Year: 1879

CAPTAIN OLSEN, OF THE NORWEGIAN BARK
MARIA, FALLS IN WITH THE ABANDONED
SHIP ROYAL CHAETEE AND ATTEMPTS TO TAKE
HER INTO PORT.


The Norwegian bark Maria. from Cadiz. arrived in
port on Sunday evening under the command Of
Chief OcerT. Falk and reported tho discovery of
abandoned ship Royal Charter in latitude a. deg. IS
min, longitude A deg 81 min. They found tho weasel
in seaworthy condition, and Captain Olsen. OF the
Maria, with five men. had gone board aud intended
to make the best Of their way to European port
The Royal Charter left this port with load OF grain
October 49, and has since been reported abandoned
by the captain of the bark Glcnaros that arrived in
Philadelphia November 15 That officer discovered
the Royal Charter October 30 in latitude 10 dag Il
min, longitude Al deg. OF min. and boarding her
found Of the pumps choked lie did not think she
could be saved. and started to hunt for the crew,
which by the log slate must have left October 90
the day before HERALD reporter obtained view
of the log of the bark Maria and ono of the off,
cers secured the following interesting story


SIGNS LIFE.


'on the 4th of November. in longitude A5 deg
and latitude AZ deg. AZ min. sighted ship In
distress and steered up toward her. As we came
closer up she appeared to be abandoned, as there
were no signs oil life on board. Some Of her canvas
was still set with tho royals aback and tho yards
swinging she rolled In the trough Of the sea- IL
was then blowing gale from the southwest. but
during the afternoon the weather moderated little
and First Officer Falck and a couple OF men, after
considerable difficulty. got aboard the abandoned
vessel. They found her to be the ship Royal Char
ter. of Yarmouth. Nova Scotia, built in ls73 loaded
with cargo of wheat. Around the decks aud In tho
cabin they found everything In disorder. as IL the
crew had left in hurry. The head yards were
braced to port and the lower topsail appeared In
good order. The foresal was cewed half way up
and torn and the upper topsail, lowered down. had
suffered from the gale. being badly torn. The main
yards were braccd TO sarboard and the port braces
We're rove out and parted. Both maintopsails
set and the maintopgallantsail was cewed up half
way and torn The lnainyards were swinging with
the roll Of the ship. the nizzentopsail with the
yards braced to starboard and the mizzen gaff and
boom were lying broken deck. Tho rudder was
tti IN good order but loose and playing from side
to side. The chief officer opened the hatch leading
TO the pump well, aud. going below. made q careful
examination and found from tour to six feet of
water in the vessel lie then returned to tho deck
and, assisted by the two sailors who with him,
lowered the upper mantopsai lashod the tiller and
hauled the braces tight. In the cabin he found AN
old log book of 1871 and from that learned that the
vessel was of 1904 registered TONNAGE. There Ind
~ lently been women and children on board. ms
lot OF their clothing was scattered about the cabin
There was plenty OF provisions on board and
liberal supply OF water in the tanks. Some pork
stu in excellent condition. hanging up in tine
galley. aud everything indicated that the vessel had
not been long abandoned.


A HAZARDOUS ADVENTURE.


''As night was approaching Chief Oficer Falck and





tak with Captain Olsen II was decided TO keep the
Royal Charter IN sight. and during the night the
Maria kept as close as possible The morning OF
the 5th Of November found the Royal Charter still
in sight. The weather dry. with heavy
squalls from the southwest by south. At enc Y. NJ.
the Maria tackled ship and headed up for the Royal
Charter. AT halt-past four r. NJ. the Maria was
about an eighth OF n mile to leeward OF the aban-
d0ned ship. The wind was still blowing fresh, and
there heavy rolling up from the west. The
Royal Charter was rolling badly ana IL looked as II
1t would be hard work TO board her again After
some consultation IL was determined to make the
attempt ana the chief officer and four
lccted for the task. MIR. Fack and his gallant
then stripped to the drawers, and each taking life
prcserver jumped into the boat and started their
perilous journey. After all hours hard pulling
they came up pretty close to the Royal Charter and
saw how hazardous an attempt to board her would
be- IL. was rapdly growing dark, and seeing it
would be impossible to get back to the Maria for
want OF light Mr.. fack determined to attempt to
board the Royal Charter. After some consideration
ho backed away from the vessel and then came up
the port sdc, aud the boat raised up on q
wave shouted TO the men "Jumpl" and thcy all
Fprang tor the chain plates All hands succeeded in
getting on board but the boat filled and
all her upper panks were stove in. Mr.. Fack
found everything just he had left it. but the sails