The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-27
SEA MYSTERIES.
Vessels Lying at Anchor Suddenly
Disappear.
Their Whereabouts Never Discovered and AL
knowledge Of Them Swallowed
Up in the Deep.

Hundreds OF vessels are annually lost at
sea, but it is rare event that vessel is lost
from harbor. There are, however, many
instances on record where vessels have dis
appeared in this manner and no trace of
them has ever been discovered afterward.
One of these was the full-rigged brig En-
erald, which vanished from Plymouth Har-
Dor in January, 1871, and her whereabouts
remains mystery to this day. The En-
erald was vessel of $50 tons register, and
belonged to London She was bound from
that port to Demerara, and put into Ply
mouth for repairs. In few days she was
ready to proceed on her voyage. The night
before her intended departure. however,
there was a grand display Of fireworks
ashore in honor Of some important event,
and all hands went to witness it. The YES
sci was at anchor in the harbor. which was
crowded with shipping, and not even boy
was left on board to look out for her.
NO TRACE OF HER COULD BE FOUND.
The mate and some of the men tarted
from the landing soon after midnight to go
on board, but, to til cir utter surprise, not a
trace of the vessel could be found. After
searching for over an hour they returned
ashore. nd going to the hotel where they
had left the captain reported the case to
him. He at once went on board the flag
ship Of the channel feet, lying in the har-
Dor at the time, and reported the matter.
Messengers were sent to the ports, but re-
turned with the information that no vessel
had passed out of the harbor after shutdown
except the regular mail steamer thorough
search Of the harbor failed to find the brig,
and her description was sent 10 every port
in the world. Up TO the present time, how
ever, nothing has been heard Of her.
A story was circulated that she had been
run down and sunk at her anchorage, but,
as there was only five fathoms of water
where she lay, her spars would have shown
above the water.
THE REWARD STILL UNCLAIMED.
The owners offered reward of 300 for
any information that would lead TO her re-
covery, but the reward is still unclaimed.
The MontroSe. bark belonging to Hall
fax. n. s., disappeared from Queenstown
Harbor on the night of April 19. 1862, and,
like the Emerald, has never been heard OF.
She was bound from Liverpool to st. Johns,
Newfoundland, with a cargo of salt, and put
into Queenstown through stress of weather.
The crew of twelve men, including the
second mate and steward, left the bark and
went to Liverpool, where they were found
aiterward, leaving only the captain and first
mate on board. The captain had spent the
day shipping new crew, and then went up
to Cork to spend the night with some friends,
leaving the mate, named Richard Purdy, to
look atL6r the bark. lie returned 10 queens
town on the first train in the morning, and
was met by the men he had shipped
anxiOusly inquiring where his vessel was,
as they could not lind her.
She had gone. but where, no one las yet
been able to discover. nor has anything
ever been heard Of the mate.
BOTH SCHOONER AND BOY DISAPPEARED.
The schooner Mary Bell disappeared from
her anchorage in New York Harbor during
the night of September s. 1865. and all
efforts to discover her whereabouts have
utterly failed. She was a vessel Of 120 tons
register. only three years old. and was laden
with a cargo of merchandise for Central
American ports. At the time of her diSap-
pearance the only persons on board her
were a boy and an old negro. The darby
was found in low dive on Cherry street
the following day, and explained that he
had come ashore to buy some clothes, hav-
ing left the boy in charge of the schooner.
He seemed as much surprised as any one
when told that the vessel had disappeared,
and declared that all his clothes were still
on board her. a sharp lookout was kept
for the schooner ali along the coast. but up
10 the present day she has failed to mate
terialZe.