The weekly Butte record., 1862-03-01

watch had gathered themselves around the
bell. several OF the former watch having joined
them, among the rest the old Quartermaster-
He repeated his warning more solemnly than
before, and most Of the mems countenances
expressed anxiety and alarm.
There is some mystery in this" said the
captain. " The men generally are guiltless. Ei-
ther some one among them is by some means
playing on the saperstitious fears Of the rest by
some trick, or else there must be ship near
u.s."
" But the bell sounded from the quarter deck
like ours, said the second lieutenant.
Sound is often deceitful, especially at
night" replied the captain. AT all events
we can discover nothing until daylight. Keep
a good look out, Mr.. Allen"
Thus speaking, he and the second lieutenant
went below.
"Four BELLS" six, and eight were struck in
turn, but without repetition, giving rise in the
minds of the officers 10 a belief that one of the
men had been playing tricks, and had been
afraid to continue them. for had the sound
came from ship, it would have been repeated
through the night. At four o'clock the ship
was got under weigh, and soon afterwards it
was broad daylight. No ship was in sight,
though the horizon could be swept in a circle
inclosing many miles.
But all endeavors to find out who had been
playing the trick with the bell were in vain,
and the mems grog was stopped according to
the captains order.
Three days after the Coquette reached the
termination of the strait. Here, situated far
apart from any of the other islands. is long
low sandbank. rising to a hummuck in its cen
Ter, and here has long been established what is
known TO the navgators of those seas as . The
Postoflice of the Torres Strait
1t consists Of a seaman's large chest, covered
with tarpaulin, and protected by she'd of
boards from the weather, and here, for many
years past, it has been the practice Of masters
of ships, who have got safely through the
Strait to deposit letter, which is read by the
new conner, who deposits one in his turn, and
reports on his arrival at his destined port. that
on such day such vessel, or vessels, passed
Postofice Island 10 safety, having succeeded in
escaping all the perls attending the navigation
of the Strait.
Ofcourse this out Of the way postoffice was
duly visited by the officers. Several letters
were found written by masters of ships, who
had deposited them within few weeks or
months, and the reports they made were copied
to be set down in the Coquette's log book.
Just as the officers were about to leave the
spot, one of them perceived what appeared to
be leaf torn from pocket book, on which
was scrawled in pencil
SUNDAY. May :, 1912.
Left here boats crew, escaped from the
natives of one of the Islands in the middle of
the strait. We have a compass and a few
yams, and little water on board, and shall
shape our course to Timor. Left on the island
in the power of the natives, several of our
shipmates, aud one woman and child. Three
others are with US.
"To the commander of a ship-of-war of any
nation.
Masters Of merchantmen will please report
to a man-of-war at the earliest opportunity, for
Gods and PHYS sake.
J. F. HUTCHINs, Chief Mate.
Ship Bertha Bristol"
The officer handed the scrap of paper to the
captain after reading it.
May the 9TH" said the captain. This is
but the I'd of June this must be seen to-"
As soon as the officers returned on board, a
council was held, and it was determined TO
keep the sloop of-war lying of and on near the
termination Of the strait, while the boats and
the men that could be spared were despatched
forthwith, well armed and provided with water
and provisions. TO search the islands thoroughly
in hopes of discovering the unhappy captives.
Several days were spent without any discov-
cry having been made, and the boats had met
of the island where the mysterious sound of
the bell had been heard On landing, it was
evident enough that, though now uninhabited,
as on the former occasion, it had been visited
by the natives since the sloop-ofwar had quit
ted it. At length party of seamen stumbled
over heap Of ashes still warm. The officers
were satisfied that the natives must be close at
hand, and that on this occasion, as on the
former, they had vacated the island on the ap-
proach Of the white men. This was unusual
with them, as they were generally eager for
presents, when they could not plunder 1t
was reasonable. therefore, to suppose they had
some special motive for disappearing.
While the party Of officers in command of
the expedition were still celebrating what to
do, they were startled by the sound of the
mysterious bell. nov rung rapidly. Presently
it ceased, then one or two strokes were heard,
then one feeble one, and all was STILL
That bell was sounded BIZ the captives we