Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-01-10
APPARITIONs OF THE DEAD AND THE

i hOoert Dale Owen, formerly membe OF Con
gress and American Minister to Naples, has
lately written a rather remarkable work, en-
titled = FOOTBALLS on the Boundary Of Another
World, in which he attempts to solve the
question whether travellers to the other world
ever visit this. Under the head Of Appear
"nceS," commonly called apparitions, we find
the following hitherto unpublished ghost story
o; the regular orthodox flavor:
THE REsCTE.
Mr.. Robert Bruce. originally descended from
some branches of the Scottish family of that
name, was born, in humble circumstances about
the close of the last century, at Torbay, in the
south of England and there bred up to a sea-
faring life.
When about thirty years of age, to wit. in
the year 1898, he was first mate of bark ira
ding between Liverpool and St. Johns, New
Brunswick
On one of her voyages bound westward, be-
ing then some FIVE or six weeks out, and having
neared the eastern portion of the Banks of
newfoundland, the Captain and mate had been
on deck Mt noon, taking observation of the
sun, after which they both descended to calcu-
late their days work.
The cabin, a small one, was Immediately at
the stern of the vessel, and the short stairway
descending t. 1T ran athwart-ShipS. Immedi-
atcly opposite to this stairway, just beyond a
small square landing, was the mates state
room: and from that landing there were two
doors, close to each other, the one opening aft
into the cabin, the other, fronting the stairway,
into the stste-room The desk in the state
room was in the forward part of it, close to the
door, So that any one one sitting at it and look
ing over his shoulder could see into the cabin.
The mate, absorbed in his calculations which
did not result as he had expected. vary
ing considerably from the dead rec koning had
not noticed the captain s motions. When he
had completed his calculations, he called out,
without looking round, 4" L make our latitude
and longitude so and 50. Can that be right ?
How is yours
Receiving no reply, he repeated his question,
slancing over his shoulder and perceiving, as
be thought the captain busy writing on his
slate. Still no answer. Thereupon he rose
and, as he fronIsd the cabin door the figure
he had mistaken for the captain raised his
head and disclosed to the astonished mate the
features of an entire stranger.
Bruce was no coward but as he met that
hxed gaze looking directly at him in grave
silence, and became assured that it was no one
" hOm he had ever seen before it was too much
for him; and, instead of stopping to question
the seeming intruder, be rushed upon deck in
I such evident alarm that it instantly attracted
tne captain attention. Why, Mr.. Bruce, -
said the latter, what in the world is the ma t.
! ter with you ~
= The matter, sir? Who is that at your
desk 30
- No one that know Of
But there rs, sir; there's stranger there
A stranger! Why, man, you must be
dreaming. You must have seen the steward
there, or the second mate. Who else would
venture down without orders -
But, sir, he WAS sitting in your armchair
fronting the door, writing on your slate Then
he looked up full in my face; and if ever saw
man plainly and distinctly in this world, 1
saw him
Him, Whom"
God knows, sir; don't SAW msn, and
man had never seen in my life before"
- You mus; be going crazy Mr. Bruce A
stranger and we nearly six weeks out"
= know, sir: but then saw him
Ito down and see who it is
Bruce hesitated. Il never was a believer in
ghosts he said; "but, if the truth must be
told, sir, ii rather not face it alone
'' Come, come, man. Go down mt once and
don't make n fool of yourself before the crew. >
. hope you We always found me wilIinu 10
do whats reasonable" Bruce replied. chang.
ing color; - but If It's alI the same to Won sir
Il rather we should both go down together .
The captain descended the stairs and tho
mate followed him. Nobody in the cabin
They examined the state-roOms Not a SOU
to be found,
We'll. Mr.. Bruce" said the captain, did
not tell you you had been dreaming?' ~
Its all very well to say so, sir; but if ]
uliu sec tudt Uldn Wiling on Your slate, NAV
L never see my home and family again ~
All, writing on the slate , Then it should
be there still" And the captain took it up.
BY Cod" he exclaimed, ''here's some.
thing, sure enough! Is that your writing, Mr.
Bruce l'
The mate took the slate, and there, in plain
legible characters, stood the words STEER rc
THE NOR WEST
Have you been trifing with me- sir?'' add
ed the captain, in a stern manner
''On my word as a man and as a sailor sir, :
replied Bruce, i know no more of this matter
than you do. l have told you the truth
The captain sat down at his desk, the slate
before him, in deep thought. At last, turning
the slate over and pushing it toward Bruce he
said, Write down, Steer to the nor west"
The mate complied, and the captain after
narrowly comparing the two handwritings
said, Mr.. Bruce, go and tell the second mate
t. come down here"
He came, and, at the captains request. he
also wrote the same words. So did the stew
srd- So. in succession, did every man of the
crew who could write at all. But not one of
the various hands resembled in any degree
the mysterious writing.
When the crew retired the captain sat deep
IN thought. Gould any one have been slowed
away" at last he said. THE ship must be
searched; and if L don't find the fellow he must
be = good hand at hide-and-seek. Order up all
hands"
Every nook and corner of the vessel, from
stem TO stern, WIS thoroughly searched, and
that with all the eaSerness of excited curiOSi-
ty--for the report had gone out that a stranger
had shown himself on board; but not living
sOal beyond the crew and officers was found.
Returning to the cabin after their fruitess
search, Mr.. Bruce" said the captain, what
tho devil DO you make os all this 20
Cant tell, sir. / saw the man write; you
SEQ the writing. There must be something i'll
it"
Well IL would seem so. We hqve the wind
free. and have great mind TO keep her away
and see what will come out of it,
Il surely would, sir, if were in your place
Its only few hours lost, at the worst
We'll, we'll see. Go on deck and give the
coarse nOr'west. And, Mr. Bruce, he added,
a. the mate rose to go, 'have lookout alofC.
and let it be hand you can depend on
His orders were Obeyed. About three 'clock K
the lookout reported an iceberg nearly ahead.
and, shortly after, what he thought was yes
sci of some kind close to il.
As they approached, the captains glsss dis