MYSTERIES OF THE SEA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 217, 1 February 1913, Page 1 (Supplement)

MYSTERIES OF THE SEA

.STRANGE STORIES OF DESERTED SHIPS. Commenting on the fact that a large unknown steanie* which was recently reported to have been sighted drifting al sea, has stranded on the Lihou Reef, 340 miles north-east of Townsville' Queensland, a contemporary says it recalls some of those other many mysteries of the sea to which' no clue has been found. The fate of the passengers and crew of an abandoned French liner which was discovered by fI.M.S. Wasp, whilst cruising in the China seas, remains a mystery to this (lay. It was on one summer's afternoon that the warship came across a ship of similar tonnage, equally sound and staunch, drifting helplessly. On being boarded, the Frenchman was found io be unite deserted. In the cabin were the remains 01 a meal fresh and sweet, a child's toys thrown carelessly down, and on tile open piano were some sheets of music The liner was salved, but nothing has ever since been heard of its occupants. Not so many years ago the captain of a North Sea trawler reported that at dead of night lie was astonished to see a huge pillar of flame and smoke arising out of the water. I[ e sent out a small boat, and discovered that the Hare proceeded from a burning vessel of large size. Approaching as close as she dared, the trawler could distinguish no sign of life, nor any trace of crew or passengers. Within a few minutes of the trawler drawing oh" the strange vessel blew up with a terrific ing the whole of the surrounding seaWilli smouldering debris. The strange part of the affair was that no ship of the size indicated was known to be in the North Sea at the time, nor was any of her class afterwards reported as missing.

But perhaps the weirdest of all ocean mysteries is that concerning the fate of the passengers and crew of the Marie Celeste. On December 4, thirty-eight years ago. this ship was sighted in midAtlantic by the captain of the Highlander, and reported all well. The two vessels saluted, and parted. She was again hailed only two davs later by a different ship, ),„t this time there was no response. Sails were set, and as everything was in order, the captain of the bailing vessel was considerably puzzled. He altered his course, and ran his ship close under the lee of the Marie Celeste, sending a boarding party to investigate.

Inexplicable and astonishing was the j result. Neither above nor between decks was any living being to be found. The boat was perfectly seaworthy, the caro- 0 was well stowed and in good conditiom and even the brasswork . appeared to have been only recently polished. Moreover, m the saloon was a cold luncheon set ready for the passengers, and the stewards' pantry showed'that preparations for an evening meal were well ad vanced. Evidently, too. the deserted boat had not encountered heavy weather for a phial of medicine stood upright on the captain's table. The personal effects of the officers, men and passengers were undisturbed. Finally re. was notp <' that not a single boat wig missing. Thirty-eight years have elapsed since men. but of the one hundred and odd persons on board the Marie Celeste on December -j, and who were as certainly not on her on December 0, no trace has ever been found. Their fate is an impenetrable mystery.