The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-09
Selected story.



the close of the last century, at ToIbay, in the
south of England, and there bred mp to a sea-
faring life. it''l5tt+'
Wien about thirty years Of age, to wit, in
the year 1923, he was first MAZE OF q bargne
trading between Liverpool ana 81. johns, New
Brunswick. 81
on one of her voyages, bound westward, be-
ing some five or six weeks out and having
neared the eastern portion ,pf the banks of
Newfoundland, the captain and. mate had been
on deck at noon, taking an observation OF the
sun; after which they had both descended to
calculate the days work.
The cabin Ga small one) was Immediately at
the stern of.tbe vessel, and the short stairway
descending toit ran across ships Immediate
ly opposite to this stairway, just beyond
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 state-loom was in the forward part OF
it close to the door; so that one sitting at it
and looking over his shoulder could look into
the cabin. r,s t+ ,.
The mate, absorbed in his calculations,
which did not result as he had expected, vary
ing considerably from the dead reckoning, had
not noticed the captains motions. When he
had completed his calculations he called out
without looking round, Il make latitude and
longitude so and so; can that be right? How
is yours?" "a ..-i
siecely wing no reply he repeated his question
CHANGING over his shoulder, and perceiving, as
he thought, the captain busy writing on his
slate. Still no answer. Thereupon he rose,
and as he fronted the cabin door, the figure he
had mistaken for the captain raised its head
and disclosed to the astonished mate the fea-
lures of an entire stranger.
Bruce was noscoward; Sbut as he met that
fixed gaze looking directly at him in grave 81
lence and he became assured that it was no
one whom he has ever seen before, it was too
much for him; and instead of stopping to ques-
ton the seeming intruder, he rushed upon
deck in such evident alarm that it instantly
attracted the captains attention. Asttss
~ 1r oSnid 4Hxyba f in
the world is the matter with you? u u p
THE matter sir? who's at your desk?" -, - ~ =.
s"No one that know Of 81 40 ~ T.. ~ T.,
a"But there is sir; a stranger there" no
ga stranger? why man you must be dream
ing. You must have seen the steward there
or the second mate. Who else would venture
down without ordersg" ta-.- + .s,f i.i.
But, sir, he was sitting in your armchair
onting the door, writing on your slate. Then
ne looked up full in my face; and if ever
saw man plainly and DISTINCTLY in this world,
i saw him = st'f tii'i &
"Himl whom?" ''.,'- . 'is
"God knows. sir, 1 don't, 1, saw. man, and
man never saw in my life before" -
you must be geing crazy, Mr.. Bruce A
stranger, and we nearly six weeks out?"
II don't know, sir, but there L saw him."
$50 down and see who he isl i ffIl -
Bruce hesitated. Il never was believer in
ghosts" he said. "but if the truth must be told
sir, I'd rather not face it alone - 10y y fl.
"Come, come, man, go down at once, and
crew." ~ -te .iif.s.t IS L1a lstI -tf3 .t
Il hope you have alwaysifound me ready to
dowhat's reasonable" Bruce replied, changing
color; but if it's ali the same to you, sir I'd
rather we shonld both 90 down together
The captain descended the stairs, and the
mate followed him. Nobody in the cabin
They examined the staterooms. Not soul to
be foundl --
aWeli, Mr.. Bruce, said the Captain "did
not tell you you had been drcaming?p
TITS all very well for you to say so sir but if
l didn't see the man writing on your slate.
may never see my home and family again.
@"Ah, writing my slate! Then IL should
be there still" And the captain took it up.
The captain exclaimed: Here is something
sure enough! Is that your writing, MI
Bruce" #F
legibe characters, stood the words, steer to
the nor west" AE
Have you been trifiing with me. sir! add
ed the captain, in stern manner. $500
On my word as man and sailor sir - re-
pied Bruce, know no more OF the matter
'than you 40. have told you the exact
truth" $3.50 -tip 81 e. l.fS7al 1870
The captain sat down at his desk, the slate
before him, in deep thought. a last, turning
the slate over and pushing it toward Bruce he
SAID, Write down, steer to the norwest"
The mate complied, and the captain after
narrowly comparing the two handwritings
to come down here" iita
lie came; at the request of the captain he
also wrote the same words. SO did the stew
ard 30, IN succ esslon, 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 p a5f'f : is''-.5e Il,
When the crew retired the captain sat in
deep thought. Could any one have been
slowed away?Y at last he said. sThe ship
must be searched, and i'll don't find the fellow
he mnst be good at hide-and-seek. Order up
all hands," sf-Efr.e.f WI
Every nook and corner of the vessel, from
stem to stern, was thoroughly examined and
that with all the eagerness ofexeited curiosi-
ty-for report had gone. out that a stranger |
had shown himself on board; but not a living
soul beyond the crew and officers was found.
Returning to the cabin after their fruitless
search" Mr.. Bruce" said the captain, ''what do
you make or all this2" ...-'.,.-'
Cant tell,sir l saw the man write: Won
see the writing. There must be something in
SWELL it would seem So We have the wind
free, and hayea great mind to keen her
away and see what viii come of it,"
u surely would sir, if l We're in your place
Its only few hours lost at the worst"
swell, We'll see. Go on deck and give The
course nor'west. And Mr. Bruce" he added,
as the mate rose to go, shave a look out alott
and let it be hand you can depend on"
=, ltls orders were obeyed: About 3 o'clock
the lookout reported an iceberg nearly ahead,
and shortly after, what he thought was a YES
sci of some kind close to it. .if
AS they approached the captains glass dis
ulSIDa4itteu
apparently frozen to the ice and with a good
many human beings on board Shortly after
they move TO, and sent out the boats to the re-
iiefofth sufferers eai aan 70
Il proved to be a vessel from Quebec, bound
for Liverpool, with passengers on board. She
had got eDtangled III the ice, and finally frozen
fast, and had passed several weeks in a most
critical condition. She was stove, her decks
swept-Ih fact, mere wreck; all her provis-
ions, and almost all her water gone Her crew
and passengers had lost all hopes OF being saw
ed, and their gratitude for the unexpected res
cue was proportionally great.
AS one OF the men, who had been brought
away III the third boat that had reached The
wreck, was ascending the ships side, the mate |
catGhlng glimpse at his face, started back
WIN conservation, 1t was the very face he |
nG sci .hree or tour hours before looking np
at MN from the captains desk =
AT hrst he tried to persuade b;n,salf ,l,ot :.
Inisno oe ~ fancy, but the more he examined |
the man the more sure he became that ha ,roa
right. Not only the face but the 1870 no was /
dress exactly correspondent. peisoh ana
As soon as the exhausted crew and fanisl, |
passengers were cared for and the barnna a |
on her course again, the mate called the can
saw, sir; the mans alive"
"What do you mean? Who's aliye?,
"Why sir, one of the passengers we have inst |
saved is the man I saw writing on your Slate
at noon. L would swear to it in court of ius-
tice." 1
upon my word Mr.. Bruce" replied the cap
tam, this gets more and more singular let
us 60 and see this man." - all
Inc found him in conversation with the cap
tam OF the rescued ship. They both came for
ward and expressed in The warmest terms their
srauuoue irom delverance from % horrid fate
ton. " "a Ho'"i" "'i" o'@h'"
rrl ne captain replied that he had done but |
VIVA. ne was certain they would have done for |
e., ~ . .he same circumstances and asked |
t tneni oo.n 70 step down into the cabin. Then
Iunnihs 70 ele passenger he said: II hone sir
' ut n nt': ashihg too much but I womb ho
much opuged TO you if you would writ q a."
Molue on Oh tlis siiste. And he handed him ~
slate with that side upon which the n, ,in enie
Gus wrltihs was moi Il will do anytbi59 vi,,
writer "A"' snail |
"a few words are all want. Snnnoso
write, Steer to the nor vest rsl- 'i1f '' you
The stranger, evidently puzzled to mako o,,+
the motive for such arequest Complied bowo1, '
or, with smile The captain took up The s,ato
and examined it closely; then stepping as;de
so as TO conceal the slate from the passenger
he turned lover and gave it to him again With
the other side up. ai a9aia p W
~, You say that is your writing?' said he
need not say so, rejoined the other, look
Ing az u, Tor you saw me write it,"
slate over VINO NaPo'''"' -'o' hinS 'iio
tho 9TH man looked first at one writing. then at
the mas sr1 gaite coniounded At last. "wbat is
one Of tbans VI T ms" he said 81 only wrote
4