Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1836-02-12
A HAUNTED SHIP.
II true StOry-as far as IL goes.
By WASHINGTON IRVING.


but il is exceedingly difficult 10 get them
at first hand; that is 10 say, from persons
who have actually seen the ghosts: this
Vnay be the reason why they have fallen
in,o some discredit with tie dubious. |
once. however, heard story Of the kind
from one who came within an ace Of be
;na an eve witness, and who believed 10
it most honestly. He was worthy cap
tain of the sea native either Of Nantuc
keL or Martha's Vineyard, forget which;
at any rate, Of . place noted for its breed
ofhardy mariners met with him in the
aacient city of Seville, having anchored
with his brig in the GuadalqulVer, in the
course of wandering voyage. Our con
versation, one Jay, turned upon the won
ders and adventures Of the sea; when ne
informed mo that, among his multIiarLons
cFuisIngs, he had once made a voyage on
board Of haunted ship 1t was a vessel
that had been met with drifting, halt dis
mantled, with Tagging sails, about the
sea near the GulfoG Florida, between the
mainland and the Bahama banks. Those
who boaried her found her without liv
ing soul on board; the hatchways were
broken open; the cargo had heeu rltied;
The decks fore and aft were covered with
blood; the shrouds and rigging were
smeared with the same, as iCsome wretch
ed beings had been massacred as they
clung to them: it was evident that the ship
had been pundered by pirates, and, to all
appearance, the crew had been murdered
and thrown overheard.
The ship wa .ken possession OF by
the finders, and brought 10 Boston, IN
New England; but the sailors who naviga
ted her to port declared they would not
make such another voyage for all the
wealth of Peru. They had been harrass
ed tho whole way by the ghosts Of the
murdered crew; who at night would come
up. out of the companion way and the fore
castle, run up The shrovds, station them
selves on the yards, and at the mast heads
and appear to per(rom all the usual duties
OF the ship.
As no harm had resulted from this ghost
ly seamanship, the story was treated
llghtly, aud the vessel was fitted out for
another voyage; but when ready for sea
no sailors could be gol to embark IN her
She Iay (er some time in the Boston har-
bour, regarded by the supers'lllous sea
Inen as a fa4ed ship and there she pgh'
have rotted had not The worthy captain
who related to ms the story, undertaken
TO command her H.. succeeded in &c
ting some hardy tars, who stood less II
awe Of ghosts, to accompany him; and hi
brether 10 law sailed vita him as chief
mate.
When they had got fairly to sea, the
hohgoblincrew began 10 play their pranks
At night there would be the deuse topla.
IN the hold; such rackeIing and rnmmai
- ing as if the whole cargo was overhauIed
bales tunbled about, and boxes broken q
pen and sometimes it seemed as il all IN
ballast was shifted from side 10 side. A
this was heard with dismay BY the sailors
and even the captains brother in law
who appears to have been very Gag
cious man, was exceedingly troubled a
it. AS to the captain himself, he homes
ly confessed to me that he never saw no
heard anything; but then he slept SCUM
ly, ard when once asleep, was hard to
awakened.
Notwithstanding all these ghostly vag
ries, the ship arrived safe at the deslne
end of her voyage, which was one Of tt
South American rivers under the lin
the aptain proposed togo, in isboat,
town some distance up the river, lea
ing his ship in charge of his brother
law. The latter said he would anchc
opposite to an island in the river, wheI
he could 90 on shore at night, and yet b
athand 10 keep guard uron he:; out lha
nothing should tempt him to sleep o
hoard, The crew all swore the sam
The captain could not re reasonably o'j-
to such an arrangement; so the ship WI
anchored opposite to the island, and Il
captain departed on his expedition
For a time all went on well: the bro
er in law and his sagacious comrades ret
<larlv abandoned the ship at night Ia
md slopt on shore; the ghosts then 'o'
command, and the ship remained as quI
ly at anchoras though she had been IN,
ned by living bodies instead Of hObgObI
spirits.
One night, however, the captain
brother in law was awakened oy
tremendous storm. lie fastened
the shore, The sea was laShed up
fosming and roaring surges; the ra
came down ia torrents--the lightnlI
Aashed-the th"Dder beloved.
was one oithose sudden Iempests on
known at the tropics. The captalI
brother IN law east a ruetul look
4 L Gh