A Mysterious Ship.— Captain Shied of the the barque Springbok, reports the following : — '• July 18, 1864, in latitude (by observation) 41 degrees N., longitude (by chronometer) 31 degrees 12 minutes W"., at one p.m. sighted a vessel, which bore down upon us, and came within calling distance ; hove-to, and showed us a black board with 32 degrees 9 minules on it, being eighteen degrees out. I asked him several questions, such as, " What is the matter with you 1 ' •Do you want anything ? ' • Are you leaky ' Where from and where bound ? But all I could get out of him was, ' Captain, I do not understand what you say,' although in very plain English he called out several times, • Heave your ship to.' There appeared to be confusion on board, and there were about forty men on deck ; and as I feared something was seriously wrong on board the vessel I bore up in chase, but soon found that she could outstrip me, and had to give it up. Thought by the rig, &c, that she was built up the Straits of Gibraltar. While talking to him who seemed to be in charge, a woman appeared at the topgallant forecastle, shouting as loudly as she could, at the same time shaking her hands towards us, and wringing them over her head, evidently in greast distress. Tlie man in charge was about six feet in height, and stout. When I had hove-to he at once kept away under our stern. I thought he was about heaving-to al«o, but his helm was put up and all sail made in a remarkably short time, and while doing this the person in charge was observed to throw the woman down and driver her aft. I was about ordering my hands into the boats when he made sail."—" Port Elizabeth (Cape of Good Hope) Paper." Two Sides to a Speech.— Charles Lamb, sitting next to a talkative woman at dinner, observing he didn't attend to her, the lady said, " You don't seem to be at all the better for what I am saying to you." '• No, ma'am," he answered ; " but this gentleman on the side of me must, for it came in at one ear and out at the other."
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP18650519.2.11
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Evening Post, Issue 86, 19 May 1865, Page 3
Word Count
374Untitled Evening Post, Issue 86, 19 May 1865, Page 3
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