The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-07-30

every appearance of settled weather, the
captain decided TO lay the frigate to wind
ward of the island and land with boats
crew, we'll armed, to endeaVor to discover
a solution to the mystery.
Accordingly the light sails were taken
in, the mainyard laid aback, and the cap
tain, with the second lieutenant end a
boats crew of twelve men, proceeded on
shore in the cutter, leaving the first lieu
tenant in charge of the ship. Having
with some difficulty effected landing, the
party divided into two divisions of six men
each, the captain in command of cne, the
second lieutenant of the other, and pro-
ceeded to make thorough search of the
island. For some time their search was
fruitless no sign of human habitation
could be seen, nothing be heard but the
twitterings of wild birds in the tall trees
or the rustlings of a lizard darling through
the dry grass.
At last the captains party discovered
the remains of small hut, constructed of
roughly hewn branches of trees and some
planks, evidently the remains of a ships
boat. While examining this they were
joined by the other party, which had
discovered grave with piece of board
at the head, on which were rudely carved
the letters J. S. This board appeared to
be parf of boats thwart or seat A
piece of coarse bagging, evidently part Of
ships bread bag, and several other
relics of a similar kind showed plainly
that the island had been inhabited for
| some time, probably by the survivors
from some ship laundering at sea, who
had been taken off since by some passing
vessel
| Still nothing could be seen which would
explain the mysterious peal which had
been heard by every one on board of the
frigate. As the sun was getting low in
the west the captain concluded to return
to the frigate without searching any
farther, ard the whole party started on
| ther return to the boat. For some time
they proceeded in silence, nothing to he
heard but the crashing of the tall dry
grass as it was broken by their steady
tramp, when suddenly the lieutenant, who
walked by the side of the captain at the
head of the party, caught bis foot against
something hidden in the grass, and fell
forward at the same instant ding dong,
the sudden peal of bell, apparently right
above their heads, caused the astonished
| and startled senmen to jump and look
around them in every direction, as though
| they expected some phantom bellringer
to appear from the thick forest of trees
which surrounded them on all sides. The
captain, however, retained his self posses
sion sufficiently to remember the old sea
Broverb that s'The devil would make a
good sailor if he only looked above his
head" and gazing steadily into the thick
| foliage of an immense tree which spreadsits
branches directly above him, he perceived
the shadowy form of a large bell so cover
ed with moss and leaves that it could
scarcely be distinguished from the foot
of the tree. To the clapper of the bell
was attached a long piece of line which
reached the ground and extended few
| feet from the tree, touching the grass. 1t
was this that had caught the lieutenant's s
foot, and produced the sudden and start
ling peal
The whole mystery was now explained
The survivors of the wreck, bearing in
mind the long distance at which sounds
can be heard at sea, had secured the ship
Cell before leaving her, and placed it in
| its present position in order that they
might by ringing it attract the attention
of any vessel that might pass within
hearing distance of the island, and in all
probability this had been the means of
their deliverance, as the shattered condi-
! ton of the boats planks, which had been
used in the construction of the hut,
| showed that their boat had been broken
! up by the surf on the shore. The branch
es of the tree swaying in the gale had
produced the ringing which had been
| heard on board the frigate and had been
| the subject of so much discussion. The
! captain decided to leave the bell, as it
might possibly be of service again in a
| similar case AS there was evidently no
| further information to be obtained, the
party lost no time in returning TO the frig-
ate, which was now quite close to the
island. Quickly the boat was hoisted
up, the mainyard braced forward, and
again was heard the shrill whistle of the
boatswain, and the order, "All hands
make sail,' as the stately vessel spread
all her canvas to the breeze, and proceed
ed on her long and weary cruise, having
cleared up the mystery of the midnight
bell.
STRANGE PHENOMENON. AT one of