Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-10-08
THE MODERN "FLYING oUTcHMAN. y

There are rev examples Wneteiu lhe
imagery of mems minds has In later
years become realities. A marvellous in
stance is the case of the schooner Fan
ME 4. wolston. 10 great many per-
sons the fact that vessel fully equipped
and manned can successfully cross the
ocean and weather terrific storms Is
constant source Of wonder.
The modern vessel represents every
thing that experience aud ingenuity can
devise that will make IL able to cope
with any OF the dangers that can be fore
seen. We are horror-stricken when we
hear OF such disasters as the Elbe, Colt
ma, and Reina Regente. These vessels
were comparatively modern, and were
supposed to be able 10 cope with any OF
the dangers that threatened them; at
least they were supposed tn be able To
float long enough TO allow the persons
they carried TO seek some safe refuge.
The other extreme Is now presented
to US by the photographic Office. A
wooden three-masted schooner called
the Fannie +. wolston encountered a
terrific hurricane, and becoming water
logged, her crew took To the boats and
abandoned the vessel off Cape Hatteras,
October 10, 1891. This vessel, storm
raked and abandoned by man, began the
most remarkable voyage'of which there
Is any record. For over three years she
journeyed across the Atlantic Ocean, sur
vivlng gale.!after gale, In which many
stanch vessels manned by skillful men
went TO the bottom. Like ghost OF a
vessel which the elements refused TO re-
ceiye. she vas forced TO wander over
vast expanses of water seeking final
resting-place, her hull partly submerget.
her masts broken, with the pieces oil
broken rigging and remnants Of sails
flapping with every roll and swaying at
each puff OF wind. Nobody at the wheel
TO keep it steady, il revolved with dis
NAL creakings, and as a fitting accom-
paniment the ships bell tolled with
every roll. As one swiftly passed this
derelict, il was difficult to keep from
wondering II there was not some poor
fellow-being, weak for want of food or
water, or dispirited from frequent dis
appointments, crouching, weak. dis
coursged, and helpless, behind,some
shelter, little knowing that help is near
al hand.
The WOlsion was sighted and report
cd by forty-four vessels In the three
wears of her wsnderings, and many
other vessels passed her without seeing
her. or failed 10 report her. Many psss-
ed her during the night and failed 10 see
her. From ilatteras the wolston travel
ed To the eastward To about ~ degrees
west Of Greenwich, taking almost eight
months 10 make the journey. From this
point she started hack 10 the United
States, but changed her mind and took
what Is known ss the Southern Passage
this occupied nine months before she
fairly began her western voyage. THIS
voyage was accomplished in nine months
more, when we fiud her off the coast OF
Florida. After spending the winter
months ia this vicinity, she started Tor
more northerly ATTITUDES. arriving on
Hstteras in June, 1894. From this point
she endeavored to cross the Atlantic
once more, seeking TO do this by using
the Southern Passage, but on arriving
in latitude 30 degrees north she started
for the Northern Passage. This change
must have been serious mistake, Tor
on October Il, 1894, she was seen for
the last time, and there can be small
doubt that she has sought and found
her last restiug-place.
After she WAS abandoned IL Ia known
that the Wolston was ahoat for three
wears and six days. The distance which
she travelled in that time can only be
conference.-the il, by locating the
places AT which she was reported as
having been spoken, and connecting
these with straight lines, and measuring
these lines, which make the enormous
total Of 9l56 miles. This amount could
be doubled, even trebled, aud yet he
within reasonable possibility. For
when the reports have been within Il
few days of each other, It Is seen that
she constantly doubled on her track
aud ii cannot be supposed that she
travelled from one position to another by
the nearest route.
Although derelicts are a constant
source of danger to other vessels, vel
their Journeys are useful in determining
the set, direction and velocity Of III,
currents in the ocean.-Harper's Weekly