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Message in Bottle Creates Sea Mystery

Almost a century ago local papers reported that “A Spanish letter in a tightly corked bottle was found on South Beach, Katama, by some summer guests.” It read:

Schooner Asneros, Nov. 27, 18 - Vessel is dismasted - full of water and driving before a hurricane - seas breaking over - we are lost - crew is Floyd, Lookup, Solana, Galvez, Cabrera, de Castro and myself - mostly Minorcans from Mayport, Fla. - Whoever finds report Go to sound on coast of Maine - west side - great hole in ledge - see arrows in ledge pointing towards it - a cross on face of cliff to the north - find cave in north wall closed by stone and cement - valuable information. An island lies in the mouth of the sound - two islands outside with narrow passage between - Mercy Lord - sinking.

It was supposed that the cave was in Somes Sound and that the schooner went down in the great gale of November of 1898 (that which caused the sinking of the famous steamship Portland). The letter, however, seemed very old.

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