PECIAL
SECTION
FOR
HONGKON
GER
Deserted the
H
Mary Celeste was found afloat in mid Atlantic
SET
GHOST SHIP
by Henry Lewis
CAR
APTAIN MOREHOUSE, master of the brig Dei Gratia, bound from New York to Gibraltar, lowered his telescope and frowned. “Mister Devau,' he called. The first mate turned. Morehouse hand- ed him the telescope and pointed.
Devau looked in the direction indicated and saw another brig ahead of them on the same
course.
he
said. "But she
“She's the Mary Celeste, sir,” left New York several days before us. I wonder what's
wrong.
- "She's yawing. She's on the on her stern the words "Mary port tack but her headsails are Celeste-New York." set on the starboard tack. The "Mary Celeste Ahoy." roared crew must be asleep."
Devau. There was no answer, The Mary Celeste went sailing cn.
Benjamin Briggs, the master of the Mary Celeste was a friend his. They had had dinner to- gether in New York the night before the Mary Celeste sailed for Genoa.
Sound in hull "Take a couple of men and see what's happened," ordered Cap- That had been on November 7, tain Morehouse. 1872. It was now December 5. The ship's boat soon crossed Morehouse hoisted signal. the gap separating the two brigs There was no response from the and Devau, with one of his men, twomasted brig. Soon the Dei climbed aboard. There was no Gratia was close enough for cue at the wheel; the ship was
а
Morehouse and Devau to read deserted.
17-21
CLUB MAILBOX
are
was mostly laid
Morehouse joined Devau and they get out on a tour of inspec- tion.
There was not a sign of anything wrong with the ship. Her. canvas was sound and so was her hull.
in
things baffled them.
particular
cover
One, a hatch which had been removed and left upside down.
Two, strange gashes on each side of the bow of the ship, not deep enough to do any harm,
Popular master
Three, a cutlass, which, when they took it from its scabbard appeared to be stained by blood which had not been. thoroughly wiped off.
"Well," said More- house to Devau, "I don't understand what has happened but you'd bet- ter stay with two men to work her to Gibral- ́ tar.
!
-
In Gibraltar inquiries were The last theory was that of But the ship's boat was gone and so was the ship's company opened to try to discover what the owner, Captain Winchester. thought that something had happened to the people who He of ten.
In the forecastle the seamen's had sailed on the Mary Celeste. caused the alcohol, cargo to begin Theories were in plenty. The giving off an explosive gas. The Among their chests were tidy.
authorities favoured the mutiny crew took off a hatch cover to clothes was money.
investigate. Then, fearing that theory. The galley was orderly. The The weaknesses in the mutiny all 1,700 barrels would explode cargo-1,700 barrels of alcohol theory were that there was no together and blow them, aut of Captain the water, the crew abandoned, was complete and
for a mutiny. properly reason.
The air, blowing through stowed.
Briggs was a popular master, and ship. In the cabin a piece of music none of the crew was ever to the open hatch, dispersed the gas
Added to and made the cargo safe. was open оп the harmonium. turn up anywhere.. There was a piece of cloth in a this the 'bloodstains' on the cut- sewing machine.
lass were fouzid, on analysis to And a half-finished letter be rust! beginning "My dear wife... and apparently written by the mate.
"
Berths in the cabin were made up. There was food and water, There were no signs of panic or disorder anywhere.
The ship's
gone.
when
had
Giving off gas
in
that
Captain Morehouse's
theory was that the Mary Celeste bé- AM writing this letter especially to Miss Szeta because 1, 1
came becalmed on Santa, y es her complaint about me in last week's Club Mailbox. No, 1
and a current began to carry her won't hate her at all, and instead I am glad she wrote since it
chronometer had towards rocks. The crew took to reminds me to write a few lines to tell members why I did so.
So too had all the ship's the boat. Then the wind carried Yes, indeed, the "Teen Commandments” was not composed by me!
papers except for the log. The Mary Celeste away from them I did it because I feel that those ten "Teen Commandments'
unable to catch very good examples as well as rules for teenagers to keep and last entry in that was Novem- and they were
ber, 24, eleven days before, up with her again. obey. It's a pity this song has not been broadcasted even once
the Mary Celeste
The weaknesseg in Hongkong, is not on sale here and has not even appeared in been 110 miles west of Santa theory were that the last reports
I took this any of the Hongkong Hit-Song books. Therefore
in the log were of fine weather. opportunity of introducing some nice, healthy rules for all readers Maria in the Azores.
breezes. And a master But an entry on a slate in the light of the 17-21 section. So you see now why I had to send in an
Captain Briggs' experi- article which was not done by myself. Also I would like to refer cabin gave her position at eight of
have rigged а would in the morning on November ence to an article I sent to the Children's Corner of the S.C.M.P. last
25.
She was then passing the line from the Mary Celeste to year, which was published even though I told Auntie Lynn that
the boat to make certain they it was originally a song. Anyway, I don't care much about the north of Santa Maria. credit card, and I will leave the decision to the Editor. Happy then she must have sailed alone. other.
For 10 days and nights since were not carrled away from each holidays to all Club members!—Ricky Chan, Hongkong.
Morehouse and Devau were Oliver Devau, the mate, be- After reading your letter, Ricky. I am sure you
that the Mary Celeste harm in sending an article that was not original. However, the more and more puzzled. Three lieved
started a leak in a gale and the Cình has a firm rule about originality in contributions, and you
panic' stricken crew abandoned should have warned us that the ""Teen Commandments” was a
ship: But there was no gale. song. Please bear that in mind in future contributions,
And no signs of a leak.
meant
Ho
I'M sure you must have grawed your fingers to bits by now, but if they are still intact, allow me to start the delayed action, Well, Last week's issue carried a drawing entitled "Peek-a-boo.” it seems you've made a boo-boo, because at the base of the draw- ing was printed the words declaring that an award of a credit card to a Misa Antoinette Rozario. If you check the back of the original drawing you will see that the name of the artist' is not the said person. If, however, the original is not available, then a squint at the lower right hand corner of the drawing will reveal the signature of yours truly. I'm sure that no offence was meant and I can assure you that no offence whatsoever is taken. Having made my point I shall now return to my cave.-Majid Gafoor, Hongkong.
Bao-boo admitted. regretted and hereby corrected, Majid.. Apologies also to Miss Rozario (who has also written in indirectly, but whose comments on the matter have been deleted for want of space).
Meet
the members!
POLLY NG, 19, student, 30 Bonham Road, ground fluor, Hongkong.
NOTICE BOARD
ATTENTION ANTOINETTE
ROZARIO: Your
tributions are appreciated,, as you can see from the; lagt few issues of the 17-21 Club page. But please achtrems them directly to us! Information · on Club rules
and awards are on the way to you,
ma
THE WINNERS
A
article
well
-
written
and thought out wins jast month's "Abominable Showman" contest, which invited Club members to send in
of their theories
the mysterious
creatures that exist in the Hima- Layas.
It is by a new member, John Tseng, of 43 Hankow Road. second floor. Kow- loon,
who wins the first prize of $15.
Segond prize of $10 goes to John Leung, one of the Club's first members, who lives at 988 Argyle Street, third floor, Kowloon, The third prize of $5 goes to Rita Chow, of '554 King's Road, top floor..
The winners, are request, ed ta came and collect
offica
China
their prizes, as tha
of the 17-21: Club Mall, 1-3 Wyndham Hongkong...
Stay
··· The
winning article fa published bedax en P. 2.
is your name Nash?
AN OLD ENGLISH NAME NASH MEANS "DWELLER AT THE ASH TREE” OR ONE WHO CAME FROM NASH_IN BUCKINGHAM-
·SHIRE.
Кат
The flaws in this theory are that there were no signs of any explosion.
The mystery of what happened to the crew of the Mary Celeste has baffled the world Lot: 68 Pears.
The 17-21
Club's
five rules
Membership in the 17-21 Club is opan to within that group.
Contributions and all ac-
tivities of the Club will be limited to members only.
曲
---
Contributions may consist of anything that is publishable articles, letters, stories, photo- graphs, drawings, verses. But only the best will be printed.
.
All contributions. MUST
be original, :
Written.
contributions should not consist of more than 350 words, photographs and draw- ings will only be accept- ad in black-and-white.
MEMBERSHIP.
Fill this in and send it to the China 'Mail, · 1-3 Wyndham
Hongkong
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