MYSTERY OF THE SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22100, 4 May 1935, Page 5 (Supplement)

MYSTERY OF THE SEA

DIVER'S GRIM DISCOVERY The skeletons of 17 men of a British ship, which vanished one night 36 years ago, have been found deep down below the surface of the harbour waters at Tacoma, Washington. A local diver, George Wayne, was walking along the harbour bottom searching for a lost anchor when, in 20 fathoms of water, he stumbled over a cylindrical object. It was the smokestack of a donkey-engine. Looking more closely, Wayne found that the engino was on tho deck of an ancient squarerigger, nearly buried, by silt and sand. Further investigations proved that the old sailing ship was the British barque Andelana, last seen afloat in tho harbour in January, 1899. Wayne also found the skeletons of the men who had gone down with their ship. Tho Andelana was built in ISB9 by It. Williamson and Son, of Worthington, England. She was owned by the Andelana Sailing Ship Company, of Liverpool, and was under charter to the San Francisco firm of Eppinger and Company. Her net tonnage was 2395. On tho night of January 14, 1899, tho Andelana was riding at anchor in the harbour at Tacoma. Her ballast had been unloaded, and huge logs had been chained on either beam to keep her steady. Next morning she was to take on a cargo of wheat lor Europe. In tho middle of tho night a sudden squall struck the harbour. When duylight camo tho Andelana was missing from her anchorage. She had vanished during tho night, never to be seen 'afloat again. Only one theory was possible: she must have capsized in tho storm, so suddenly that not a man was able to save himself. Tho captain, an American, and 16 men were given up as lost. The crew included ono Englishman, E. G. Doc, of Blackpool, and Pat Wilson, from St. John's, Newfoundland. From what diver Wayne has reported it is unlikely that the 17 skeletons will ever be recovered from the watery tomb where they have rested so long.