The morning call., 1894-06-23
OUT OF THE SEA.
A Queer Story About the
Borough Belle.
LIFTED BY UNKNOWN FORCE.
From the Reef on Which She
Was Stranded.
LIFTED BY UNKNOWN FORCE
DESERTED ANIMALS ON BOARD.
Three Swine and Dog That Survived
for Nearly Sixty Days-A Mon
keys Terrible End.

High up on the reef out of reach of tn e
waves. held firmly by cradle of coral of
white, purple aud red hueS. frosted along
its Oyerbanging edges like the caves of a
snow-bedecked house. lie the remains of
the brig Borough Belle. that was driven
among the outlying shoals of the Solomon
Islands by hurricane on February 3 last
THE CALL first gave the news to the
world of the wreck of the Borough Belle.
getting the information simultaneously
with the Lloyds in London.
Now comes sailor from Sydney, who
was member of the crew of the steamer
Aldingar, with a story that is both re-
markable and interesting.
Nelson Swenson is his name and he
says, and the records substantiate his
statements: The Aldingar plies between
ports in Australia and New Caledonia.
She touched at Ballona reef. an isolated
coral formation of great beauty. twice
during a recent trip, and now the Sydney
and Melbourne mariners are telling
strange yarns about what the steamer )
crew saw.
Out Of the sea has risen the Borough
Belle. Nature and the industrious little
coral insect have mounted the wrecked
brig upon a pedestal of delicate coral work
as powerful in It's construction as the
choicest conceit in spun glass.
The Belle has been lifted out Of reach
of The water by an irresistible force that
evidently eXerts its powers beneath the
coral bed on which she rests. The
sea washes at the foot of the astonish ing
marine monument some six or eight feet
below the elevation where the Bellies keel
is firmly held in the grasp of the growing
coral.
Ill
Shoal. when the vessel struck, from end to
end and side to side, but the W hole mass,
on which is supported the wreck, has
gradually risen out of the ocean, as if by
volcanic action.
From the sea the Bellies hull attracts
the eye of the passing seaman. and causes
him TO think that some strange Crusoe has
built for himself an odd ship-shaped
house on the edge of the coral island.
Amusement follows an approach. The
mystery Of. the coral-mOunted wreck be-
comes intense, boats are lowered and men
stand spellbOund as they view the freak of
nature.
The Aldingar's crew did not alone dis
cover that the rising of the Bellies ghost
from the sea was the only wonder con-
nected with the qneer shipwreck. Though
it was March 81. or nearly two months
after the Belle went ashore. four living do
nestle animals trotted about the dead
briggs decks.
Tires swine were in the vessels hold,
and had fatted u Don the potatoes in the
cargo, that was piled close to the matches
The hatch-covsrs had been washed away
exposing the food TO the ravages of the
hogs.
A dog bony and hungry looking and
covered with feathers, was found cured
up in the after cabin. where he had laid
down TO die by slow starvation, life having
been kept in his gaunt body since the day
he was cruelty deserted by man, his un-
grateful companion. by devOuring unwary
sea birds that perched at night in great
numbers along the Bellies bulwarks and
ratings.
When the seas were grinding the brig on
the reef two iron water-tanks had upset in
such a manner that the several hundred
gallons of water that were not spilled out
were accessible TO the dog and swine alike.
Tropical rains often poured down on the
wreck, filling its cutters and receptacles
full to the brim while the storm lasted.
The showers were also life-renewers to the
animals.
There had been q monkey and several
parrots confined in a cage fastened under
the break of the poop, but the canine had
undoubtedly fought terrible battle with
the SImlan, vauqGishing his foe and then
devourlng him at bis leisure. All that was
left OF the parrots were a few green
feathers.
The dog was brought on board of the
Aldingar and the hogs furnished fresh
pork for the steamers men for several
days. But like the soldier who bad passed
unseared through many battles oniv to be
killed on his way home in a railroad acct
dent. the Bellies dog lost his life by being
crushed by falling bale of merchandise
just before entering Sydney.
Seamen cannot account for the sub
marine upheaval that has lifted the brig
high out of water and perched it on a coral
foundation like in appearance TO NOuri's
picture of the ark on Mount Ararat. 1t