The Warminster And West Wilts Herald, Saturday 19 March 1887, reported:
LONGBRIDGE DEVERILL
To readers of Coleridge’s “Ancient Mariner,” the following incident may possibly afford a good deal of interest.
It is reported by the Hiogo News, having been communicated by Captain Heard, of the British ship “Duchess of Argyle”:-
“When rounding Cape Horn an immense albatross was noticed following the ship. One day as it hovered over the poop it was noticed that an object about the size of a dollar was hanging around the bird’s neck, and an attempt was at once made to catch it by means of a large hook, baited with a piece of pork, and allowed to drift astern. Several other albatrosses were caught, but it was not until the third day that the one in question took the hook, which fixed itself firmly in the beak. On the bird being dragged on board it was found that the object hanging from its neck was a pocket compass-case of brass, fastened with three strands of stout copper wire. Two of the wires had worn through, and the box was thickly covered with verdigris. On its being opened there was found written on a piece of paper, and in faded ink, the following:-
“Caught on May 8th, 1848, in latitude 38.6 S., longtitude 14.14 W., by Ambrose Cochran, of the American ship Columbus.”
A fresh label, with the old and new dates of capture, was fastened upon the bird’s neck, and the creature was again released. It measured twelve feet two inches between the tips of its wings; and, as the bird was probably four or five years old when first captured, the interesting fact is provided that the natural life of an albatross extends to at least fifty years.”
Captain Heard, who figures in this statement, is the brother of Mrs. Hicks, of this village [Longbridge Deverill], and his narrative may be regarded as trustworthy.