The union Democrat., 1870-07-02
Gbe union gemnrrat,
strange Noise. as Sea-


An officer Of the Royal mail steamer Shan
,sos. writes 10 NDturc an account Of phe
numenon which he says has been repeatedly
noticed in tie harbor Of Greytown, Nicara
qua. lie says t
Owing to shallow bar, vessels cannot en-
ter the harbor, or river. and are therefore OBJ
lged to anchor in from to s fathoms OF wa
ter, about two miles from the beach, the bot
tom consisting Of heavy dark sand and
mud containing much vegetable matter
brought down by the river. Now, while at
anchor in this situation, we hear, commenc-
ing with marvellous punctuality at about
midnight. peculiar metallic vibratory sound,
If sufficient loudness TO awaken great ma
ierity of the ships crew. however tired they
may lie after a hard days work. This sound
continues for about two hours with but one
or two short intervals. 1t was first noticed
some few years ago in the iron built vessels
Hue. Time. Elder and pdaube. 1t has never
been heard on board the coppered-wooden
vessels Trent, Thames. lamar, or Sctent.
These were steamers formerly employed on
the branch of the Company's lntercolonial
service, and when any of their officers or
crew told of the wonderful music heard on
board at Greytown, it was generally treated
"a yarnn or hoax. Well, for the last two
years the Company's large transatlantic
ships have called at Greytown, and remain
Ell there on such occasions for from five TO
six days. We have thus all had ample OPP
portunity OF hearing for oerselves. When
first heard by the negro sailors they were
more frightened than astoDished, and they at
once gave way to snperstitious fears of ghosts
and 0beihsm. By English sailors it was con-
sdered to be caused by the trumpet fish, or
what they called such certainly not the Cen
fgiscns scolopar which does not even exist
here. They invented fish to account for
it. But if caused by any kind of fish, why
only at one place, and why only ut certain
hours of the night? Everything on board is
as still from to 4, and from IL to 2, but not
between 2 and 4. The ship is undoubtedly
one of the principal instruments in its pro-
ducton. She is in fact for the first time be-
ing converted into great musical sounding
board.
1t is by no means very easy to describe
this sound, and each listener gives some
what different account of it.
1t is musical, metallic, with certain ca
dence, and q one-two-three tendency of beat.
1t is often heard most distinctly over open
hatchways, over the engne-room through the
coal-shoots, and close around the outside of
the ship. 1t cannot be fixed at any one place
always appearing to recede from the observ-
er. On applying the ear to the side of an
open bunker, one fancies that it is proceeding
from the very bottom Of the hold.
Very different we're the comparisons made
by the different listeners. The blowing Of a
conch she'll by fishermen at a distance, shell
held to the ear, an aeoliang harp, the whirr
or buzxing sound of wheel machinery in rap
id motion, the vibration of large bell when
the first or louder part oe the sound has ceas-
ed the echo of chimes in the belfry, the rico
chetng of stone on ice the wind blowing
over telegraph wires, have all been assigned
as bearing more or less close resemblance; !;
tits louder on the second than on the first,
and reaches its acme on the third night; calm
weather and smooth water favor its develop
ment. The rippling of water alongside and
the breaking of the surf on the shore are
heard quite distinct from it.