The San Francisco call., 1907-01-20
By Lionel A. Johnson

- HE sea always smacSs of mys-
tery. il is At once the devourer
and sharer OF secrets. the de-
stroyer and savior OF those who
eonfde In it Many strange vessels
have sped over its depths, but perhaps
none with a more singular history than
that OF the bark Melanope. well known
IN this harbor. which. deserted by her
crew and supposed to have foundered
OF Cape Blanco on December :. has
been restored 70 the shipping list and
Sc apparently ready for the next chap
Ter IN her romantic and evcntful his
tory. in q hundred ports OF the world
you can hear mysterious things about
the Melanope; a hundred seafaring men
VIII shake their heads when asked
shout the vessel.
Whatever the future may have IA
store Tor the Afelanope, It is certain
that the stories told about her in the
past VIII not soon be forgotten. The
marvellous happenings reported TO have
taken place on her deck and in her
cabins have earned for her the name OF
s-5-he Ship OF Romance" while the III
hack that seems to have pursued her
from port % port under different own
ere has caused her 20 be designated
also &c the ship OF Death" For time
she rosmed the seas as a transport OF
love. a moving palace OF luxury. This
was when she was under command OF
Captain John r. Craigen. who. long be-
fore he became the master or the bark.
usually skillful navigator. He also
bore the reputation OF being an ex-
oeptionRlly handsome. dashing man. and
OF possessing an irresistible fascination
Cor women. He had been married for
some years and had three children,
when he suddenly discovered. he an
nounced, that his wife had never re-
oeiveo divorce from a former hus-
band. They were IN New Zealand at
the time OF this discovery, and Captain
Craieen immediately sent her with her
children 10 the home OF her parents IN
New Jersey. IT has been said that this
marriage OF the captains was entirely
legal, and that ss he had tired OF his
wife be took this means merely 20 dis
been stated. However. Captain Craigen.
a free man as far ss HE time and in
clination were concerned, was not long
in meeting 3 Miss Taylor OF Dover,
England. and acquaintance soon ripened
into ardent love. Miss Taylor was
wealthy, a woman OF in6ubltabie
charm, and her people were well known
in English society. The fact that Crsi-
gen had no special claim 90 social dis
Enction and was almost penniless made
no difference on either side. She loved
him. That suf8oed. While the two
were at Antwerp she purchased the
bark Melanope, and, after fitting II Up
in superb fashion, presented IL 10 Cap
tain Crsigen. Whether they were ever
married is not known.
When the pslatial Melanope was
ready for a voyage the two sailed in
her for Cape Town, Africa. New
castle was later visited, where they
were well received by the best people
and these seem TO have been their
happiest days.
Although Craigen and his companion
were believed TO have been married,
rumor was busily at work It was de-
clered that they had elopeo; that they
were not married at all. and even that
each had fed from a legal family.
These reports were probably started by
members OF the crew and given ere
oence by those who were jealous OF
the beauty OF Mise Taylor and the
distinguished manner and bearing OF
Captain craigen. AS the tales grew
and spread they appeared in different
dress. one OF these gave Miss Taylor