Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-28
THE KISS OF A SEA GULL.
A Strange Story Illustrationg the
Superstitions of Sailors.
Fronn nc Prouidsnce JeurnaE.

From the Providence Journal.
In the shipping news of Friday morning
in this paper was the announcement Of
the death of Seaman Jioomo Tarabocchia,
of the Austrian bark Ukraine, Capt. Mir
covich, by falling from the foretopgallant-
saiI-yard when the bark was about 450
miles off the shore OF South Carolina. The
bark came to this port from Italy with
salt, consigned to Stephen ID. Andrews.
There is a weird tale told In regard to the
yotir sailors death-he was but % years
olaGby the sailors of the Ukraine. All.Of
them, from captain down, are rugged,
practical men, and yet this voyage forced
many OF them to a partial belief In omens
and tue weird In lite and death. The
story must be taken as true, however
much readers OF it are disinclined to-
ward the superstitious, and even il 1t
has had resemblances in sea life. 1t was
lust before O'Clock on the morning OF
Saturday, Dec. IL, and, as has been said,
the bark was far off the South Carolina
shore. Tarabocchia was at the wheel
The weather was clear and quite cola,
and it was still IN the darker hours of the
night. Strangely enough, at this time,
there appeared over the bark sea gull,
and IL futtered and settled slowly down.
ward. 1t flew toward the sailor at the
neim. anu NJ ldbb h6hbcU 0pOh hiO
shoulder, struggling hard to obtain
a foothold there. The sailor
reached up and took the bird in his hands.
1t was full-fedged sea gull, as white as
snow, While he looked at 1t thus 1t
stretched out its taper neck and pressed
it's beak up TO his lips as II billing with its
mate. The sailor caressed 1t, and finally
nut 1t into the bosom Of his blouse. 1t lay
still there, the warmth OF the spot
apparently lulling to quiet. when
eight bells struck, at O'Clock,
Tarabocchia was renewed. Golng
forward to the forecastle be clipped
the eulps wings, and then went below.
The bird nestled by him In his berth until
il was time to rise again.
That day the gull played about the deck,
and acted as fully domesticated AS
chicken. In the afternoon the bark cat
and the gull quarreled, and the quarrel
closed in a terrific battle. This resulted
in both suffering severe injuries, the cat
the worst of the two. Tarabocchia
laughed at them both. He said to the cat,
as il 1t could understand:
you're never going to get well. You're
hurt bad" And he told the gull that IT.,
too, would die, be guessed.
That night, at IL O'Clock precisely. the
bark was far of the Chesapeake shore. IL
was lust at the edge OF the Gulf stream.
Suddenly squall came up to westward,
and the order WAS given to furl sail,
Tarabocchia went up and was at work on
the foretopgallantsail yard, when the
bark lurched heavily. He was about
1888 feet above the deck. The accident,
fatal to him, now happened. Somehow
he fell, and his body, whirling through
the air, struck the rail heavily, and then
Aid of into the sea. It sank Immediately,
and was not seen aftorward, though every
effort TO find IL was made.
As has been said, this took place at II
o'clock exactly. At II O'Clock the injured
cat quietly died, as it lay on the vanished
sailors chest in the cabin. just one hour
later. Mt O'clock, the sea gull died. II
had taken to Tsrabocchias berth that
evening, and the sailors watched the end
with strange feelings, for from the fret
the actions OF the white bird had seemed
ominous TO the bark.