The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-09-27
THE SECRET
OF THE ABANDONED SHIP
By W. Clark Russell.


in my life. He paced the floor quickly
with short lookout step. his hands
deep buried in his little pockets.
He was a dry and harsh old man,
ike to 8. parched pea, with so years of
seafaring. called upon this sailor,
believing that he alone could solve the
mystery. and he answered the instant
tinuuired if he could do so:
sYet IT." and pulled piece Of worn
newspaper out of his side pocket.
ssThis is the piece" he began, they
nut in about it. They make her an
American. Lie, number one. They
call her brig. Lie number two. l
ought to know, for I was her second
mate.
aShe was black bark Of 700 tons
belonging to Liverpool, and the piece
they put into the papers about her was
shis,.said the little sailor man, putting
On pair Of glasses.
saTen years ago q British merchant
NAN saw vessel with all sails set, yet
something was wrong. They boarded
her. Everything was In order, fire
burning in the galley, dinner untasted
and scarcely cold, cargo intact, the
well dry. 10 one living or dead was on
board. The log had been written up to
within q short time Of the period Of
her being boarded. There was not
drop OF blood, lock OF hair, disor-
dered cabin or anything to show the
sign of a struggle. From that day not
1he slightest gclew has been obtained
Yet she has been lucky ship ever
Eince,
..Now," said the little sailor with ex-
aitement, slapping the sheet Of paper,
81 have contradicted this yarn over
ana over again. I'have given the pub
lie the truth, and still the papers win
Insist upon inserting this piece just as
H / didn't exist or had no right to
speak.
sWe had been out fortnight home
ward bound. when q man In the morn
: 5ng watch, coming aft to me. says:
8 There's queer sight to be seen in
he fok-sle, air.
60 What ia itY said /.
".Rats on the booze
seThe weather was Quiet, and ]
thought 1 could safely leave the deck
Cor q few minutes, and. going forward.
Z stepped as requested into the topgal'
lant f0recastle and saw two rats Nov
!. .isg about in q strange fashion.
"rhey seemed to grope and reel. and
even ss: j, watched; another huge black
rat came out from somewhere In the
dusk. and this beast moved. swayed
and clutched d: the deck as It crawled
slowly.
.aThe morning light had broken,
good light was made by the forecastle
tights, and the rats were distinctly Wis.
yble. Several Of tie watch ON deck
Stood looking on.
:" They appear to me to be blind
said I.
g That's just II, SIR said the man
.gfo had called me forward, and, step
ring up to the nearest rat, he passed
! Ais hand over its eyes, and this he did
10 tic other and to the third rat. but
none showed signs of fear.
4aThey were blind.
every queer-alf three Of them too.
Must have poisoned themselves some
now said 1. Better catch and fling
the beasts overheard and with thot
returned to the poop
s'The name of the ship was the Mid
slfcseS.
1--WE were q company Of Is men for
ward. The master was Captain Mar
lin; James Fairman, hrst mate, and
Alfred Tarbush is my name. second OF
;lcr, as think told you.
"About week after this incident Of
The rats the mate said to me, when
came ON deck to relieve him:
s."The carpenter and the cook are
10th complaining Of their sight
ssThc disease was wonderfully rapid
with the poor fellows. for putting it
that they complained on the Monday
they were hclplcssly Blind on the fol-
lowing Friday, sitting and crying, un-
able to move without being led.
"Now began the truly awful part OF
this tremendous incident Of the ocean.
It was not enough that Captain Martin
should so dark that night, losing his
sight till, as he tod me, he couldn't
see the flame Of the cabin lamp rs it
swung in the little cuddy.
..At two bells in the middle watch,
two nights after, it being my lookout.
he poor unfortunate man came an
,lcck and stood in the cOmpaliiOnway.
calling for the officer Of the watch. l
AN to him and asked him what / could
10. Tic said:
"sGivc ,ne your hand. Tarbusll, and
cad me to the ships side abaft and
lear Of the ,niZZen channels. What's
7he vessels rate Of Soing%
ABOUT seen, sir. a handsome,
rcgu!ar sea. and the main royal on too.
But is it so bad with you, captain,' said
I, as I led him to the rail according to
his request that you can see nothing?'
I'm blind he saspcd. Pin blind.
Look after the ship, sir. III call you
when wish to return below.
Il never suspected his intention, ana
ihc habit Of duty amounts 10 an i'll
Stinct in & seaman. had 10 sooner
reached the weather side OF The deck
than the man at The wheel yelled out:
Hes jumped and heard i
s,,losh sonud clp1r through the smooth