Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-08-12
From, the Massachusetts Journal.
STAND FROM UNDER. ~ .

The following story was old for an actual fact,
by a sailor who .olemnly affirmed ne Knew II
10 be so whatever else lie was, be certainly must
have been sailor OF genius.
We were on board slave.shiP bound to the
coas, Of Africa had my missivings about
the business; and believe Others had them TOO.
We had passed the Straits OF Gibraltar and
were lying off Barbary, one clear, bright even
ing, when il came my turn 10 'ake the "elm.-
The ship was oecalmed, and every thing around
was a. silent as the day after the drluge. ne
wide monotopy Of water varied only by tho CLAN
cjnps of the moon or the crest OF the waves,
made me think the OLD fables of Neptune were
true; and tha Anphitri,e and her Maids were
sporting on The surface OF The ocean, with dia'
monds in their hair These fancies were iol-
lowed by Thoughts Of nv wife, my children and
nv home; and all were oddly enough Jumbled
together in delicious state Of approaching
sIumber. Suddenly heard, high above my
head loud deep. terrible voice call out,
"Stsnd from Under9" I started my feet-lt
was the customary signal when any thing was
to be thrown from the shrouds, and meohani
cally sung out The usual answer, Vet go!"-
But no, hing Came! looked up in the shrouds
there was no,hing therel searched the
deck and found that was alone; | tried 10
think il was drram-bul that sound, so deep,
50 stern, SO dreadful, ruDg in. my ears like the
bursting Of a Cannon!
In The morning, told the crew what I had
heard. They laughed a, me; aid were all day
long full OF their Jokes about "Dreaming Tom. !"
One fellow among them was mos' onmerciful
ia his railIery He Was swar'hy. malignant
looking Spaniard; who carried murder IN his
eye. and curses on his rouene; a daring and
lordly man, who boosted Of crime. as IL it gave
him pre-rmnenee among his fellows. He
laughed longest and loudes' q, my story. "a
mos, nneivil ghost, Tom," said he: "when such
chaps come 10 see me. IN make 'em show
themselves. I'll not be satisfied withou, seeing
and feeling, as well as hearing"
The sailors all joined with him; and ],
ashamed ofmy alarm. was glad 10 be- silent
The mex, night Dick Burton took The helm
Dirk had nerves like an OK and sinews like
whale; it was l''Ie he feared, on the earth, or
beneath j.. The clock struck one-Dick was
leaning his head ON III. helm as he said. think
ing nothing Of me, or nv story. when that aw
fl voice again called from the shrouds, "S'snd
from under!' Dick darted forward like an In
dian arrow. which thew say goes through ami
through buffalo, and wings on lis way. as If il
stan: or more before h. found presence OF mind
TO call out "Ler en!'' Again nothing was seen
-~no,hng heard. Ten nights in succession, az
one o'clock, he same unpar'hlv sound rung
through the air, making our s'ou,es' sailors
quail, as ifa bullet sbo: had gone through their
brains. A. last the crew grew pale when it
W g spoken Of and 'hp wors' # us never went
10 s'eer without saying our prayers For my
.Ic I,or. II. tkn roll
nv life 10 have got out of that vessel But
here nsne be wa yss w s1%a oae p p
a bold face on the matter. hut Antonio. the
He laughed al our f?rs, and dehed
Sa'an himselfto ,erriry him. However, when il
came his turn at he h-im he rsfus-d 20 go -
SEVERAL times unde- the pre'enre "f illness. he
wa excused from a duty. which all on board
drea.led. But at last, the Cantain ordered An
tonia To receive round dozen OF les"es everv
night. until he should CO zen, % perform his
share Of the unweleomr off p Fnr awsile ibis
W as borne patiently: bu' a. length he called out
81 may as well die ore way as the o,her--Give
me over 70 the ghost"
That night Antonio ke,t watch on deck
F OF he crew slept; for expee 'a'ion and a.
,rm had stretched our nerves upon he rack. |
a, one o'clock, the voice :alled Stand from
under = 'Le' go " screamed he Snaniard.-
This was answered by Shrek NJ Laughter.
and such laughter. il seemM as IL he hend7 |
answered each other from mole 10 pole, and |
The "ass was howlsd j. he'll! Then cam"
a sudden crash upon the DICK n. If onr masts |
,nI SCARS had fallen w. all rushed to the |
spot-and there was odd, stiff, Gigantic |
corpse The Standard sid il. was thrown
from the shrouds; and whn be looked on j.
h. ground his teeth like a mailman & know
him. cx,l,ircd he, 81 aabbrd him within
an hours sail Of Cuba, sndtlrank his blood for
breakfast
We all s'ord aehast q the monster In
E. arful hi>prrs asked that should he done
with The body. Fin llv, We agreed that the
terrible sight must be reroved from US, and
hidden in the den'hs Of II. sea- Fur Of US
attempted 20 rais' il; but nman strength was
of no avail-we mirht - vell have 'uegrd al
Atlas. There il Icy. stiff, 'igih. heavy and as
immoveable as iii; formeta part Of the vessel.
The Spanis'd was furious e let mr. Iif' him."
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