The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-10-26 00:00:00

A TALE OF THE SEA.

The American papers have published the following very
extrtordinary story :
Mr. James Dugan, who arrived in New York from
Sydney, Cape Breton, on the 3rd inst., gives the fol-
lowing a,:count of a wrecked brig, which the schooner
Lancaster, in w:d2h Mr. Dugan was passenger, came
up with and boarded, on Thmsday, the 10th September.
While at breakfast, on board the Lancaster, the second
mate, Mr. Prior, hurried into the cabin, and addressing
himself toile captain, said—" There's an abandoned hul I
adrift off the starboard quarter; her spars are gone, and
she looks to have been a brig cr brigantine." The captain
gave orders to bear away for the wreck, end at midday
the sonooner Laneastrr was broadside to the abandoned
vessel. It W 63 welbshaped, strongly-built hull, but
the bulwarks and staachions had been badly dealt with
by the elements, and the whole was much weather-
be,ten, _ An hour after noon the wind had so subsided
SA to adn.it the lowering of a boat, in which Capt.
Martin and Mr. Rutlidge, the mate, two seamen, and
Mr. James Dugan put oat for the wreak. On board-
ing it, a dismal sight presented itself. Splintered
spars, entangled in canvas and rigging gear, and
Itl,e planks of a boat torn asunder by the wind and
sea, were scattered around in Bad confusion.

Below a beep of motley riggings, and broken by the
weight of a spar which lay across it, where the bones
of a human being---a skeleton. The skull and ribs
had been crushed almost level with the deck. Shreds
of canvas trousers and a Cuernney frock were found
among and near the hones. Further search revealed
five other skeletons. A slight covering of crisped
flesh remained on four of the skeletons, showing that
they had died more recently than the other two.
Many of the utensils of the galley were found, but not
a single remaining pot or vessel of any nature en.
tamed the least pasticle of food. This disco very
seemed to satisfy the captain that all on board had
perished from hunger. The' spectacle on board the
sepulchral hull was appalling. The hardy sailors
themselves seemed to sicken at the revolting dis-
closure. It was ascertained that the vessel had
been rigged a brig. The hull bore no name on its
stern-post. On the bowsprit the word Gleitairon was
barely legible. In the forecastle, which was almost
filled with water, a most unearthly stench was dis-
covered, and only two men could bs -found to enter and
remain long enough inside to repoit what they had
seen there. There were two corpses on the floor, and
one stretched across a "bunk." The wheel-house had
been carried away, and the fastenings of the rudder
broken. This was the work of some tremendous
sea. The foremast had been cut away to save the
vessel from foundering. The jib-boom was gone,

mot the entire craft was the most complete wreck
Captain Martin had seen or heard of in his
nautical experience of nearby forty years. Entering
the cabin a foul odour was discovered, but not intense
enough to forbid a thorough investigation. Towards
the end of the steps leading down to the cabin a fetid
pool of water was seen, and the men had to wade
through it in order to reach every portion of the cabin.
Between a stationary table and a couch, the head of a
corpse protruded from a berth in the wall, and, when
brought on deck it was found to be in a state of decay.
A buttoned jacket of good material, blue pantaloons, a
flannel shirt, marked "'F. F.," and one boot covered
the corpse. The chronometer in the cabin pointed to
half.past four o'clock, and on the stationary table
was an open bible, turned downwards, a revolver with
two chambers loaded, and a bottle containing a
piece of paper, upon which was written: " Jesus,
guide this to some helper. Merciful God, don't let us
perish!" The words were detached, and a hiatus
occurred between every two or three of them, which
showed that the writer must have been either in the
lowest stage of debility, or driven to madness by
hunger. In the captain's statmroom his corpse was
found lying bent on the floor,. as though he had fallen
from weakness, while strugghng, with faint hope to
save himself am! men. On his bed were 'matt:wed
books, papers, &c., but one sheet attracted particular
attention. It was dated
Mannikins, May 30, 1072.

. .
Dear Kate,-1 will post this letter here, to assure you of
my wall-being ; but do not attempt to hazard an answer to
this port, as you will not find me here a week hence. I
have kept at my strong promises to you in spite of a
thousand had wickss from my comrades. I drink a little
beer, but that is all Your precious photograph is a little
silent angel—at last I think so, and I read your letters
over a hundred and a hundred times again. You say in
yours, dated from Liverpool, that the old man was altoge-
ther turned in my favour when he heard of my having passed
the Board. Now mind and keep him so until I get home
again, when everything will be comfortable and lolly. Write
to Hal's address in St. John, New Brunswick, I .r should it
not reach me there, list, at least, ciii know where I am.
Wishing you good health and cheerfulness and good fortune,
my own darling Kate, I am for ever your own Robert."
The ship's regular papers were not found open
but Captain Martin took in charge a neat writing
desk found in the captain's trunk and locked. There
was a slate on the table in the cabin, which table
was covered by guards such as are used at meals in
stosmy weather. The slate, intended for taking
down the log in rough, contained only blurred figures
and illegible writing. The captain's trunk contained
numerous letters, which Capt. Martin intends to give
up to the authorities at Sydney. Towards three
o'clock a dead calm prevailed, and the boat's company
that went on bosrd the dismal wreck rowed back to
procure something to eat and drink. At seven p.m.
the calm continuing, C'aptain Martin proposed to set
out for the ill-fated vessel again, to perform the sorrow•
ful services of a burial at sea. For coffins a quantity
of old canvas was brought, and rude bags were quickly
formedout of that material. At half-past eight o'clock, the
pale moon shining softly over that lonely sepulchre of the
sea, along board was laid upon a sound portion of the bul-
works, and two bags, to which weights were tied, were
laid down, and rattled as they fell. A lamp was held
by a sailor on each side of the temporary hearse, and
after Captain Martin had read the usual service, the
plank was lifted upward, whereupon the coffin lags
and skeletons slid into the Pea. Captain Martin has
procured every possible clue, all of which he will give
to the autlmritier at Halifax or Sydney, so that the
true history of the Glenalvon may be learned.

In quoting the above, the Liverpool AMion says—
" Inquiries made by an in Liverpool have failed to elicit
any information bearing upon the foregoing narrative."