Manuscript Found in a Bottle

American author Edgar Allan Poe published a short story titled MS. Discovered in a Bottle in 1833. The story revolves around an anonymous narrator who experiences a number of terrifying situations while at sea. He writes a MS. or manuscript detailing his travels that he casts into the water as he draws closer to his own tragic fate as his ship continues to travel south. Poe entered the story MS. Discovered in a Bottle as one of several pieces for the weekly Baltimore Saturday Visiter's literary competition. The judges enjoyed each of the stories but MS. Discovered in a Bottle was selected as the contest's winner and received Poe a $50 award.