MYSTERY OF THE SEA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 91, 24 April 1913, Page 7

MYSTERY OF THE SEA.

SWIMMER IN MID-OCEAN. A curious incident, involving a mystery of the sea, is reported by the Aberdeen liner Marathon, which recently called at Melbourne. When the vessel was about midway between Teneriffe and Capetown, in lldeg. 10 min. south, and Ideg. o2min. west, the lookout man in the “crow’s nest” reported to the bridge that ho saw what appeared to .be a human being abreast of the ship on the port side, and distant about 80 yards. The next moment a bare arm was seen, which disappeared a few seconds later. He declares a head appeared, and this also disappeared. , ( The ship was immediately turned round, and retraced her course for two miles. The port side emergency boat was manned and lowered to the deck rail in readiness to pick up the man when he was next sighted. The vessel was kept steaming slowly in the vicinity, and a sharp lookout was maintained froii) various points of vantage on the ship. ATcer an hour’s search, nothing having been seen again, the ship continued on her way to Capetown. There were ,n.o ships within a considerable distance .of the Marathon’s course. The lookout man adheres strictly to his story, and declares ho is perfectly sure that the object ho sighted, was a human being swimming towards the ship.