Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-07-20
A TALE OF THE SEA.
ship, in Perfect Condition, Deserted
by Entire Crew.

ship, In Perfect Condition, Deserted
by Entire Crew.
The British bark Invernesshire, with a
good cargo, sailed away from Hamburg on
March 2, bound for Santa Rosalina, Cal.
With every bit OF canvas standing, she
crept down around the Spanish coast Of
Africa, where, taking advantage OF the
northeast trades, she crossed the Atlantic,
passing the Cape Verde Islands and Cape
st. Rogue on the east coast OF South
America,
Capt. Kinnon, careful navigator. was
in command. He knew his course and his
ship, and his crew had sailed with him
and knew him as he knew them as able
and willing. The Invernesshire was spoken
passing Cape Verde islands and again off
Cape st. Rogue. Capt.. Kinnon reported
all well. This was in May, and it was the
the last seen OF fapt. Kinnon or his crew.
His ship,lin perfect condition, was found
at anchor west OF the Falkland islands in
s. lat. 81, w. Ion. So, on June Is, by Capt.
Mancho, OF the Italian steamer vernia,
from Valparaiso de Chill to Naples, but
she proved dumb. Capt. Mancho was i'm
pressed with the quiet ON board and, get
ing no reply to his signals, sent the first
Officer to see what was the matter. When
the brig drew up alongside the big wind
TANNER, none was waiting at the gangway
unless the ships family OF cats be ex-
cepted. They seemed well fed and happy,
and to yearn for companionship rather
than food.
A thorough search was made OF the
ship, and from truck to keeison she was
in perfect order. On the mess room
table lay a pack of cards where some
one had been playing Kiondike. His
game had been interrupted ere twas
half finished. The fire in the galley
stove had burned itself out and the stove
was cold, yet on the stove was pot Of
s'slusb,n the sailors beef stew, and it had
not yet spoiled.
Every sail was furied. The deck was
ship-shape and tidy. In the captains
cabin on table lay copy OF Coleridge's
"Ancient Mariner, opened, face down as
il it had been placed there when the
reader was called away for a moment. In
the fo'c'sie were an accordion and banjo
on table where some musically inclined
seaman had left them, and on the same
table were the glasses, some still half filed
with grog.
While there were these evidences OF a
hurried departure, there WAS not thing
to show the reason for it or the way in
which the thirty odd men had suddenly
departed. From the davits swung the
long boats ana the captains gig, each
stocked with its customary supply Of water
and hard biscuit. With both port and
star board anchors holding fast in ten
fathoms, twelve miles to the west OF the
southern port of West Falkland island, the
bark rode peacefully in the calm sea,
technically a derelict, yet in perfect
condition.
Proceeding to Port Stanley in East
Falkland island, tugs were dispatched TO
the Invernesshire by Capt. Mancho.
Thither she was taken, and there she now
lies, safe and sound in hull and cargo,
awaiting the pleasure OF her owners, T.
Law & Co., of Glasgow.
| But what became OF her crew and her
skipper, Capt. kinnon, none can explain.
Why he deserted her there, within sight
OF land, close to Cape Horn, midwinter
though it was, is also a mystery. 1t could
not have been an epidemic OF sickness, for
at least one dead man would have re-
manned to tell the story unless he had
dived overheard in desperation.
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