OCEAN MYSTERIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20306, 13 July 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

OCEAN MYSTERIES.

SHIPS THAT NEVER RETURN. Over fifty years ago, an Englishwoman, who had but lately corno to New Zealand dreamed a terrible dream,' She saw the lights of h snip circling slowly round and round, as though the vessel were being sucked down into a whirlpool, and m her dream she heard the voice of a beloved brother crying, " Mary! Marv!" News travelled slowly in those days, and it was not until some time later that sho learned that her favourite brother had sailed from Wellington for Port, Chalmers, on a ship called ""The City of Dunedin," which disappeared mysteriously whilst crossing Cook Straits. Ai d still later, she he.ird the story c! a Maori woman, who, standing on a high headland on the coast, had seen the lights of a ship afar off, circling slowly round and round, just as the English woman had seen them in Her dream The fate of the City of Dunedin is but one ol the numberless mysteries that lie hidden n the secret depths of the ocean. Ihe subject of ships that never return, is a fascinating one. The most famous of all sea-mysteries, is that of tho Mario Celeste, the American brig that was found in mid-ocean in 1872, with sails set., everything apparently in good order, but with the entire ship's company missing.

Why was tho Marie Celeste abandoned ? What* was the fate of her crew ? For over half a century, this question has ballled every inquirer. Innumerablo theories have been advanced, but none has ever been accepted as final solution, liero is tho slorv of the Maris Celeste. In tho autumn of 1872, the vessel, :t!i American blip, of about 600 tons;, left New l'ork with a cargo of spirits for Genoa The ship's company numbered 13, and included the captain's wife and little daughter Weeks after her departure, a Ilrit isli barque, the Dei Gratta, came upon the brig, under full sail, about SCO miles west of Gibraltu Signals were hoisted, but there was no reply. Some peculiar instinct moved the British captain, Captain Morehouse, to investigate. Ho saw, at once that something' w;,s amiss.' There was no one on board. Uc boarded the ship and searched it from stem to stern. ' Hiero was nothing wrong anywhere. Hull, masts and yards were in cood state, the cargo was properly stowed, there was no lack of food or water, in tho forecastle, tho seaman's chests were untouched, and among the dunnage was some money. The cabin was in apple-pie order, and on the table was a slate on which were written notes for the log, showing November 25, as the date of tho last entry. No sign of disorder anywhere, but every indication, from the trinkets and money left behind, that there had been great hurry to desert the ship. The captain's chronometer and the ship s papers, with the exception of the logbook, were missing. In the log-book tho last entry was November 24._ The slate recorded that at 8 a.m. on November 25 the Mario Celeste was passing north of the island of Santa Maria, in the Azores. For ten davs she held her course for 750 miles, unsteered. to the point whero the Dei Gratia found her. Captain Morehouse continued his voyage to Gibraltar, taking the mysteryship with him. Two questions arc always asked: (1) Why was the Marie Celeste • abandoned . (2) How was she abandoned? One investigator has established tho fact that there is no mystery concerning tho means of departure. i lie crew left by the ship's .boat. Captain Morehouse and the mate observed at once that the boat was missing and that tho davits were swung out with trailing ropes. Then why was the ship abandoned so precipitately? Some years ago tho Strand Magazine printed a number of possible solutions of the mystery, written by well-known writers of detective and other st/ines, including Sir Conan Doyle. But none of these theories, nor any other, has me, all the difficulties or explained what will now probably bo ever an unexplained mystery.