The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-01-01
Misfellauenas.
BILLY MoRGAN's GHOST.

In the Mediterranean. He was nm awful
looking person, six feet four inches high,
with long, pale, wrinkled visage, sunk
en- eyes. thick black hair standing on
ends, with white, prominent, and irrcgu-
lar teeth. 1t was impossible to define the
color of his eyes; his voice was sepul'
chral on his right arm were engraved
certain mysterious devices, and his to-
bacco box was Of iron. He entered on
4 Friday, the Frlgate vas launched on Fri.
day, 1.-The master. carpenter who built her
was born on Friday, and the squadron
went out to sea on Friday. These coin
cidenccs, added to his singular appear
, ance, caused the sailors to ek-upon
! Morgan with some degree of wonder,
mingled with suspicion. During the voy-
age to Gibralter, his conduct Increased
this feeling. He went without food for
DAYS together-at least he was never seen
to eat-and II he slept 1t was without
shutting his eyes or lying down. His
shipmates, one and nll, declared that,
wake at what time of the night they
would, Morgan was seen sitting bolt up
right In his hammock, with his eyes glar-
ling and wide open. When In watch up
OH deck, he would stand still for an hour
ut time, gazing OH the stars or the
ocean, and, when reused, fall flat on the
deck In a swoon. When he revived, he
preached and talked incoherent rhapsody.
He often limited that he had rs many lives
us cat, and more than once offered to
let himself be hanged for the qualification
of his messmatcs. He had also frequent
frances. during which he lay stiff and
rigid, with all the. appearance Of death.
These things ut length reached the
ears of Capt. R., who looked upon
them as mere tricks, and the next time
Morgan got into transc, confined him
for twenty-four hours, stopped his grog'
and devised sundry other punishments.
One day, about half way across the At
lantic, and the frigate several leagues In
advance of the squadron, there was an
alarm of the magazine being on fire.
Morgan was Just coming on deck with
spoon In his hand, for some purpose or
other, when hearing the cry, he made one
spring overheard. The fire was soon eX-
tinguished, but, In the confusion, no effort
was made to save Morgan. AS a matter
, of course he was drowned. Two days af-
ter, one of the ships Of tho squadron
came up, and sent boat alongside with
Billy ON board. Twelve hours after his
llcap, he had been found swimming gal
llantly with the spoon In his hand, which
lhe saiu nc iiciu iast that nc niigliL iicip
himself to salt water when hc was dry.
Afler this the sailors felt convinced that
Morgan was dead man come to life
again, and that 1t would be difficult to-
kill him in any ordinary way. He con-
tinued his spranks-star-gazing and swoons
for which he was severely punished.
At last, as they approached Gibraltar, he
solemnly announced to his messmates
that he intended to drown himself again
the first opportunity. He made his Will,
dressed himself In his best, and settled all
his affairs. He also replenished his tobac-
CO box, put his allowance of biscuit In his
water which he slung around his neck,
saying that he might take 1t into his head
to live two or three days in the sea before
he finally betook himself to Davy Jones
locker. The same night, between twelve
and one, Morgan was distinctly seen to
come up the hatchway, climb the bulwark.
and drop into the ocean. A mdshipman
aud two sailors testified to the facts, and,
Morgan being missing the next morning.
no doubt existed of his suicide.
The talk and wonder were beginning to
subside, when, one night about week
after, the figure of Morgan In wet clothes,
sunkcn eyes and cadaverous vissage, was
seen by one of his mcssmates who hap
pcned to be lying awake, to emerge
slowly from the forepart of the ship, ap-
proach one of the tables where there was
q can of water, take hearty draught,
and disappear In the direction which 1t
came. The sailor told this the next day,
but, as yet, very few believed him. The
next night, precisely the same thing oc-
Cured, and was seen by different per-
son. The story came to the ears Of the
|, captain, who, under the conviction that
Morgan's drowning himself had been de-
ceptive, ordered the strlctest search to
be made throughout the frlgate, but with
out any discovery. The ghost continued
to appear, evadng capture or surprise.
Once It empticd tobacco box, at an
other time made free with fragments Of
supper which had not been cleared of.
In the bay of Algesiras, 1t spoke, offered
Its hand to a messmate, and saying
"Good bye, Toin," and then vanished as
usual.
BY this time the whole crew was terror
stricken, afraid of their own shadows, and
even the officers began to share the infec-
ton. The sailors were permitted to take
an occasional turn on shore. To the
Tom Brown named abov', Morgan had
LEFT his watch and chest Of clothes. Stroll
ling down dark lane, In the suburbs Of
Algcsiras, he heard well-known voice
call out, 'Tom, Tom, d-n your eyes
Don't you know your old mess-matey'
Tom recognized the tones, and turning
round, saw himself confronted by Billy
Morgan's ghost. Having no wish to re-
new the acquaintance, he took to his heels
without looking to see II the ghost gave
chase, ran to the boat, and told the story
as soon as he could find breath. In his
berth, that very night the ghost visited
him again, passing his cold wet hand
over Toms face, who bawled Justify, but
the apparition abseonded before help ar
rived, muttering, In hollow whisper,