"REPORTED MISSING"

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 148, 23 June 1923, Page 23

"REPORTED MISSING"

MYSTERIES OF THE SEA

SHIPS THAT HAVE NEVER

RETURNED

STORIES OF WRECK AND

DISASTER.

Recent disappearances of vessels on the high seas, with, special refrence to the Douglas Mawson and the Amy Turner, give strong point to this article by Mervyn O'Hara, published in a recent issue of the Sydney "Daily Telegraph." Possibly the list of sea mysteries here discussed is not large, but some of tlie instances, to say the last, aTe extraordinary. The writer mentions only'the chief chips which have figured as "missing" during recent years. ' Eight shipping casualties are mentioned in the 1922 list recently compiled by the Commonwealth Navigation Department. One of these was the barque -Manurewa., which leftSydney on 31st March of last year for Ihe Clarence River. The vessel left Sydney, and from thence all trace of her was Since the very beginning of things, writes Mr. O'Hara, when Man launched his frail coracle on it in trembling, md after snpplication to his crude gods, the sea has remained one of the great mysteries of Life. Behind it_ is sensed something tremendous —a primal force that vibrates in harmony with Destiny. In spite of the advances of science, and the growth on man's intellect, the sea still holds his spul in thrall. He is peculiarly, sensitive to its moods., ne laughs with it in the sunshine _on its beaches and sports with the boisterous mrf; !v) is sad' with it when the sun goes, and the dusk steals down in erev, and he quails before its anger when the storm lashes the waves in madness, and stand-off signals are flying from the stations all along the coast. CASE OF THE MARIE CELESTE.

In the great storybook of the sea there are many strange tales, and those that tell of the missing ships are full of all the elements of interest—romance, adventure, mystery, and. tragedy. The ending of some of these tales is'known to us, but there are as many again whose finish must always be shrouded in mystery whils the sea has its secrets. One of these is the strange case ol the jMarie Celeste- Koi< half a (century ihu mystery surrounding the fate of the, crew of the Marie Celeste has completely baffled all attempts at its solution. In the autumn of 1872^ the Marie Celeste, an American brig of about 600 tons, left New York with a cargo of spirits for Genoa. The ship's company comprised 13 souls—another of those cases that apparently bolster up the old superstition based on the evil significance Di this number.

The names that occur in the story are those of Captain Briges, the master of the ill-fated vessel; his wife, Mrs. Biigys, who, with her little daughter, accompanied her husband; and Abel Fosdyk, a seaman.

Weeks after the departure of the Marie Celeste, a British barque, the Dei Gratia, under Captain Boyce, was bowling alons towards Gibraltar. The sea was as smooth as a mill pond. It was sth December, 1872. At noon, the Dei Gratia, was at v point 300 miles due west of Gibraltar, when two other vessels came in sight. One was a German_ tramp holdiny; a course for the West indies. The tramp crossed the bc-vs of the brig at a distance of about three miles. She signalled the brie, but there was no reply. Contim.iin<j her course, the tramp went straight on, but Captain Boyce, who had noticed the failure of the brig to reply to the tramp's signal, decided to try himself. Again there was no reply. Some peculiar instinct moved Captain Boyce to investigate. As the Dei Gratia drew closer, a more urgent message was signalled, -but still there was no response. "This looks very funny," said Captain Boyce to. bis mate. "I think wS had better get a boat out." The order was given, and two sailors, the captain, and the mate row_ed off to the briff.

As they drew nearer they could see no sign of life about her. There was no helmsman on deck. The ship was driftJnc. and the sails flapped idly against the mast. Not a sound greeted the party as each member climbed over the side.

"It might be plague," said -Captain Boyce. "It can't be mutiny, for, there aro no signs of a struggle on the deck."

His voice sounded strange and urirea| in the uncanny silence. The two sailors shivered in apprehension on the deck. ''We'd better go down to the master's cabin," said Captain Boyce, when, they had searched thp deck without making any discoveries. They did so, but, instead of finding a solution in the cabin, what they saw there only served to heighten the mystery. The table was set for a meal, and by the appearance of the food, four persons had risen from it, with -1110 meal half-eaten.

On the table stood a bottle of cough mixture, from which the cork had been removed and placed beside it. Close t« the table, in a sewing machine, was a child's pinafore. There were other evidences also that betrayed the presence of .a woman. • —

"Let's see if we can find the log," said Captain Boyce. "If it's, there, that will givp us something to start from."

They found the ship's log, the binnacle, and the compass, but the ship's papers were missing. The log disclosed the fact that the captain's wife and baby woru aboard, that there were only two passengers, and that the ship's name was Marie Celeste.-

There was'nothing else to: be seen'in the cabin, so they W6nt to the forecastle, where they found the fire alight in the galley stove and breakfast ready conked. Some of the men's clothing was also hung out to dry. In the mule's cabin they found on the tablu two watches, and that was all. Both watches were going. There, as in the forecastle and the-master's cabin, there were no signs of preparations for t'Vinndoning the ship. It was clear that ■•11 hinds had left in too great a hurry tr. collect any valuables. The sailors had ev-n left their pipes and tobacco behind The theory of piracy was also found tn h/> groundless; neither the ship's money box nor'any of the valuable cargo bad been disturbed.

The only story of fact in connection with the uncanny disappearance of the crew comes from Abel Fosdyk, said to have been one of the ship's company. Fosdyk was servant to the headmaster of Peterborough Lodge, Hampstead's largest preparatory school. With Mr. A. Howard Lindford, Fosdyk left an account descriptive of the events of the voyage, of the Marie Celeste up to the time the ship was deserted. This account was not made available until Fosdyk's death. Mr; Lindford did not attach any importance to the papers when Fosdyk gave them to him, but presumed the name Marie* Celeste referred to some woman. Afterwards, it occurred to-him that they might have some connection witli the sea mystery. According to 'Fosdyk's story, Captain Briggs had been suffering from a, nervous breakdown, and was clearly • not- in a fit state to have - charge of the vessel. But the crow wero free from anxiety.

They knew the mate was capable, and had confidence in. him.

Apparently, there was some ill-feeling between the mate and the captain, for Fosdyk says the captain used to taunt the mate with cowardice in not going to the rescue of a- drowning comrade. The mate's defence was that he could not swim with his clothes on. The captain, | it appears, insisted that this made no difference, and declared his intention of demonstrating the fact. Fosdyk's account is so disjointed and fragmentary that it is practically impossible to present a clear account of the events which followed this declaration by Captain Briggs. Apparently, the crew knew that the captain was going into the sea in his clothes, and they endeavoured to provent him without precipitating, a quarrel. But as it was impossible to induce him to change his mind, to watch for his safety, two black boys in th«> crew, who were good swimmers, were deputed to go with him into the water. Now comes the mystery. Fosdyk says :—"Those on board theMarie Celeste were watching the finish of the swimming, when a shriek rent the air, and, without a word of warning, they found themselves in the water."

Fosdyk was hit by a spar, and apparently lost his sanity. How long it was after the catastrophe when Fosdyk was_ found on the north-west coast of Africa, cannot be said, for his account makes no mention of time in this respect. He says he was cared for by' three blacks, a dark European and his wife, then a small sailing vessel arrived, which took him to Algiers. It should be added, however, that Fosdyk said a huge shark was manoeuvring round the brig when the crew disappeared. WARATAH'S LAST GOOD-BYE. Banking nest in importance to the case of the Marie Celeste is the mystery of the Waratah. Who can forget the thrill of horror that ran Tound the world when the news came through from Capetown that the Waratah was missing? On 26th June, 1909, the Waratah sailed out of Sydney on her second and last voyage to London. Durban was reached on 25th July. Bound for Capetown, the Waratah left there the next day with £07 passengers. She was expected at Capetown on Friday, 29th July. rt _T, en, hor n's aftel- leaving Durban, on 27th July, a. signal from the Waratah was picked up by the steamer Clan Macintyre, also bound for London, via Durban. Greetings were exchanged between the Clan Macintyre, which signalled-Good-bye. A pleasant passage," an<i the Waratah seat back the message, bame to you." That was the last thai was heard of the Waratah. On 28th July there was a fierce gale and on the 30th great anxiety was felt in Capetown for the Waratah for no uews of any kind had been received. ■ lhe storm was still raging when, on bunday, the T. E. Fuller, equipped for salvage work, left the Capetown Docks to search for the missing Waratah. Hundreds of people, impelled either by fear for the safety of those they loved or through curiosity, came down to wish the T. E. Fuller God-speed and success in its mission.

"I shall never forget the sight," said my friend. "The tears of the women mingled with the rain that beat on their wan faces. Oilskin clad, the' men stood by, sombre-eyed and with heavy hearts. Knowing the coast as they did, they could not hope; they could only wait."

On Monday the tug returned, battered by the waves and weather. Its mission had been fruitless. No news, either good or bad, could it bring of the Waratah to her friends in. Capetown.

While the Waratah was between Durban and Capetown the Borkum, ,of the Norddeutscher Lloyd Line, was in difficulties in the same latitude. A fire had broken out on board, and high explosives were in the cargo. -To save his ship from being blown up, the captain decided to jettison the explosives. So violent was the weather that there was no chance of touching off the explosives in the water, so it had to be abandoned.

It is contended by many whose opinions are worthy of note that the Waratah struck some of the floating explosive, and was so badly damaged as a result that, she would not weather the storm. And yet, if this is the true explanation, it is strange that no wreckage was found. The explosion would scatter timbers and spars, which would eventually be thrown up along the coast. Not even the search of'warships discovered any wreckage from the Waratah. It was as if the sea had < ■opened and swallowed up the vessel and her complement. CASE OF THE CANASTOTA.There is more evidence to substantiate ' the theory advanced in explanation of the disappearance of the Canastota, which left Sydney about two years ago for New York, and vanished as if into thin air between North Head and New Zealand. The Canastota was a British ship, well known as a regular trader to Australia.

A vessel of 4900 tons gross, she was commanded by Captain A. G. Lockie. Her crew consisted chiefly of Chinese, although there were eleven British officers. Her cargo was a dangerous one, comprising 200 tons of general cargo and 50,000 cases of benzine? On 13th July she loft Sydney (again the old superstitious hoodoo .rears its ugly head), and was expected in Wellington on 18th July. When she was two days overdue, anxiety began to be felt in shipping- circles, and the masters of vessels were instructed to keep a look-out for her. But to this day she has not been heard of nor seen. ■

Although she was equipped with wireless, no messages were received from the Canastota after leaving Sydney. She left in bad weather; heavy seas were running, and strong gales were raging along the coast. Possibly the wireless aerials were carried away, and thus communication with the land or other ships cut off. Another surmise is that a fire broke out, the benzine ignited, and the ship was blown up. When the Canastota was months overdue, Captain Weatherall, of the Makambo, wirelessed the news to Sydney that a quantity of wreckage., consisting of charred debris, cases of benzine, and casks of tallow, had been washed ashore at Lord Howe Island. 'The wreckage was afterwards brought to Sydney, and, although it could not be definitely proved that it formed part of 'the Canastota's cargo, the fact, nevertheless, was generally accepted. IN THE GRIP OF A TYPHOON. During the month of March, in 1911 and 1912, respectively, two strange disappearances wero reported. The first of these was the Yongala, an . Adelaide Stoamship boat, commanded by Captain W. Knight. ■

Tho Yongala left Brisbane on 21st March, and reached Mackay (Queensland) on the 23rd. On. the same day she sailed with .48 passengers and a crew of 72. She was last heard of off Dent Island. It is surmised that" she was caught in. a terrible typhoon, and sank instantly. ■

Another case was that of the Koom•bana, reported missing on 23rd March; 1913. A vessel of 2182 tons register, commanded by Captain T. M. Allen, tlie Koombana carried • 130 passengers and crew. After she Mi Fed KodJaad

(W.A.), on 20th March, 1912, bound for Broome, she was never seen or heard of again.

The theory is that she came to grief in the "willy-willy" that swept the West Australian coast on the night of 20th March. Others believe the Koombana foundered off Bedout Island.

These are only a few of the stories of missing ships in thnt great storybook of the sea that is full of better tales than man can invent for his entertainment—better, because they are true..