The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-04

rent without tow or sail, and behaving in
"a most incomprehensible manner. Fetch
ing his glass Smiley saw that both her
nlasts were gone and that her rigging was
hanging ia "A disordered mass about her
decks. There was a small dory hitched TO
ele stern Of the tug, so Smiley, prompted
by curiosity, dropped over into her and
pulled away toward the mysterious ship
and thus he made MS fortune.
When he reached her he found she was
drifting with the tide, which runs very
strong down there. He hailed her but got
no response. Making the dory fast to
some OF the gearing, he clambered over
her side and found fine, staunch vessel,
which had evidently gone through tenn
pest a short time before. for everything
above decks was torn and smashed to
fragments by the force of the wind and
water. Below there wasn't the slightest
damage. Everything was as fine as I'D
die. The hold was filled with the best
grade Of anthracite coal The lockers
were well provisioned for a long voy -
There was even ice in the refrigerator
with fresh meat. Vegeta bles and beer. and
not living thing ABOARD but a cat, worn
almost to a skeleton. which whned plte-
ously as Smiley opened the cabin door.
The consequence was that on a fine sum-
mer's day Mr.. Smiley found himself by
strange shift of fate, captain, first mate,
cook and crew Of one of the finest vessels
d
no man to dispute his title He cleared
the helm, guided the ship as she slowly
drifted up the channel toward the town
hailed some sailors he knew on a man
of-war to come aboard and assist him, and
with their aid finally let go the anchor at
a favorable place, where the ship still
lies, with Mr.. Smiley still In possession
and is used for the storage of coal. which
he sells to passing steamers.
1t was learned, upon inquiry, that the
ship had sailed from Cardiff many
months before with a fun crew and a
cargo of coal for Panama and was never
again heard from until she came calmly
into port of her own sweet will. 1t is be-
heved that her captain and crew were
washed overheard, or deserted her in the
terrible storm through which she had
passed, for they haven't turned up, and
by the laws of navigation Smiley became
owner of the ship and cargo.
There is so much traffic through the
Straits of Magellan that the people Of
Puenta Arenas have steamer going one
way or the other nearly every day, and
they usually stop for mail or supplies II
1t cherries town, built upon a spit of
sand that projects into the straits, with
out gardens or foliage. Back in the coun-
try are several sheep ranches. The popu-
lauon consists of about 1900 people a
large proportion of men, representing all
the nations of the earth. Many of them
are fugitives from JUSTICE most of them
at some time have followed the sea.
remember being rowed from the dock to
the steamer by boats crew of six. in
Guiding one American, one Irishman. one
Italian, one Portuguese, one Malay and
one native of Chile. Puenta Arenas was
formerly penal colony of Chile, and
many of the people were originally sent
there as convicts. OF late the town has
assumed considerable activity as a fitting
out place for miners of all nations, who
have been prospecting Terra del Fuego
Tor gold. And their success, which seems
assured, will make Puenta Arenas a city
OF Importance. Placer mines as rich as
those of Alaska or Cape Colony have been
found among the Barren rocks of Fire
land, and IL will not be many years be-
fore the cannibal Fuegans, whom mis-
slonaries of the Church of England. un-
der Bishop Sterling, have for forty years
been trying to convert to Christianity, are
taught the ethics of the mining camps.