HOW CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE WAS SAVED.

Dunstan Times, Issue 848, 19 July 1878, Page 3

HOW CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE WAS SAVED.

The following anecdote, which we have received from a thoroughly trustworthy source, may not be without interest to our readers : In the month of March, 1577, Mr Evans, tho master of the Fitzmaurico, the vessel which discovered the abandoned Obelisk in the Bay of Biscay, whilst staying in England for a few days prior to the departure of his ship, happened to light upon a copy of the Graphic, containing an engraving of tho cylindrical vessel, then at Alexandria, and its novelty led him, as a sea-faring man, to closely study its construction. He little thought at the time how useful the knowledge thus gained would prove to be. On tho day on which the Needle was recovered ho was in his cabin, when his first mate, being relieved of bis watch, came down and reported “ very dirty weather,” adding they had just passed w hat looked like a portion of a W'rcck, but that, as they could see no human being on it, he had not, owing to the heavy sea, steered any nearer to it. This announcement brought the captain on deck, when, to his astonishment, he found the “ bit of a wreck ” was none other than the Cleopatra, and he at once ordered his vessel to bear down upon her and take her in tow. Had bo not seen onr engraving, bo would not have recognised in the curious-looking vessel the “ Needle-ship ” about which so much had been said, and in all probability be would have agreed with his subordinate’s opinion that it was part of some unfortunate craft, and have allowed it to drift away helplessly on the waves. That the accident was moat Inoky none will deny ; for it transpired at the recent trial for the assessment of the salvage that, in consequence of the leak in tho Cleopatra, she would undoubtedly have sunk, had she not been so timely taken care of by the Fitzmaurice.