MYSTERY OF THE SEA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16533, 13 September 1924, Page 7

MYSTERY OF THE SEA.

• THE MARIE 'CELESTE. STORY OF THE BOATSWAIN. (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.i (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Sept. 12. The Daily Express publishes a lengthy story by Captain H. Lucy., who was wounded at- the Dardanelles, and has arrived in London from Judifi. The story purports to give a solution of classic sen mystery of the abadomnent of the Marie Celeste fifty-two years ago, .when a ship was found drifting with all sails set and not a,soul aboard. -Sin* was towed to Gibraltar. Captain Lucy says he learned the facts forty-two years ago from a man named Triggs under oath not to reveal them until Triggs was dead, lie believes he is now at liberty to speak. He met Triggs at Bay View Hotel, Melbourne, where he had been living for five years and was unknown to do any work. He discovered Triggs had about £IOO m the "Bank of Australia, and found him a jobas boatswain. Triggs told him. he was boatswain of the Marie Celeete- They sighted a derelict and found therein a safe which they forced. It contained £3500 in gold and silver. The captain took £I2OO, the mat© £6OO. the second mate £4OO, Triggs £3OO, and* the -rest* was shared between the crew. The captain ordered the derelict to be sunk ns a danger to shipping. The question of the legality of taking the money arose, and it was decided they could not sink the. Mario Celeste*, as she'had been spoken. So the captain and crew quitted in three boats belonging lo the derelict, which, were used to bring the money aboard. They painted the name of a London schooner on the boats and, arriving a-t Cadiz, reported the loss of , the schooner .by striking a* submerged wreck, and separated. The object in abandoning :be Marie Celeste was to make everything as mysterious as possible. Captain Lucy adds: “I saw Triggs’ papers showing he signed on at Boston aboard the Marie Celeste, but confessed he always covered his name. He believed Triggs knew the- name of the derelict* but. he said it was obliterated.”