Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-01-03
THE SECRET
Of The ABANDONED SHIP
By w. Clark Russell.

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lie was the smallest man ever saw
IN my life He paced the Ioor quickly
with short lookout step. his hands
deep buried in his little pockets.
He was dry and harsh old man.
Ike to a parched pea. with 80 years of
seafaring called upon this sailor.
believing that ne alone could solve the
mystery. and he answered the instant
inquired If hc could do 50:
Yes. sir" and pulled piece of worn
newspaper ont Of his side pa.ect
This Is the piece" he began. "tbev
put In about IT, They make her an
American. Lie number one They
call her n brig. Lie number two
ought to know. FOR I was her second
mate.
"She was black bark of 7uo tons
belonging to Liverpool. and the piece
they put into the papers about her was
this said the little sailor man. putting
on pair OF glasScs
Ten years ago British merchant
man saw vessel with all sails set. vet
something was wrong. They boarded
her. Everything was I'm order. fire
burning In the galley. dinner untasted
and scarcely cold. cargo intact. the
well dry. no one living or dead was on
board. The log had been written un to
within short time OF the period of
her being boarded. There was not a
drop OF blood "a lock OF hair a diSor-
dercd cabin or anything to show the
sign of n struggle. From that day not
the slightest Glow has been obtained.
Yet she has been a lucky ship ever
since
Now" said the little sailor with eN-
citemcnt. Slapping the sheet of paper.
Il have conuadictcd this yarn over
and over again. have given tbv uuA-
lie the truth. AMI still the papers viii
insist upon inserting this piece just us
If didn't exist or had no r.rhj 40
speak.
I'VE had been ont a fortnight home
ward bound. when - man in the moIn-
ing watch. coming art to me. says
"'There'S queer sight To he seen in
the fok-slc. sir
"'What is itT said L.
"'RatS on the booze
THE weather was quiet and |
thought ! could safely leave the deck
for Few minutes. and. going forward.
| stepped rs requested into the topgal-
liant forcca~tlc and saw TWO rats NOV
ing about an a strange fashion.
They seemed to gropc and reel. and
even as watched another huge black
rat came out from somewhere i'm the
dusk. and this beast moved. swaye-l
and clutchCd at the dcck rs il crawlcd
slowly.
The morning light had broken. a
good light was made 10y the forecaStle
lights. and the rats were distinctly Wis
iblc. Several of the watch on deck
stood looking on.
They appear To me 60 he blind
said L.
That's Just ii. sir said the man
who had called me forward ana. step
ping up To the nearest raj. lac passed
his hand over it's eyes ani This he did
to the other and 90 the third rat, but
none showed signs OF fear
"They were blind.
"'Nery queer all three Of them too.
Must have poisoned themselves some
how said / BETTER catch and fling
the beasts ovcrboard.' and with that
returned To the poop.
"The name OF the ship was the Mid
dleSoX.
We were Il company Of j. men for
ward. The master was Captain Mar
tin James i'airman. first mate. and
Alfred Tarhu~h is my name. second of
her. rs 1 think | told you.
about Il week after this incident Of
the rats tho mate said to me. when
came on deck 80 relieve him:
1.-The carpenter and the cook are
both complaining Of their sight
"The disease was wonderfully rapid
with the poor fellows. for putting it
that they complained on the Monday
they were helplcssly blind on the fol
lowing Friday. sitting and crying. un-
able to move without being led.
"NoW began the ;ruly awful part OF
this tremendous incident of the ocean.
II 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 II
swung in the little cuddy.
AT two bells in the middle watch,
two nights after. il being my lookout.
the poor unfortunate man came on
deck and stood In the companionway,
calling for the officer Of the watch. |
ran TO him ana asked him what could
do. He said
Give me your hand. Tarbush. and
lead me to the ships side ahaft and
clear of the mzzcn channels What's
the vessels rate of @oinST
about seven. sir. y handsome.
regular s"a. and the main royal on too.
Rut is IL So bad Vifu sar. captain said
as Ld hiui to- the rail- ace"sc;pS 20