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

Several years ago, occupied the station
of chief mate on board the old ship Favio.
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 gra--headed son OF
Neptune. was lazily pacing the quarter
deck, when on looking forward, saw the
whole of the slarboard watch come tumo-
ling up out OF the forcastle in haste.
( What this could mean was beyond my
comprehension, for it was but little 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:
''Fine doin's this, TO call all hands such a
pleasant night as this 70
81 wonder what skipper's thinking of"
says another.
''He means to work us up a little for be-
Ill SO lOHp D6HulL d. tIidt IlOW ihoAHooh tAAi0
morning." said third.
"Whal does all this mean, boys 2" said |,
stepping forward "what are you on deck
before eight bells forp
They all looked at me in utter asionish-
ment.
'1 ak pardon SIR said one, 'but wasn't
we called l''
''No; bit of it," said | !; "You must have
been dreaming, for il has only struck two
bells. Go below and tnrn in, and mind how
you drearn."
''It all hands warn't called, then my name
aint Bob Wilkins" said another OF the nen.
''Shver my timbers, if we wasn't, spoke
third, stepping forward, "for was as
wide awake as | am al this blessed minute,
and Pm heggared if somebody didn't come
TO the scutlIe and sing out :A,ll hand ahoy."
| now suspected it was IL 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 OF
deck. was provoked, for / was now fully
t confident they had been called by by some
one in my watch. | went forward again
and found that the most superstiiious of the
It men believed that there was ghost OF
board.
1t The next night kept sharp lookout for
II ward not one of my men went nigh th'
II scutle, but little past four bells, however
: the starboard watch made their appearance
) on deck. was completely taken aback
for had been looking forward continually
l. from the moment | came on deck, and wa
certain not one of my men had been nea
y the scutlle. went forward, and found III
r men nearly frightened out of their senses
r They all declared there was no longer an
n do1bt that there was ghost aboard, ant
e one of them, who happened 10 be awak
H. when they were called, said the voic
Ir didn't sound like any one Of the crew, 'bu
III kind o. unearthly like"
l. laughed at the idea of ghost calm
: the watch, but the man shook his head ,an
10 declared he had seen too many ghosts i
- his day 10 doubt that there was one o
board the Flavio now. This was couclusiv
evidence, tor the man who had spoken ha
T. been in nearly every i.arI of the world, an
IN was great favorite with the crew. | trie
d. 10 reas on with them, although | must cor
J; mysterious. could not prevail on them
"a 90 below for The remainder OF the walch.-
d. They all stayed upon deck and told gho
IN stories III; the least Tapping of sail {
h ere aking of block would cause them
h. start as if they expected 10 see ghost in
of medialely.
s, In the morning made the affair know
!" to the captain. He promised 10 solve ii
le mystery on the following night, provide
n the watch came on deck before eight bel
again. Not much was talked OF during ii
p day by the men, but the ghost that Gale
Id the siarboard watch The night before. Th
- next night, soon after my watch came O
m deck, the captain came up, and gong
'ir leeward into the shade of the hulwark
So crept forward and went down iLio the for,
S, castle without being seen by any of Ii
to watch or deck.
~ His plan was 10 station himself in Il
sy forecastte so that no ore ould come nig
e. the scultle withou. being seen by him, f
On he thought, as had done until couvince
as 10 the contrary, that it was one of my me
= who had cursed The disturbance station
er ed myself in the staIboaEd gangway, whe
in could command a view OF everything 70
al ward without being seen, and awaited p