MYSTERIES OF THE SEA

Evening Star, Issue 18318, 4 July 1923, Page 4

MYSTERIES OF THE SEA

SHIPS THAT NEVER RETURNED,

[By Mervtn o ? Hae,\, In tho Sydney ‘ Daily

Telegraph.’]

The disappearance of the 'Gulf steamer Douglas Mawson and tho loss of tho barque Amy Turner give (strong point to this ■article. Possibly tho total list of sea mysteries of the kind hero discussed is not large, but some of the cases are very extraordinary. Tho writer sums up the oases of the chief ships which have figured as “missing” during late years. Eight shipping casualties aro mentioned in the 1922 list recently compiled by tho Navigation Department. One of tlicso was tho barque Manurowa, which left Sydney on 3larch 31 of last year for the Clarence River. After leaving Sydney all trace of tho barque was lost. Since tho very beginning of things, when man launched his frail coracle on it in trembling, and after supplication to his crude gods, tho 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 growtli of man’s intellect, the sea still holds Ms soul in thrall. Ho is peculiarly sensitive to its moods. Ho laughs with it in the sunshine on its beaches and sports with the boisterous surf; he is sad) with it when, the sun goes and tho dusk steals down in grey, and he quaila before its anger when tho storm lashes the waves in madness and stand-off signals are flying from the stations all along the coast. CASE OP THE MARIE CELESTE. In the great story book of tho sea there are many strange talcs, and those that tell of the missing ships are full of all the elements of interest—romances, adventure, mystery, and tragedy. Tho ending of some of these tales is known to us, bub there aro as many again whoso finish must always be shrouded in mystery while the sea has its secrets. One of these is the strange story of tho Mario Celeste. Por half a century the mystery .surrounding tho fate of the crew of the Marie Celeste has completely baffled all attempts at its solution. _ ; in uic autumn of 1872 the Mario Celeste, an American brig of about 600 tons, left New York with a cargo of spirits for Genoa. Tho ship’s company comprised thirteen eojils—another of those cases that apparently bolster up the old superstition based on the evil significance of this number.

The names that occur in the story are those of Captain Briggs, the master of tho ill-fated vessel; his wife, Mrs Briggs, who, with her little, daughter, accompanied her husband; and Abel Fosdyk, a seaman. Weeks after the departure of the Marie Celeste a British barque, tho Doi Gratia., under Captain Boyce, was bowling along towards Gibraltar. Tho sea was as smooth as a mill pond. It was December 5, 1872. At noon tho Dei Gratia was at a point 300 miles duo west from Gibraltar, when two other vessels came in sight. One was a German tramp, holding a course for tho West Indies. Tho tramp crossed tho bows of the brig at a distance of about three miles. She signalled the brig, but there wa.s no reply. Continuing her course, tho tramp wont 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 response. 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 his mate. “I think we had better get a boat out.” The order was given, and two sailors, the captain, and the mate rowed off to the brig. A DESERTED SHIP. As the/ drew nearer they could sec no sign qf life about her. There was no helmsman on deck. The ship was drifting, .and tho sails flapped idly against the mast. Not a sound greeted the party as each member climbed ov«r_ the side. “It might bo plague,” said Captain Boyce. “It can’t bo mutiny, for there are no signs of a struggle on the deck.” His voice sounded strange and unreal in the uncanny silence. Tho two sailors shivered in apprehension on the deck. “We’d l better go down to the master’s cabin,” said Captain Boyce, when they had searched the deck without making any discoveries. They did so; but, instead of finding a solution in tho cabin, what they saw there only served to heighten tiro mystery. The table was set for a meal, and by the appearance of the food four persons had risen from it, with the meal halfeaten. On the tablo stood a bottle of cough mixture, from which tho cork had been removed audi placed beside it. Close to tho table, in a sowing machine, was a child's pinafore. There were other evidences also that betrayed tho presence of a woman. “Let’s see if wo can find the log,” said Captain Boyce. “If its there, will give us something to start from.” They found the ship’s log, tho binnacle, and the compass, but tho ship’s papers wore missing. Tho log disclosed the fact that i tho captain’s wife and baby were aboard, that there were only two passengers, and that tho ship’s name was Marie. Celeste. There was nothing else to be seen in tho cabin, so they went to tho forecastle, where they found tho lire alight in tho galley stove and breakfast ready cooked'. Some of tho men's clothing was also hung out to In tho mate's cabin they found on the tablo two watches, and that was all._ Both watches were going. There, as in tho forecastle and the master's cabin, there were no sigus of preparation for abandoning tho ship. It was clear that all hands hacl left in too great a hurry to col cct any valuables. Tho sailors had even lofti their pipes and tobacco behind. Tho theory of piracy w’as also found to bo groundless; neither tho ships money box nor any of tho valuable cargo had been disturbed. . ~ ... Tho only story of fact m connection with tho uncanny disappearance _ of the crow comes from A hoi Fosdyk, said to have been oue of the ship’s company. Fosdyk was servant to tho head master of Peterborough Lodge, Hampstead’s largest preparatory school. With Mr A. Howaid Lindford, Fosdyk loft an account descriptive of tho ©vents of the voyage of tho Marie Celesta np to tho 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 tho name Mario Celeste referred to some woman. Afterwards it occurred- to him that they might have some connection with tho sea mystery. REMARKABLE STORY, According to Fosdyk’s story, Captain Briggs had been suffering from a nervous breakdown, andi was clearly nob in a fit state to have charge of tho vessel. But the crew were free from anxiety. They knew tho mate was capable, and had confidence in him. , ... . Apparently there was teonno ul-fccllug between tho mate and the captain, for Fosdyk says the captain used to taunt tho mate with cowardice in net going to the rescue of a drowning comrade. The mates defence was that ho could not swim with his clothes on. Tho captain, it appears insisted that this made no difference, and declared Ids intention of demonstrating Uio a °Fosdyk’s' account is so disjointed and fragmentary that it is practically impossible to present a clear account of the events which followed tills decimation bv Captain Briggs. Apparently tho crew knew that tho cap-ia-in was going into tho sea in his clothes, and they endeavored to prevent 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 tho crew, who were good swimmers, were deputed to go with him into tho water. Now comes tho mystery. Fosdyk says: “Those on board tho Marie Celeste veto watching the finish of the swimming, when a shriek rent tho air, and without a word of warning they found themselves in tho water. • Fosdyk was hit by a spar, and 'apparently lost his sanity. How long it was alter 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 throe blacks, a dark European and his wife, then a small sailing vessel arrived which took him to Algiers. It should ba added, however, that Fosdyk said a huge shark was manceuvring_ round tho brig when tho crew disappeared. WARATAH'S LAST GOOD-BYE, Ranking next in importance to tho case of tho Marie Celeste is the mystery of tho Waratah. Who can forget the thrill of horror that ran round tho world when the news came through from Capo Town that the Waratah was missing? . On Juno 26, 1909, tho Waratah sailed out ■of Sydney on her second and last voyage to London. Durban was reached on July 25. Bound l for Capo Town,' the Waratah left there tho next day with 207 passengers. She was expected' at Cape Town on Friday, July 29-

Ten hours after leaving Durban, on July 27, a signal from tho Waratah was picked up by the steamer Clan Maointyro, also bound for London via Durban. Greetings wore exchanged between the Clan Maclntyre, which sigalled); “ Gooct-bye. A pleasant passage,” and the Waratah sent back tho message “Same to you.” That was Die last that was heard: of tho Waratah.

On July 28 there was a fierce gale, and on the 30th great anxiety was felt in Cape Town, for no news of any kind had keen received. The storn was still raging when, on Sunday, the T. K. Fuller, equipped for salvage work, left the Capo Town 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 lie women mingled with the rain that beat on their wan faces. Oilsldn clad, the men stood by, sombre-eyed and with heavy hearts. Knowing the coast as they dad, they could not hops; they could only wait. On Monday tho tug returned, battered 1 by tho waves and weather. Its mission had been fruitless. No news, either good or bad, could it bring of Waratah to her friends in Capo Town.

DID THE! WARATAH STRIKE EXPLOSIVES?

While the Waratah was between Durban and Capo Town tho Borkum, of the Norddeutscher Lloyd Line, was in difficulties in the same latitude. A fire had broken out ou board, and high explosives were in .tho cargo. To save his ship from being blown up, the captain decided to jettison the explosives. So violent was tho weather that there was no chance of touching off tho explosives in tho water, so it had to bo abandoned 1 .

It is contended by many whose opinions aro worthy of note that the Waratah struck soine of tho floating explosives, and was so badly damaged as a result that she could not weather tho storm. And yet, if this is the true explanation, it is strange that no wreckage was found. Tho explosion would scatter timbers land 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 andi 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 Oanastota, which left Sydney about two years ago for Now York, and vanished as if into thin air between North Hoad and New Zealand. The Cannstota was a British ship, well known as a regular trader to Australia. A vessel of 4,900 tons gross, she was commanded by Captain A. G. Lockie. Her crow consisted chiefly of Chinese, although there were eleven British officers. Her cargo was a dangerous oue, comprising 200 tons of general cargo and 50,000 cases of benzine. f . On July 13 slio left Sydney (again the old superstitious hoodoo rears its ugly head), and was expected in Wellington on June 18. When she was two days overdue anxiety began to bo 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 l with wireless, no messages wore received from the Canaslota 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 oommupication 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 tho Makambo, wirelessed the news to Sydney that a quantity iof 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 bo definitely proved that it formed part of the Canastota’s cargo, tho fact, nevertheless, was generally accepted l .

IN THE GRIP OF A TYPHOON,

During the month of March, irt 1911 and 1912 respectively, two strange disappearances were reported. The first of these was tho Yougala, an Adelaide Steamship boat, commanded by Captain W. Knight. The Yongala left Brisbane on March 21, and reached Mackay (Queensland) on the 23rd. On, tho same day she sailed, with forty-eight passengers and a crow of seventytwo, She was last heard of off Dent Island. It is surmised that she was caught in a torriblo typhoon and sank instantly.

Another case was that of tho Koombana, reported' missing on March 23, 1913. A vessel of 2,182 tons register, commanded by Captain T. M. Alien, tho Koombana carried 130 passengers and crew. After she left Port Hodlandi (W/A.) on March 20, 1915, bound for Broome, she was never seen or heard of again. Tire theory is that sho camo to grief in tho “ willy-willy ” that swept the West Australian coast on the night of March 20. Others believo the Koombana foundered off Bedout Island. These aro only a few of tho stories of missing ships in that great story hook of the. sea that is full of better tales than men can invent for his entertainment — better because they are true.