguised herself as a boy in order to follow him. He produced the marriage certificate and letters, which showed that he was a young man of good family, thrd his name of Bean was assumed, and that he had married his wife, whom he had known from ch’ldhood, against the wish of his and her friends. Not having sixpence in the world, they came on board ship, Bean having been to sea before. The next day, when the funeral service had been lead over bis wife’s remains and her body slipped off into the sea, Bean leaped over the side of the vessel and disappeared. The captain, who drank a pood deal of sherry and wept copiously as he related the story to the reporter, partjculary requested that in publishing the account of the sad incident the name of the ship might not be mentioned, observing that ‘he didn’t like that sort of sensation. ’