THE IRONY OF FATE.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 283, 3 June 1909, Page 7

THE IRONY OF FATE.

In 1779 the cnttei* Sparrow brought a brig named the Nancy inio the liar- - bor of Queenstown, Jamaica, under the suspicion that the latter vessel 'was engaged 'in the slave trade. But though many circumstances gave color to this accusation, no clear proof .could be obtained, as the brig had no papers from which such a charge could be substantiated. The court, therefore, -discharged' 1 the suspected vessel. But the day before she left the harbor a man-of-war arrived bringing some documents Avhich clearly proved the guilt of the Nancy. "While cruising off St. Domingo, the crew of the man-of-war had amused themselves with" fishing for sharks. In the stomach of one caught was found a bundle of ship's papers — the very documents which the owner of the Nancy had flung overboard when boarded by the Sparrow, and doubtless imagined he was rid of for ever. Curiosity' led the captain ■' of the man-of-war to clean and examine the papers so strangely brought to light, with the. result that he deemed it his duty, to lay them l)efore the authorities. The -unlucky Nancy was condemned on this romantically acquired evidence.