Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-11-28
THE SAILORS DOUBLE.
A REMARKABLE STORY.


deep conviction Of the familiar demon who &C,
COMMANDED him everywhere A distinguished
naval officer was witness, during considerable
space of time, to a fact of = similar nature.
The vessel, on board which this officer was
sailing happened to meet with q violent storm
in the South Sea. Monstrous waves broke
over the deck without cessation, sweeping be-
fore them everything that was not very firmly
fastened. The sailors hanging on to the rig
cling, lad the greatest difficulty in resisting the
fury of the sea, when suddenly was heard the
shout, IA man overheard
Ii was a sailor named Smith, who was carried
away by a mighty wave. In such frightful
sea, all means Of salvage were almost impos-
sibe. What, consequently, was the captains
surprise when, to his profound stupefaction he
saw, a few minutes afterwards, the same Smith,
with the sea-water pouring from his clothes,
quietly helping his comrades to work the YES
sci, as if nothing had happened.
When the storm had subsidized little, and
danger was over, they inquired of Smith the
particulars of his miraculous preservation.
"As soon as / was washed overheard" he
said, II saw a man sitting by my side on the
crest of the wave. He took me by the hand
and brought me back on deck without the
slightest pain. More than that: although
saw the ship pitching and rolling horribly,
felt an anxiety about her fate my neighbor's
calmness reassured me, for l was fully aware
that he would save me. Look, there he is
there lie never leaves me now"
So saying, Smith pointed to spot beside
him, where every one else saw only vacancy,
but where he distinc ly beheld, as he affirmed,
his imaginary comradc
From that time Smith became taciturn, and
he was frequently observed, when quite alone,
to express by his looks and gestures his con-
seriousness of being in'company with another
person. Any interrogation by his messmates
on the subject of his vision appeared to him a
mockery, so firmly was he persuaded that his
phantom friend was as visible to others as to
himself When urged by his questioners to
give description of his companion, the por
trait he drew was exactly his own. Before
long this fixed idea obtained such an ascendan-
cy over his imagination, and even over his
senses, that he behaved in every respect as II
he had been two persons. II it were wanted
to take in a reef, to furl sail, or perform any
other perilous maneuvre III boisterous weather,
whenever the task required two robust and
practised men, Smith would allow no other
sailor to help him, but executed the work alone,
with supernatural precision and vigor.
The crew at last became habituated to his
mysterious ways, and the officers could not help
remarking in the singular sailor an extraordi-
nary aptitude and intuition whenever 1t was his
turn to take the hem One night Smltn was
seen to jump out of his hammock, go down to
the hold, and shortly return to the deck of the
shin holding in his arms a bundle of smoking
cordage, which had caught fire, nobody knew
how, and then quietly throw it into the
sea. Another time, he called the master car
penter aside, and advised him to lose no time
in repairing damage which no one had dis
covered A day or two later this damage would
have caused leak, and compromised the safe
ty of the ship.
The most remarkable incident witnessed by
the naval officer was this: He was on watch
one very dark night; so dark that looking over
the ships side, the water was hardly distinguish
able. Smith was then at the helm. The OH
Ger, happening to glance at the compass, per
ceived that the ship had suddenly changed hei
course.
"Why, Smith," he shouted, "what are you
about? Helm to starboard, man; helm Il
starboIrd ~
II can't" replied Smith, 'he won't let me-"
The officer repeated his order to no purpose
He found it impossible to make himself obeyed
Smith persisted in repeating with energy, I"
can't sir, he won't let me-"
The captain, overhearing the discussion, cam
on deck TO ascertain the cause of the dispute
and also to learn flor he had already remarked
it) why the vessel changed course.
Before the officer could finish explanation,
large ship with every sail set, shot past the YES
sci that Smith was steering. so close as almo'
to touch her. The preseniment in Smith
mind, which he had oheyed with so much obst
macy, saved them from collision when bot
vessels were running at their utmost speed.