The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-12-12
JIte 9s,llat.at.
Friday. DECEMBER IL, 1854


Biloxi Miss, October 3l.--A very
remarkable event has occurred In the
recent experience Of the three -masted
schooner Themis,of Boston, commanded
BY Captain N. Il. Kendrick, aud how
lying in Ship Island harbor.
The Themis sailed from Mobile on
August 4th with cargo of lumber for
Tampico. She was Eight vessel, TAX
ing In very little wafer asd requiring
but little use Of the pumps. on the
9Th day out from Mobile Capt. Ken
drick himself tried tho pump and found
no water that Is. none above 6vs In
ohes play allowed bstween tho lower
end Of tho pamp and lhs bottom Of the
hold. An hour or two aitsewArd the
mate happened 10 try IL, and 20 the
great astonishmont Of ihs CAptaln re-
ported twenty inches Of water. The
water was pumped OUT bat was soon
found 10 be running 10 again ct the
rate Of nsarly twelve inches an hour.
This was near the bottom, ,of course,
the rate Of leakage would diminish ~
The elevation Of surface Of the water
and extent Of IL cross-seclion would
increase. Il was enough, nevsF.heless
10 create alarm and 70 keep the crew
continually employed At tho pumps
during the passage 70 Taupico-all
efforts In the meantime 20 locate the
leak proving unsuecessful. On arriving
at Tampico, and while disoharging the
cargo these efforts wero redoubled. Il
was fully asosrtainsd that ihs leak was
not near the water line.as bad been
hopsd--bat ct the bottom Of the vessel.
Finally the mate, CROPPING aud exPlor-
ing about the bottom, reported that he
had found horn sticking IN ihe ceiling
or inner lining Of the timbes, which
he could not remove. He was told 70
break IL of. aud at length brought up
about two inches Of what the Captain
at once recognized a. The end Of the
blade Of swordfsh.
0a further examination IL was found
that the blade bad penetrated, In the
frss place. the copper sheathing Of tho
schooner I; thea the outar timbsrs Of
the huI-fonr inches In thickness !;
nsxt . vwans space Of nine inches be-
tween the outer and inner tinbers, or
ceiling - and lastly four and half
inches moro Of solid wood constituting
the ceiling. altogether nearly nins in-
ohes Of plank AID copper, With eleven
inches Of vacant spaee--including the
two inches Of the end broken of. How
much Of the sword remained outside
has not yes been asosriainsd.
Tho blow was stfuck from below In .
direction nearly vertical, and some idsa
Of i.s amazing fores may be found from
The figures above given. The point ol
impact was n little forward Of tho mig.
senmast about three feet from the keel
on the starboard side,
By tearing away part Of the ceiling
Captain KsndriSk was enabled parti-
ally 70 stop the leak and 70 bring hi,
vesssl frst 10 ApalaohisolA and thencs
back to Ship Island, where he was sent
for quarantine, although be bad clear
bill Of health. The vessel has been 70
leased from quarantine, bot In her Grip
pied condition he besitssss TO continue
his voyage, especially 10 . port wher,
there are no facilities Sor docking and
repairing her. She leaks but little al
present, but the strAis Of . heavy gale
Of wind might reopss the wound in hen
hull 70 81 extent that would be unoom
Portable II not unsafe and the Captain
is--or was yostesSay--awaiting de6nit.
Instructions on the subject from ths
owners Of the eshooner.
This is, no doubt, the mort sxtrAOt
dinary case Of ARCHAEOLOGICAL swords
manship on record. There is no room
FOR question Of its truthfulnsss- III,
fragment Of the sword is still stiekiBi
in the bottom Of the schooner, ,and vii
be easily liabls 70 examination, whes
she ccnes to be docked for repairs.
Would 1t not be worth while to have
the part Of the bull containing it sawed
ont, just As IL ssands-sword and ALL
for exhibition at tho approaching Ex-
vxm@skfa,. a