Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-07-02
\ MYSTERY oFruE DEEP.
strange Disappearance OF the Cap
tain of "A Steamer In ITd ocean.
New York Herald. I7th.

strange Disappearance Of the Cap
tain of "A Steamer An Mid Ocean.
New York Herald, I7th 81
The disappearance of Capt. Pen
ney, of the steamship Somerset, of
the New York Il Bristol Steamship
line, on her last voyage to England,
adds another to the many mysteri-
Gus accidents happening On the
seas. Capt. Penney was young
man, barely thirty years of age,
and had been in the employ Of the
company fifteen years, the greater
part Of which had been spent in the
East. A vacancy on the Somerset,
caused by the illness of Capt. SIAM
per, in Bristol, placed him in COM
mand of the vessel, and on her re-
turn to New York his promotion
was confirmed. This being his first
voyage in that position he took
more than usual interest in the
speed of his vessel, and on the
morning of the eighth day out he
arose abOuthalf-past and dressing
himself went forward where he or
dered the jib to be set, at the same
time calling to the cook to bring
him his coffee 10 his cabin. The or
derto set the jib having been obeyed
the captain was seen to return TO
his cabin, and since then he has new
err been visible to mortal eyes. When
the coffee was taken to his cabin,
Antonio, the sailor who waited on
the captain, found the door, which
was generally closed with spring
bolt, swinging ajar, and, suspeeting
something was amiss, gave an
alarm. The engine was stopped
and search made every corner OF
the ship was explored, and the sea
at once examined. There being no
successful result from the search of
the vessel she was turned around
on her course and, with the engines
at quarter speed, she retraced her
course, but not sign OF the cap
tain was to be found.
WAS HE SPIRITED AWAY?
His cap, which he wore at the
time of his disappearance, and
which, under ordinary circumStan-
ces, should have flOated had he fall
en- overheard, was not even seen.
Hour after hour was spent in the
search. The place where the vessel
was when the supposed accident Oc-
Cured, was recroSSed over and over
again, and, though hundred sharp
eyes scanned the seats, nothing of
the missing captain was seen. The
sea was perfectly smooth, it was
early in the morning, and the sun
shining. Capt. Penney was a stur-
dy and a splendid swimmer, and,
under the circumstances, could ca
silly have kept himself aflOat for
hours. Men were at work all over
the ship, and cry uttered in even
ordinary tones would have been
heard. There was no possible
thing he could have struck against
had he fallen overheard, and there
was nothing to take him to the
side of the ship, where he would
have to climb over bulWarks breast
high to have jumped overheard.
Those who spoke to him and saw
him when the order to hoist the jib
was given said he was in his usual
spirits. Indeed, there is no posi-
bic reason or explanation that can
be assigned for the mystery i'll
which the whole affair is wrapped.
To give a spice of romance, it is
stated that Capt. Penney was en-
gagged to well-known and hand
some young lady near Bristol,
whom he expected to shortly mar
ry. He was of a most kindly and
hospitable disposition, and his
strange disappearance is deeply re-
GREETED by hosts of other than mer-
chantile friends. The news of his
death was cabled from Bristol to
New York. The vessel will sail
again for England, this morning,
under the command of Capt. Siam
per. -..-.