Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-10-22
THE CHEF ISSUE.
DAILY SHORT STORY
A MYSTERY OF TIE SEA.
Copyright. 1904 by 7. /. McClure.I

Copyright. 1904 by 7. /, McCIurc.I
what was known Is tie "Lolc ship"
mystery occurred in The year 1875.
An English merchantmen named the
White SQUaH. homcwdrd bound from
tie cape to Liverpool. was Jogging
along to the north OF the Azores one
night wien she overlook and passed an
unknown craft. II Was Il starlight
night without tie slightest sign of
mist rising from the water. The un-
known had 40 lights ont ana was pass
cd within hundred feet. The chief
mate had the watch and hailed her.
but got no answer in return. lie was
cursing her carcleSSneSS in sailing the
highway without "a light when the W.
known came sailing ia his wake and
took up position Oh Tie Stdrboard
quarter ana only a stones throw
away. She was hailed Il dozen times
over, but made 20 answer.
only one single person could lie seen
aboard. ana he was the man at the
wheel His figure was without motion
except what the tOsSing of the ship
enough under The naked eye. but the
glass brought him closer still.
For an hou? the strange ship held Il
parallel course 10 that of the mer-
chairman. and the crew of the latter
got bad fright over it. The breeze
held steadily. and during one minute
the unknown craft and her solitary
man We're in full view of fifteen men.
The next she had vanished off the face
Of the sea. leaving everybody to rub
his eyes and stare.
i WAS three months before the
Lone ship" was seen again. I'm Amer
lean ship bound from New York TO
R,rGcauE had left the Azores we'll to
tie south and behind her when one
day at noon the breeze left her and
there fell dead calm. The sea soon
went down until there was only u
classy ground swell, and when night
came on there was not a sail in sight.
Vt midnight the moon rose. and so
bright was its light that one could
have read book ON deck
Half an hour later without enough
air stirring To move a feather,
strange craft came slowly into view
from the east and when first discover
el was only about two miles away.
She was bows on at first, but when
within half a mile Of the American
size swung around and showed her
bruadSide and ceased her drift. The
second mate had the watch. having
come on at midnight and after puZ-
zlug for Il few minutes he called the
captain. Captain ana mate united
their voices in hail which was not
answered. and then Il musket was
brought up and fired three times with
out elicting any reply.
The American captain was ! hard
headed fellow. with no superstition in
his composition. He took a boat and
two men-no others OF his crew would
20 with him-and pulled TO the ship.
The log book said of their adventure:
When we had approached within a
few feet of the Lone Ship l ordered
the men to cease rowing that might
look her over. She had no name paint
ed on her stern or quarter.
We rowed twice around her. hail
Ing several times without result. and
then | ordered the men TO row me I'M
der her bows that l might climb up by
her chains. They hung in the wind
and would have refused had I not
menaced them with the revolver | had
brought along in my pocket.
LAS 1 climbed up l ordered one Of
them to follow me and was presently
taking q view Of the strangers decks. /
1 counted ten objects lying about
which I verify believed were dead men
wrapped I'D in blankets. though for