The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-12
MYSTERIES OF TaB DEEP.
Vessels That Have Disapp esred
While at Anchor


While at Anchor.
The mysterious disappearance of vessels
at sea was being discussed by a group of
shipping men yesterday on the Bay. The
loss of the new steamship Nassau,
which left Philadelphia several
years ago for Jacksonville and
was never seen after she left port was re-
called, and the talk turned on the disap-
pearance Of vessels IN port.
Hundreds of vessels are annually lost at
at sea, but 1t is rare event that vessel is
lost from q harbor. There are, however,
many instances on record where vessels
have disappeared in this manner and no
trace OF them has ever been discovered
afterward.
One Of these was the full-rigged brig
Emerald, which vanished from Plymouth
harbor in January. 1871, and her wherea-
bouts remain a mystery to this day. The
Emerald was a vessel of $50 tons register,
and belonged to London. She was bound
from that port to Demerara, and put into
Plymouth for repairs. In few days she
was ready to proceed on her voy-
age. The night before her intended de-
parture, however, there was a grand display
of fireworks ashore in honor OF some i'm
portant event, and all hands went TO witness
it. The vessel was at anchor in the harbor,
which was crowded with shipping, and not
even a boy was left on board to look out for
her.
The mate and some of the men started
from the landing soon after midnight to go
on board, but to their utter surprise not
trace of the vessel could DO found. After
searching for over an hour they returned
ashore, and going to che 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 bar
Dor at the time. and reported the matter.
Messengers were cent TO the ports, but re-
turned with the information that no vessel
had passed out Of the harbor after sum
down except the regular mail steamer. A
thorough search of the haroor failed to find
the brig, and her descr iption was sent TO
every port in the world Up TO the present
time, however, nothing has been heard of
her.
A story was circulated that she had been
run down and sunk at her anchorage, hut,
as there was only five fathoms OF water
where she lay, her spe.rs would have shown
above the water.
The owners offered reward of 21OO 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 10, 1852, and.
like the Emerald, he's 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 Grew Of twelve men, including the
second mate and steward left the bark and
went 70 Liverpool, where they were found
0ftsrward, leaving oply the captain and
first mate on board. The captain had spent
| the day shipping new crew, and then went
up to Cork 70 spend uhe night with some
friends. leaving the'Isste, named Richard
Purdy 20 look after the bark. He returned
to Queenstown on the first train in the
morning. and was met by the men he had
shipped anxtousiy figuring where his YES
! sci was, as they could not find her.
She had gone, 6uI where no one has yet
| been able to discover nor has anything ever
been heard Of the mate.
The schooner Mary Bell disappeared from
her anchorage in New York harbor during
the night Of Sept. 8, 1898, and ali efforts to
discover her whereabouts have utterly
failed. She was vessel of 100 tons regis
ter, only three years old and was laden
with cargo of merchandise for Central
American ports. Ah the time Of her
disappearance the only persons on
board her were boy.and an old negro. The
darkey was found in "a low dive on Cherry
street the following day, and explained
that he had come ashore to buy some
clothes, having left the boy in charge of the
| schooner he seemed as much surprised as
any one when told that the vessel had dis
appeared, ami declared that all his clothes
were still on board her. A sharp lookout
was kept for the schooner all along the
coast: but up to the present day she has
failed to materiallze.
The Savannah river may possibly hold
the wrecks Of vessels that have been lost
sight OF In the wars shat have been fought
on its waters. and it is not improbable that
within few miles OF Savannah lie many
mysteries Of che deep.