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

= By W. Clark Russell. 3
1~~~~~~~>~~~~~%%~~~~~~~~~S
He was the smallest man ever saw
IN my life. Hc paced the floor quickly
with short lookout step, his hands
leep buried in his-little pockets.
He was dry and harsh old man,
ike to parchcd pea, with SO years of
scafaring. l called upon this sailor,
believing that he alone could solve the
mystery. and he answered the instant
T. inquired If he could do SO:
Eyes, SIR" and pulled piece Of worn
newspaper out Of his side pocket.
'"This 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. I
ought to know. for was her second
mate.
"She was q black bark Of 700 tons
belonging to Liverpool. and the piece
they put into the papers about her was
.his,',: said the little sailor man, putting
IN n pair Of glasses.
''Ten years ago q British merchant
man saw q vessel with oil sails set, yet
something was wrong. They boarded
her. Everything was in order, fro
burning In the galley. dinner untasted
tnd scarcely cold, cargo intact, the
we'll dry. no one living or dead was on
board. The log had been written up to
within q short time Of the period OF
aer being boarded. There was not a
'lrop Of blood, lock OF hair. disor-
aered cabin or anything to show the
sign Of struggle. From that day not
3he slightest clew has been obtained.
Yet she has been q lucky ship ever
gfncc.
'sNow," said the little sailor with ex-
element, shaping the sheet Of paper,
Il have coptradicted this yarn over
and over again. I'have given the pub
lie the truth. and still the papers win
insist upon inserting this piece just as
4 I didn't exist or had no right to
speak.
1--WE had been out 20, might home
ward bound. when q man IN the morn
ing watch. coming aft to me, Gays:
:" There's queer sight to be seen I'm
No fok-sle, sir.'
"'Whnt Is itY said 1.
Rats OD tho booze
'oEhe weather was quiet, anl I
thought 1 could safely leave the deck
Cor q few minutes. and. going forward,
I stepped as requested into the topgai.
lant f0secastle and saw two rata NOV
ing Gb0ut In q strange fashion.
~They seemed To grppe and reel. and
even as: i. watched another huge black
rat came out from somewhere In the
dusk. and this beaae moved. swayeG
ansa e!ntcheias at the deck as il crawied
slowly.
"Tho morning light had broken, @
good light was made 'by the forecastle
lights, and the rats were distinctly Wis.
lbie. Several OF the watch ON deck
stood looking on.
".Ehey appear 10 me TO be hind
saidI.
That's just 1T, SIR said the man
who had called me forward, and, step.
ping up to the nearest rat, he paused
Ais hand over its eyes, and this he did
to tho other and to the third rat, bus
Nune showed signs Of fear.
"Thcy were blind.
every Gueer--alt three Of them too.
iSw.' said I. Better catch and ding
fhe beasts overboard,' and with that I
returned to the poop.
"Thc name OF the ship was the MID.
ellesex.
I'VE were q company Of 1o men for
ward. The master was Captain Mar
Tin; james Fairman, first mate. and
Alfred Tarbush Is my name, second Of
;lcr, as think told you.
"k.a0ut week after this incident n1
tne rats the mate said TO me, when I
came ON deck to relieve him:
""Thc carpenter and the cook are
both complaining Of their sight
"Tho disease was wonderfully rapid
with the poor fellows. for putting 1t
that they complained ON the Monday
they were helplessly 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 go dark that night, losing his
sight till, as he told me, he couldn't
see the flame of the cabin lamp as it
swung In the little cuddy.
sAt two bells in the middle watch,
Two nights after, it being my lookout,
Tho poor unfortunate man came an
Deck and stood in the companionwaS.
calling for tho officer OF tho witch. I
ran to- him and asked him what + could
DO. He said:
"Gfyc me your hand. Tarbusl,, and
scad me to the ships side abnft and
clcar of the mlzzen channels, WHAT'S
the vessels rate OF going?
".About seven, sir. A handsome.
regular sen, ana the main royal on too.
But Is It 20 bad with you. captain said
s,as led hlm to the rail according to
his request, .isaat you can see nothingY
# .'I'sa blind,' he gasped. 'Tm blind.
Look after the ship, sir. I'll cali you
when wish TO return below I
II never suspected his intention, and
the habit OF duty amounts to an in
stinct in seaman. Il hnd no sooner
arn g /. . tu