A Mystery of the Sea.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 77, 29 August 1885, Page 3

A Mystery of the Sea.

One of the consular aprents m Cuba rerecentlv repotted to the State department. In Washington, U V S. thaHhe American bri"Mary Celeste -had heen^wreckod somewhere near his agency. The report calls to mind a singular ocoiirrence_of twelve years ago. In December, 187^, the TJnited States consul at Gibraltar ; reported the arrival there of three British Teamen in.charge of + Mary C cle S te She-haa been found adrift three days out. by the British vessel I>A Gratia, of tf ova Scotia. The sailors., reported that they had sighteoHhe Mary ..Celeste, and, see-, in^ no si^hs of life had boarded her. She nad aU her. wb »«t, there.was afire . m the cook's galley.her hold w loaded with provisions and water, and her cargo ot alcohol was complete. In the captain s cabin were fonhd his watch and some money, and there was a sewing machine Si the middle of the floor, upon which was an infants garment partl^made. In fact, with the : exception ot the ship s and compas«, all about the Mary Cekste was m perfect shape. 1^ ftte 1 of her captain and crew will pr6bablv remain a mYstery for ever. The British vSe-AdmiraltyGonrt directed an invesfipation hut without result. >t first Spla; was frared, hut that theory was abandoned, and the one generally accepted was that advanced by Rear- Admiral BhnfeMt, then "a captain m command ot the United States steamer Plymouth on the European station. Thurwaft that, owing to Ismail leak, tbew had become Shtoned, and left hurriedly m the boats. '