The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-24
The Curious Story of the
Brig Mary Celeste.
Captain, His Family and the
Crew Never Heard From.
Jacoby's Scheme for Paris Expo
siti 0n-Evevated Aquarium.

During an interesting cOnNershtloi'
with q retired sea captain last night the
Gossipar learned the somewhat strange
story of the captain and crew OF the brig
Mary Celeste, who left the vessel in mid
ocean and who were never afterward
heard from. On Nov. z, the year 1872,
the brig sailed from New York with a
cargo of 100 barrels OF alcohol. she was
bound for Genoa and was in command
of Captain Benjamin =. Briggs, whose
wife and children accompanied him on
the voyage. The vessel was found aban-
ooned Dec. 4, 1872, in lstitude 1887 north
and longitude 1920 west by the brig Del
Gratia bound for New York. The mate
and two men were put on board and she
was taken to Gibraltar, arriving Dec. 13,
where she was put in charge OF the vice.
admiralty court. There were no boats on
board when the brig was found, and the
last entry on the log book was under date
OF Novembe "a, stating that she had made
the island OF st. Mary's.
AS has already been said the captain
hao his wife and children with him and
their wardrobe was left untouched while
Mrs. Briggs work was just as she had laid
1t down at the moment OF leaving, pre-
ciseIy as it would appear in any we'll
regulated home IL the mistress had steppsd
for q moment to the door and had been
unexpectedly shut out. In the forecas-
tie the order was still more remarak BILE.
The chests of the crew contained abun-
dant clothing, some of 1T entirely new, and
none OF it disturbed, TO indicate any pre-
psration for exit. In one chest . good
draft on a foreign Ebsnker for $50 was
carefully placed as when the owner left
New York. The court awarded to the
sailors VINO took the Mary Celeste into
port, f1, 700, and, bail being given, the
brig was released. February 2s, 1873, and
ON tiurch 10, shg ssifed for 6euua, whsre
she arrived March 81. The captain. his
wife and children, and the crew were never
heard from. Whythey left the brig no.
body ever could tell.
A Frenchman residing at Chicago
named Bernard Jacoby has designed n
feature for the Paris Exposition of 1900
which has been favorably passed upon
by Count Julien de Maurice, the com mis-
sioner recently in this country. The in
ventor calls his proposed structure "Ls
Canal Aquarium Eleve'' or the elevated
canal aquarium. He expects TO have IL
q mile long or more. and TO make it,
what its num- suggests, an elevated
canal, in which electric boats may carry
passengers from point to point, snd in
which, also, may be seen rare displays OF
OF all kinds. Alongside the banks
the fish are to run gay prom
ensdes, brilliantly lighted at night and
furnishing sn inviting place to pleasure
seekers by day. Underneath the t,uc-
.urs, which it is proposed to Support by
graceful columns, are to be cafes and
resting places. Mr.. Jscoby has organized a
company IN Chicago to build his highly
canal and IL he secures the |
Ii is his idea to spend $1,000
300 In carrying out the project. II was
the teiief of Count de Maurice, he says,
that the authorities could grant the con-
cession.
According to Mr.. Jcacoby's plans the
canal will start from the river Seine at a
point almost opposite the Place de Ia
Concorde, but little to the left of the |
of Deputies. From there 1t will |
run along the Esplansde des Invalids
which all good Ghicsgesas will- -Hemem-
ber, of course,) across the Boulevard la
Tour Mabourg and on To the Avenue de
Ia Motto Piquet. IL will stop at the
Champs &c Mars, opposite pEcole Mill
tsire. Any one who is familiar with the
geography of Paris will have no trouble
In following out that route. Ibe canal
auqsrium is neslgned to connect the two
parts Of the coming exposition and to
provide plsssant trip by the electric
boats from one point TO another slong
he route OF the canal. II is MIR. Jscoby's
scheme to charge one franc for a ride in
he eIccfric launchea md half th., |