The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-03-25
Missing
BY JONATHAN c. MURRAY
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.


an ocean vessel, just before the civil
war we were fast absorbing the carry
hng trade of the world. Steam hadn't
then displaced sails rs II has almost
entirely done today, and our clipper
sailing ships were the finest and fast
'est on the seas.
in 1854 l was third mate on one OF
these ships. We were bound for Hong
kong Mt the time of which am speak
ing, having sailed from New York.
There was no Sucz canal in those days,
md we were obliged 10 go around the
Cape of Good Hope. We were ap-
preaching the South African coast
when we overhauled derelict
4 derclict is always an interesting
object punging helplessly about among
the waves with no hand to even at
tempt TO guide her. Then ones curl.
.osity 1t always excited as to why and
how she was left by those who were
ON her, ana the Imagination gets to
work at once Our captain hove to
and said to me:
'|Mr. Morton, take a boat, go aboard
of her and investigate. Take tools to
scuttle her and powder TO blow her up,
ms the case may require"
was much pleased at the order,
and 1t was not long before 1 was
aboard the derelict. | found good
deal OF damage done on deck, evident
ly by n storm A number of the lights
had been broken, and the seas had
drenched the cabin Everything was
an confusion as II those on board had
been under great excitement. In ore
of the staterooms hanging against the
wood partition was daguerreotype of
Al girl evidently seventeen or eighteen
years old. The happy young face was
great contrast with the wrecked CON
dition OF things about. | took II from
ats hook and put It in the pocket of my
pea Jacket
l couldn't make out anything about
she identity of the craft. Some of the
Boards of the stern where the name
was painted had been knocked oS az.
parently by the waves, while other let
tiers were lllegiblc. The letters left
were:
RT A S G o
! made II copy of them, giving the
propOrtiOnate spaces between them.
But there was nothing else aboard TO
identify the ship. She had been knock
cd about by wind and waves SO long
that her inside was pretty well wash
ed out. ] put fifty pounds of powder
in her, attached fuse, lighted it and
pulled away from her. Before we
reached the ship there was an explo-
sion and she sank.
As soon as | went OFF duty, choosing
a secluded spot, | took the dagucrrco-
type out of my pocket to have another
look. There's nothing remarkable in n
young sailor out at sea on long voy-
age making a companion of girls
picture and falling In love with IT, At
any rate, this is what ! did.
On our way back ! determined to
hunt through the whole of North
America to find the flesh and blood
that corresponded with my likeness
We had quick voyage, but not quick
enough for me, though hunt for her
would be like looking for needle in
n haystack. Nevertheless as soon as
We Ituthtu tuT nOHlt IpTt went 10
work, overhauling the records OF all
the ships reported lost But found
80 many of them that despaired of
hitting on the right one If could
supply the missing letters 10 the ships
name l might get into communication
with some one who could tell me about
my girl But this seemed impossible
made list OF ali ships reported
missing and compared my letters with
their names, but must have been
very stupid, for l couldn't make them
fit with any of the names on my list.
Two years later, while on the New
England coast, | went ashore with
some of my mates to enjoy ourselves
in summer garden. We had hardly
got seated when | saw at Il neighhor-
ing table the original of my picture.
She looked M and, seeing me staring
ut her with singular expression, look
ed embarrassed; but when arose, took
the dagueTeotype from my pocket
always carried it with mc-aud handed
her her own picture | thought she
would faint.
Where did you get that?" she asked,
hushlhg ana turning pale alternately.
lis 1t your likeness?" asked.
Yes"
Are you sureG"
Il know 1t by the dress and by the
artists name stamped upon the casing.
IL was taken four years ago | gave
1t TO my brother just before he sailed
on his last voyage"
In what shpF"
The Martha Washington"
l took out my pocketbook and drew
from it the original memorandum of
the letters left on the dcrelicts stern.
They fitted In exactly with the name
the girl had given me.
''What became Of hcrT | asked,
'She was never heard from"
L told her of the derelict l had visit
ed and of the finding of the daguerreo'
.,,,, In N ofotnrnnp, that had dOubt.