Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-07-11
The Ship in the China Sea

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are out of all ordinary calculation,
and what them as haven't been to sea
would hardly believe. There was
that ship we fell in with in the China
Sea-that was an odd thing, that was
at was just after daylight in the
morning watch as some one sung out
sail ahead But it wasn't much of
sail, for there was only one mast
the foremast-standing, but big
ship going steadily before the wind,
with her fore topsail set, but not haul
ed taut, but all Tapping like. Well,
we see as there was no one aboard, or
if so be there was, they didn't know
how to manage her. So when we'd
run down little ahead of her, we
lowered boat, and | was one of the
boats crew as went aboard and as
we pulled up to her, we could see no.
body on deck, but only heard a dog
barking and when we went up the
side, sure enough there was half
starved dog a-sitting upon the body
of man and when he sees us he
sets up dreadful bowling, but still
he didn't seem displeased to see us,
but threw back his ears, though he
looked dreadful melancholy and
down in the mouth. But the curious
thing was to see the number of rats
that was running about the decks, for
the ship was water-logged, and the
rats was driv up from below and
obliged to shift for themselves.
"Well, there were three more dead
bodies lying about the deck and
when we come to look at them, the
rats had eat most of their faces and
necks, and ripped open their jackets
to get at tho flesh elsewhere, but the
corpse as the dog was sitting on they
hadn't been able to touch for you
see the rats they lived upon the dead
bodies and the dog he lived upon the
rats--so we supposed by the carcass
of one of them as was lying near him.
And such rats they were | never see
almost as big as half-grown rabbits,
and so tame that they didn't make no
account of us. You see they had
been so familiar with the bodies on
board that they looked upon us as
so many sheep or cattle, or what not,
as was come aboard for their live
stock.
"Well, we tried to get into the cab
in, but that was full of water, and so
was everything below decks and
there was no name upon the stern, or
we couldn't make it out where the
ship was from, or where bound and
we searched the captains pockets,
but couldn't find no memorandum
nor name, only letter Sewed up in a
piece of oilskin inside his jacket, and
signed Sarah And when we were
thinking what was best to be done,
whether to throw the bodies overheard
or what, voice, as seemed close to
us, sung out in curious, low tone,
more like a females than mans,
Ship ahoy, there what ships that ?
"Well, that started us almost out
Of our senses for we could see moth
ing, and the bodies on deck was dead
we knew by reason of their faces be-
ing eaten and says one of the men,
1T must be the dog, says he, 'he've
been thinking over to hisself all he's
heered, and he've been and taught
hissef to speak : and says he to the
dog, answering his hail like, The Zen
obia, 900 tons, John Shum, master, of
and from London, bound for Singa-
pore, with general cargo. But the
dog made no answer to that, and
while we were wondering what it
could be, the same kind of voice
sung out again, Steward, glass of
grog' Well, now we knew as this
couldn't be the dog because they
don't take no grog. Then says anotb-
er man, Pm much deceived if that
ere voice don't come out o the main
mast : so we goes to the mainmast,
that is the stump of it-and out of
the middle Of the ropes and halyards
that was hung about the pins. the
voice comes again and says, oh,
sweet Polly No higher, keep her
rap full
owe soon cast off the ropes, and
what should we see but a fine, gray
parrot a setting in a kind of nest she
had made and looking as if there was
nothing the matter with her.
"Well, we hove over the dead bod
les and left the rats to feed OH them.
selves, but we brought off the parrot
and the dog, though he wouldn't leave
the body till we'd taken the jacket off
and laid il down in the boat for him,
and then he came willing enough
and Captain Shum took the dog and
bird and brought them home TO his
old woman, aud perhaps they're both
alive now. Boston Commercial Bull
letin,