The morning call., 1891-04-20
AN OCEAN MYSTERY.
The British Ship Tapping Aban.
dOned at Sea.
Brought Into Port by Prize Crew-No Ap-
parent Reason for Deserving the ves-
sel-Happy Sailors.

"What is the strangest thing I ever saw
since have been going to sea? Well, can
hardly say. A man sees good deal IN
seafaring life of nearly forty years"
The speaker was John German, veteran
salt, who came to San Francisco in an Eng
lish ship not long ago. and is now stopping
at a sailor's clearinghouse on Jackson
street.
~ can't think Of anything stranger than
an incident which occurred in 1873, when
was on board little brig bound from Mon
tevideo to Liverpool. We had fairly good
passage to the line, and Oh the night have
reference TO there was a light air, just
enough to give the vessel steerage way.
was in the mates watch, and was on deck
when daylight broke next morning. About
o'clock the lookout reported a vessel
ahead. The mate took look at her and
found her to be q full-rigged ship with all
sail set.
A SUSPICIOUS CRAFT.
"At o'clock, just as we were going be-
low, 1t was seen that the strange vessel
acted rather queerly at times. She would
be of before the wind and then would huff
up unit il she was flat aback. The mate went
aloft with the glass and reported to the
captain that lie could not make out what
was the matter. He could see no one on her
decks and thought all hands must be taking
advantage Of the fine weather tohave good
drunk.
"At that time she was about four miles
away and the man al the wheel was told to
steer for her. The curiosity OF the crew
was aroused and all hands stayed on deck.
In about an hour and half we were close
to her and found by the gilt letters on her
stern that she was the famous tea clipper,
Tapping of London. The captain hailed
her several times, but no answer came back
and no one came out Of the cabin, the door
of which was open.
THE CLIPPER ovERHAULED.
"After talk with the mate it was decided
10 send a boat alongside 10 board her and
find out what was wrong. The boat was
soon In the water and /. with the mate and
two other men made up the crew.
AS we pulled alongside We noticed for
the first time that her boats we're gone from
the davits. We had no trouble in climb
ing aboard. The mate aud l went aft.
There was no one at the wheel and not a
sign Of life on board except a cat which me-
US when we entered the cabin. The cabin
tabls was strewn with books and papers OF
various sorts. lockers were open and asearch
OF the captains cabin revealed the fact that
the chrOnomeierS were gone and so was the
barometer. No manifest or any papers be-
longing TO the vessel could be found and then
the crew had abandoned the ship.
EVERYTHING IN ORDER.
I'VE went on deck, and while the mate
sounded the well, l went forward. In the
galley yerything was in order, the cabin tea
pot stood on tile range full of tea, and in
the oven were several dishes containing
food. The food for the men had been diShed
up and was in a large pan, ready to be sent
forward, together with the can Of tea. All
the provisions had been recently cooked,
and it was plain that the crew had not left
the ship longer than twelve or fourteen
hours.
1.-The mate reported finding only five inches
of water in the hold, so the vessel was not
leaking. The whole thing was mystery,
and we could find nothing to give us clew
TO the strange way in when the vessel had
been abandoned We returned to the brig
and then the captain went on board the
Tapping, and after long Investigation made
up his mind to put crew on board and try
~ get her into port.
A PRIZE CREW.
son returning to the brig he called US all
aft and laid the matter before Us. We were
twelve men all told. and he proposed to put
six men on board the ship and the other SIX
would work the brig.
"All hands agreed to the pan as the ship
would prove a rich prize could we succeed
in getting her 10 pert. The mates watch
then packed up, and we We're soon on board
lll6 dEplLE. L Ht ulSb LutuR we ulu WAS 10
cleW up all the light sails and furl them, as
it would not do to be caught in stiff breeze
with all sail on the ship, and we were too
short-handed to shorten sail in blow. By
night we had her snug, and it was agreed
that each man should take day about cook
ing, and as long as the weather stayed fine
half our little crew remained on deck while
the rest slept. Next day we took off the
main matches, and then found that she was
laden with tea.
BROUGHT INTO PORT.
"Well, we lost sight Of the brig the second
day after boarding the ship and excepting
one blow in the chops of the English Chan
mel, which nearly took the spars out Of the
vessel, we had no bad weather, and in fifty
nine days we came to anchor in Falmouth
Harbor The brig came in three days after.
A crew was sent from London and she was
towed TO that port, and we went to Liver
pool in the brig.
"Whatd l get out of it2 Well, each man
except the captain and mate got ESQ and
suit of clothes How much the captain got
did not inquire, but you bet l had good
time while it lasted.
''No, sir. nothing was ever heard of her
crew, nor were the boats ever picked up, so
far as know; at least, never heard of any
being found"