Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-11-13
ME. NJ 0G
NO. 26s.

| blowing, was so strange, so wonderful
that we could do nothing but stare in be-
wildered astonishment. BY this time the
violence of the storm had even increased,
and though we vainly watched to see her
reduce sail not the least sign of any such
intention on her part was visible. "Mr.
Blank" shouted the captain in my ear.
get the ensign up and set it, and see if
she will answer it.
Immediately obeyed, and although our
flag was set at the spanker gaff, and dipped
two or three times no notice was taken by
the fast receding stranger. who kept on
her course, till in u short time we lost
sight OF her entirely in the storm. Mr..
Saunders, the mate, native OF Water
ford in Ireland, and slightly imbued with
superstitlous notions, shook his head omi-
nously as he went below and crossed HIM
self with great JUNCTION. Capt. K. although
he affected to laugh at the idea of any
thing unnatural, was evidently uneasy and
mystified, and for myself, was fairly at
my wits end to explain the phenomena.
And when after "a days longer of battling
against easterly and northeasterly gales,
we had anchored in the Mersey with the
loss OF our fore and main topmasts, main
yard sprung, an entire suit of sales blown
y
overheard, and Mr. Saunders with
broken leg-caused by spare topmast
breaking adrift-I was almost ready to
share the belief of the crew. who with the
strong tincture of superstition so prevalent
among old sailors, swore to a man, that
she was in truth the Flying Dutchman,"
and the customary i'll luck had followed
her appearance. But some months after,
one evening in New Orleans, fell in con-
versation with young man, matc of the
ship "Alhambra", and was relating the
above details. well. Mr.. Blank" said
Mr.. Smith, 81 am sorry to destroy your
vision of the Flying Dutchman,' but can
tell you what ship that was for was see
ond mate of her, and a more scarf second
mate than was that day you never saw.
She was an old London packet called the
Wellington, her Captain one of the era
zy headedst, drunken old rips / ever was
with, but strange to say he makes the
quickest passages and gets better freight
than half the ships aAoat. Before we left
Mobile, Capt. B.. had made bet of
$500, with the Captain of the Sarah +.
H bran new ship from Boston, that
we would be in the docks in Liverpool, be-
fore the Sarah f. had passed Tusker Light.
We sailed in company and she passed us
, to the north'ard of Hattery and we lost
sight of her. Well sir, when the nor'west-
er came on, the devil a bit would the old
man take the canvass off her. We had a
bran new suit of hemp sails, nothing else
would have stood that blow, and how they
stood it or how the spars kept in her I'm
blessed if l know. There was no time
for forty-eight solid hours that we didn't
expect to see her sticks going over the
side, and the mate, bloody old Dutch
man, was scarder than | was. The old
man kept chock full of rum all the time,
and hardly left the deck except to fresh
en- his nip yet he was never so but that
he knew his "biz." He didn't sleep six
hours for the whole gale. But if you'll
believe me sir, we never started rope
yarn and only that we lost our spare spars
from the deck and had the forard house
and cabin filled with water for five days,
we got in all right on the afternoon of the
23d of December, the Sarah F. arriving
the 9th. You better believe | took my
duds and got up and went as soon as we
We're made fast When the old man paid
me off, told him, Capt. b says |,
Il like to to see sail carried as well as any
live man, but you suit me too we'll He
didn't say much, only laughed, but |
should have to be mighty hard up to ship
in the Wellington again" The affair
was thus explained, but to this day I've
never been quite satisfied in my own mind
regarding it, for Smith, who related the
story was one of the most confounded liars
| ever knew, and SO | am still inclined to
the belief that | have seen the Flying
Dutchman." FRANK.