The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1911-04-20
Missing
By JONATHAN c. MURRAY
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911

Some persons Of this generation do
not know that, though one now seldom
sees the American flag at the peak Of
an ocean vessel, just before the civil
war we were fast absorbing the carry
ing trade Of the world. Steam hadn't
then displaced sails as it 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 at the time Of which l am speak
ing, having sailed from New York
There was no Suez canal in those days,
and we were obliged to go around the
Cape Of Good Hope. We were APP
preaching the South African coast
when we Overhauled a dereliCt
A derelict is always an interesting
object plunglng helplessly about among
the waves with no hand to even at
tempt to guide her. Then ones curl
Osity it always excited as to why and
how she was left by those who were
on her, and the Imagination gets to
work at once. Our captain hove to
and said to me:
"Mr. Morton, take boat, go aboard
of her and investigate. Take tools TO
scuttle her and powder TO blow her up,
as the case may require"
1 was much pleased at the order,
INf,
aboard the derelict. l found a good
deal Of damage done on deck, evident
ly by a storm. A number of the lights
had been broken, and the seas had
drenched the cabin. Everything was
In confusion as If those on board had
been under great excitement. In one
of the staterooms hanging against the
wood partition was a daguerreotype of
a girl evidently seventeen or eighteen
years old. The happy young face was
a great contrast with the wrecked con-
dition of things about 1 took it from
its hook and put it in the pocket Of my
pea jacket.
1 couldn't make out anything about
the identity of the craft. Some Of the
boards of the stern where the name
was painted had been knocked off APP
parently by the waves, while other let
tiers were illegible. The letters left
were:
RI A s. G. o
/ made a copy Of them, giving the
proportionate spaces between them.
But there was nothing else aboard to
identify the ship. She had been knock
ed about by wind and waves so long
that her inside was pretty well wash
ed out. l 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 1 went off duty, choosing
q secluded spot, l took the daguerreo-
type out Of my pocket to have another
look. There's nothing remarkable in q
young sailor out at sea on long voy-
picture and falling in love with 1t. 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 correspondent with my likeness.
We had a quick voyage, but not quick
enough for me, though hunt for her
would be like looking for a needle in
a haystack. Nevertheless as soon as
we reached our home port / went to
work, overhauling the records Of all
the ships reported lost. But l found
so many Of them that I despaired of
hitting on the right one. If 1 could
supply the missing letters to the ships
name 1 might get into communication
with some one who could tell me about
my girl. But this seemed impossible.
/ made a list Of all ships reported
missing and compared my letters with
their names, but I must have been
very stupid, for I couldn't make them
At 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 I saw at a neighbor-
ing table the original Of my picture.
She looked up and, seeing me staring
at her with singular expression, look
ed embarrassed; but when l arose, took
the daguerreotype from my pocket
always carried 1t with me-and handed
her her own picture 1 thought she
would faint.
where did you get that" she asked,
flushing and turning pale alternately.
as it your likenessT asked.
"Yes."
"Are you sureT
~ know 1t by the dress and by the
artists name stamped upon the casing.
1t was taken four years ago. I gave
1t to my brother just before he sailed
on his last voyage"
"In what ship?"
1.-THE Martha Washington"
took out my pocketbook and drew
from 1t the original memorandum Of
the letters left on the derelict's stern.
They fitted In exactly with the name
the girl had given me.
"What became Of herT I asked
"She was never heard from"
told her of the derelict had visit
ed and Of the finding Of the daguerreo-
type in a stateroom that had doubt
less been her brothers.
t-t. h.