A STRANGE STORY OF THE DEEP.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4736, 12 March 1884, Page 3

A STRANGE STORY OF THE DEEP.

In a book, written by Eea*-Admiral Weiae| t ,of the German navy, a strange story is "told of the way in which, many years ago, in 1836, a French man-of-war went down with all bends on bo&rd, iJ West Indian waters. ■ The ship had been in commission for two years on the Antilles station, and during the whole of the time her captain, who is described as an incarnation of etuelly, had exercised his ingenuity in tormenting in every possible way both the officers and men of bis crew. So well lied he succeeded that the lives of all on lioard had been rendered a burden to them, while the captain bimseH was bated with an intensity of which proof was soon to be given. Orders at length came for the ship to return home. . Not long after the anchor had been weighed, it became evident that a heavy squall was ccming down on the ship, and the captain directed the officers of the watch to shorten sail. The orders were given, but not a man moved. Again the orders were repeated, this time by the captain himself; but still not a man moved. " This is mutiny," cried the captain, and then a hundred voices answered," We will not shorten sail." In rain the terrified captain appealed to the officers to support him. They stood silent.^nd neither threats or promises availed to make the men move, tare only a few who were noted as spies •nd favorites of the captain. A few minutes more and the squall struck the ship. In a moment the vessel was thrown upon her beam ends. ?' Cut away the masts I" shouted the captain; hut still not a man moved. In another minute, howerer. the rigging carried away, the masts went by the board, and thus relieved, the ship righted herself. Then the long-suppressed rage broke forth, and rushing aft, they seized the captain. A few minutes more and he would have followed the rigging, but the first lieutenant, going below, opened the door of the magazine and fired his pistol into - Jr. There was a loud report, and the : ship was no more. An hrur afterwards an American vessel passing over the spot picked up one of the crew, who told the story of what bad happened, and died shortly afterwards: