The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-21
A Mystery Of the New Jersey Coast.

FLAG AND CHASED BY STEAMER GOES
DOWN FIVE MILES FROM SHORE WITH ALL
\ ON BOARD.
An Atlantic City special TO the Philadel-
pha Times says: At about 8 O'Clock last
FRIDAY evening, during the progress OF the
great storm resulting from the stllf north
east gale OF the day before, a schooner OF
apparently 800 tons burthen appeared in
the Offing some two miles north OF the
Beach-Haven life-saying station. AT some
distance out TO sea steamer was seen ap-
parently in pursuit of the schooner. The
singular spectacle attracted the attention OF
the entire village, and il was thrown into
craze of excitement when it was discovered
that the schooner was flying black flag.
DR.. Edgar Holden. well-known physician
OF Newark, n. j., who had, with his wife
and children and coachman, been spend
ing the past five or six summer sea.
sons at Beach Haven, having a pow
erful glass, was the first to see the black
flag. The news spread rapidly through
the village, and its every inhabitant hast
ened to the beach. Every stitch OF canvas
upon the schooner was strained by the
fierce winds OF the storm, while the clouds
Of dense black smoke that poured from the
funnel OF the steamer showed that it was
in dead earnest in It's pursuit. When with
in about five miles Of the shore the schooner
was seen to suddenly careen and disappear.
The villagers seemed TO think the whole
world would know all about il. and made
no attempt TO give any particulars OF the
affair TO the world. and nothing beyond
the merest rumor was known OF the affair
here till to-day, when DR.. Holden came
Hor fplpnt.q n IL
orator at Beach Haven, had communicated
with friend in Il signal-service station
here and followed personally.
A RAKIsH SCHOONER WITH BLACK FLAG.
DR.. Holden personally gave the Times
correspondent the following account OF the
affair:
"During Friday afternoon | had been
cunning for marSh-hens, the storm having
blown away overhead, but leaving the
waters OF the sea terribly agitated. the
waves running mountain high, teuratiyely
speaking. My wife and family had driven
out to meet me at point about two miles
north of Beach Haven. Immediately Op-
posite the life-saving station, which has
no crew in the summer, by the way,
we saw large, rakish-looking two
masted schooner coming straight INTO
shore. She had all her canvas spread and
above It we saw flying black flag. / saw
il first with glass and later distinctly with
the naked eye, as the schooner was almost
lifted out of the water by an enormous
wave and the flag stood out in bold relief
in the wind, which was blowing along
shore. A little later, as the schooner was
lifted high on the heavy seas, her deck
could be seen. and it was filed apparently
with men. While wondering at the strange
conduct large steamer, coming from the
south, fired n gun. It's report was dis
tmctly heard by people in the village, and
it brought everybody to the beach.
GOES DOWN WITH ALL on BOARD.
"When about five miles out we.saw the
schooner again rise high in the air and sink
in the trough of the sea. / tell you it was
horrible when we looked for her reappear-
ance in vain. She had sunk. The steam
er came on directly to the spot where the
schooner was last seen and steamed care
fully all around it and stopped still. For a
full half hour she remained motionless,
which fact was able to determine by sight
ing at her down my gun-barrel. am sure
She did not move in that time. | could
not see her launch anv small boats or make
any search for the crew OF the schooner,
though / suppose she did, OF course. FL
nallv the steamer moved away to the north
ward and out to sea-"
Mr.. Taylor SAYS: There isn't bit OF
doubt in the world about the correctness
OF DR.. Holden's statement. People in the
village have been wild about it. The Doc
tor himself was considerably excited. He
fairly shouted: The schooner undoubt-
edly went down right before my eyes,
LOOKING FOR THE PIRATES BODIES.
"The people were walking along the
beach yesterday looking for bodies or
pieces OF the schooner to come ashore. IL
was almost too far out for them to be
washed IN over night. Last evening two
fishermen found two barrels. but | have
not seen them." DIR. llolden's coachman
said " Il was fearfully excited while we
watched the steamer chasing the schooner,
and when the schooner didn't show up
jumped off'n my box. Big Pete, fellow
who works down near our place, says ne
found q piece OF q stern OF f0reign-Oullt
boat upon the beach last night with Span
ish word onto il. but he Is such terrible
liar | don't know whether he did or not."
A Mr.. Morton, who is q guest at one OF
the hotels. said he saw the whole affair.
He was terribly shocked when he saw the
schooner disappear. lie thinks 1t was iuliy
ten minutes before the steamer reached the
SPOT where the schooner disappeared.
THE AFFAIR sHRoUDED IN MYSTERY.
Mr.. Taylor says he has as yet no informs
ton whatever which will reveal the name
OF either OF the vessels. A close watch
will be kept along the beach for evidences
which may lead to the knowledge OF the
names of the boats.
The first beach north OF Atlantic City is
Brigantine, some ten miles in length.
about the same as the beach here. Above
Brigantine is Long Beach, twenty-six miles
in length, and along which Il carriage can
be driven from end to end. 1t is the long
est beach along the Jersey coast. Beach
Haven Is about two miles from its southern
extremity. Barnegat lighthouse is at the
upper end, and Egg Harbor lighthouse at
the lower end. Long Beach and Beach
Haven have been frequently visited In past
years by Jay Gould and many prominent
Philadelphians. While there can be no
question OF the facts as above related, the
affair Is very mysterious. The signal,
Seryice-station people know OF Ii, but VIII