Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-21
PHANTOM OF THE SEA-
Manned by No Crew, a Ship From
Nova Scotia Sails Silently On
WITH HER CANVAS FULLY SET.
The Deserted Ship Sighted in the Evening,
Only to Vanish.
HER NAME AND HOME PLAINLY READ

NEW YORK, Jan. 2O.-One Of the strang-
est of tales Of the sea was that which the
Italian bark Colombo d. brought to this
port yesterday.
On the 11th inst, while the Colombo d.
was about $50 miles off the coast of Bermu-
da, Captain Vigiliana states that his look
out sighted a vessel about three miles off on
the starboard bow. She was three master
and square rugged. She was signaled, but
no answer came.
She was steering very erratically, too, and
although the shadows were gradually deep
ening into twilight, Captain Vigiliana de-
cided to bear down upon her and see what,
If anything, was the matter. Nearer and
nearer they came, but to their repeated
hailings not sound of answer came. Not
trace of life was on board. All was silent
save the soughing of the wind through the
rigging. Stranger still, all sail was set, and
the ship, in charge of the fates, was sailing
on with no hand at the helm.
Found to Be a Nova scStia Vessel. ~
AS the Colombo sailed by her stern her
name conld be plainly made out. 1t was
Hutchins Brothers, Nova Scotia ship.
Captain Vlgiliana held consultation with
his officers and called volunteer crew to
investigate, but the night was growing dark
and the superstitious sailors refused to 90. o.
1t was finally decided to stay by the strange
vessel until morning. Lights were already
in the rigging of the Colombo, but none
shone from the Hutchins, giving additional
evidence that no life was on board her
Strange as has been the experience al
ha
the Colombo, the morning brought deeper
mystery, for when dawn broke there vas
only waste Of waters where the lifeless
Nova Scotia ship had been. The night had
been calm and peaceful A skiff could have
lived in the roll of the gentle sea. There
was no land within sight and no storm had
risen, and yet nowhere could be found the
strange ship. She had disappeared as mys-
teriously as she had come into sight. .-
Thoroughly Frightened Crey. -
The crew of the Colombo, with all the
superstition of sailors, believed the vessel
had had no natural existence and portended
evil, and it was with glad hearts that they
reached quarantine in safety. Captain Wig
iliana promptly reported the matter at the
Maritime Exchange, where its recital
created much excitement.
The Hutchins Brothers is Nova
Scotian ship, and according to the register
was commanded by Captain Armstrong,
skipper of 20 years experience. She had
sailed from Pernambuco on December IS
with a cargo of sugar for this port, and that
was all that was known of her until the sem
sational story of Captain Vigiliana yester-
day. ...-.
The ship was named after Hutchins
Brothers, of this city, who were their
agents. They are utterly at loss to ac-
count for the absence of life on board her,
unless it was that yellow fever had attacked
the crew and consequently they could not
make their presence known. That she
should have been swallowed up in the night
is mystery deep and unfathomable to
them as 1t was to the astounded crew of the
Colombo.