The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-08-15
A GHOST ON sHIPBOARD.
BY EDGAR s. FARNswoRTH. .

Several years ago, ! occupied the station
of chief mate on board the old ship Flavio.
We were homeward bound from Canton -
The night after we cleared the Straits OF Sun
da, my watch had the deck from eight until !
twelve. 1t was beautiful starlight night,
and the watch with the exception OF my
self and the man at the wheel, were Tor
ward on the top gallant forecastle, listening
to the yarns of an old gra1-headed son OF
Neptune. | was lazly pacing the quarter
deck when, on looking forward, saw the
whole of the slarboard watch come tumo.
ling up out OF the forcaslle i'll haste.
What this could mean was beyond my
comprehension, for it was but iittle past
two bells, and the ship was heading her
course with all sails set. ! went forward 10
ascertain the cause of their coming on deck
before eight bells; pausing' moment at
/ the gangway heard the following remarks:
stFiue don's this, to call all hands such
pleasant night as this ~
81 wonder what skipper's thinking OF"
says another
''He means to work us up little for be-
IN so long bendln al mat new inalhsdIi this
morning." said third.
'Whal does all this rEean, boys q said |,
stepping forward "what are you on deck
before eight bells for ?'
They all looked at me in utter asionsh-
ment.
"l ak pardon sir" said one, "but WASN'T
we called 2"
''No; a bit of it,n said | "you must have
been dreaming, for il has only struck two
bells Go below and tnrn in, and mind how
you dream."
''It all hands warn't called, then my name
aint Bob Wilkins" said another of the nen.
fShiver my timbers, if we wasn't" spoke
a third, stepping forward, "for | was as
wide awake as am al this blessed minute,
and Pm beggared if somebody didn't come
TO the scuttle and sing out :AIl hand ahoy."
now suspected it was a trick played
upon them by some one in the watch; ques.
tiosing my men they all denied it so earn
estly, that Immediately came 10 the con-
c!usion that some of the off watch had in
dreaming, imagined he heard The watch
called, and arousing up on the instant had
awakened the rest. | sent the of watch
below again, and went aft.
Judge of my surprise, when, at seven
: bells, the staTboard watch again came on
deck. was provoked, for / was now fully
confident they had been called by by some
one in my watch. / went forward again,
and found that the most superstitious of the
men believed that there was a ghost on
board.
The next night kept sharp lookout for
ward not one OF my men went nigh the
7 scuttle, but little past four bells, however
the starboard watch made their appearance
: on deck. | was completely taken aback
for had been looking forward continually
: from the moment came on deck, and was
certain not one of my men had been neal
Y the scuttle. went forward, and found the
: men nearly frightened out of their senses.-
: They all declared there was no longer any
n doubt thai there was a ghost aboard, ant
e one of them, who happened 10 be awake
l. when they were called, said the voice
If didn', sound like any one of the crew, 'bu
II kind o. unearlhy like"
! laughed al the idea of ghost calling
: the watch, but the man shook his head ,anC
declared he had seen too many ghosts il
" his day 10 doubt that there was one OF
board the FlavIo now. This was conclusiv
evidence, tor The man who had spoken hat
= been in nearly every i.arI of the world, anC
n was q great favoriie with the crew. iriet
1. 10 reas on with them, although must con
n Tess that things did begin 10 look It'll
!; mysterious. could moi prevail on them i
u go below for the remainder OF the watch
l. They all stayed uron deck and told ghos
n stories ill the least Tapping of sail O
l. ere reaking of block would cause them I
l. start as if they expected 10 see ghost i'm
Of medlalely.
$, In the morning made the affair know
]" to the captain. He promised 10 solve III
e mystery on the following night, provide
l. the watch came on deck before eight bell
again. Not much was talked OF during ih
D. day by the men, but the ghost that calle
ID the starboard watch the night before. Tn
= next night, soon after my watch came o
n deck, the captain came up, and gong t
If leeward into the shade of the bulwark:
q crept forward and went down into the fore
5, castle without being seen by any of tn
to watch or deck.
" His plan was 10 station himself in tn
" forecaslie so that no one could come nig
E. the scul,le wiihou. being seen by him, ic
IN he thought, as had done until convince
as 10 the contrary, that il was one of my me
- who had cursed the disturbance station
er ed myself in the starboard gangway, wheI
in could command view Of everything 70
al ward without being seen, and awaited p;