The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-03-24
THE HAUNTED SHIP.


THE HAUNTED SHIP.
Ishipped in the Norway, for the pas
sage from Cronstadt to Hull, and an
other Englishman who went by the
name of Jack Hastings, Joined her at
the same time. He was man OF con-
siderable information, and from his
talk had seen his share of the world, but
was not much of . sailor, as ! had al
ready surmised from the cut Of his jib.
One night, when it was blowing quite
fresh, ana was at the wheel, the cap
tam was up and all hands putting reels
in the topsails. The men had lain down
on deck, and were manning the halyards
to hoist away, when poor Hastings, in-
stead of the ef-tackle, let 70 the
weather fore-topsail brace, and away
went the yard fore and aft. However,
| by luffing UP smartly, we managed to
| get it checked in again without carry
ing away anything. But Captain
Phelps, trothing at the mouth, vowed he
would tan the clumsy lubber's hide that
did it, and would "ride him down like
the maintack;." He rushed at Hastings
| with pice of ratline stuff and brought
it down once, with q terrific cut, over
his neck and shoulders.
| AS he raised it aloft to repeat the
blow, while all hands stood looking on,
hushed into silence, voice from aloit
roared out, "Hold your handW
| The sound, which was wonderfully
loud and clear, seemed to come down
out of the main-top. The captain fell
back aft, so as to look up, but could see
nothing.
"Alolt therew he yelled, in rage.
No answer.
"Maintop thereW
"Hallu! was answered, spitefully.
| "COme down on deck"
"COme up here, and see how you like
| itp
The captains rage was now fearful to
behold.
| "Nobody l know of, sir" answered
the officer. "They'fe all here in sight"
| The men looked from one to another,
| but the number was correct. The sec
ond mate, without waiting for orders,
! sprang up alott and looking over the
top-rim and made the circuit OF it, look
ing all around the masthead, ana re-
ported himself alone. The captain
| dropped his ropes end and went below,
| his mind in q strange chaos OF rage and
| lear, and Hastings escaped further beat
| ing for that night.
But u few days were sufficient for the
captain TO forget his fears, and 1 myself
| was the next victim of his wrath. He
had ordered me to make lau-yar knot
in the end of an old, tagged rope, to be
used for q lashlng somewhere. 1 did SO,
and returned. 1T to him, telling him l had
made tue best job OF it that L could.
"WelI, If THAT'S your best, you're as
mucn Of lubber as your partner, Hast
ings. Tll dock you both to or'nary sea-
mems pay" said he.
In vain l demonstrated, saying that
the rope was too much worn and tagged
TO make neat piece of work.
"Fagged, Is it? Wen, Pll finish it up
over you' lubberly backw
mo you wontw sang out voice from
behind the long boat.
lie rushed around in the direction of
the sound, bat there was no one there.
"Who was that that spokeY' he cried.
'If knew who it was, I'd cut his heart
ouLw
"Ha! ha! would yeF' was answered
derisiyely- y-from the maintop, now.
1t was broad daylight, and all could
see that there was no one up there. l
was quite as much startled aud mysti-
fed as my tyrant could possibly be, but
the diversion served as good purpose
as on the previous occasion, tor he did
not attack me again, Had he done SO, |
meant 10 resist, and grapple with him.
| it cost me my lite.
That night the captains slumbers
were disturbed by q herce cry, which
appeared to come in at the Sidelight in
his stateroom, left open for fresh air
| The cry had bsen heard by the mate on
| the quarter deck, and by Hastings at
| the wheel, who could give no eXplana-
| tion of it, and seemed to share his aston
| ishment and fear, when he rushed on the
l i,lx 4
| 10 search of the cause.
From that day he was harrassed and
prosecuted ut every turn by an invisible
presence which gave him no peace of his
| life whether on deck OF below, he found
no escape from it, and especially wheu
| he began to abuse any of the ships com.
pany the voice of the hidden champion
| Invariably took their part. The inSolent
| laugh that rang in his ears on every such
occasion seemed to come from over
head.
We had arrived within a couple of
days. sail of the English coast, when be-
coming eXasperated at some blunder OF
Hastings he hurled belaying-pin,
which struck him on the head. The poor
| fellow suddenly clapped both hands to
the spot, with wild yell, and rushed
into the torecastle. The captain, after
having thrown the missile, appeared, as
thought, surprised at not hearing any
thing, and l noticed him glance ner-
yously alott. But, still hearing nothing,
he recovered his courage, and ordered
Mr., Raynor "to call that man on deck
! again." -H
| The mate getting no answer to his cal
went below, and found Hastings deli.
rious. He reported that he believed the
man to be in a critical condition, and
the captain directed him to do whatever
he thought BEST for his relief. l think
Captain Phelps, like some other hard
cases that / have sailed with, did not
dare to venture into the forscastle him.
self, for fear he might never get out again
alive. b
That night it became necessary to call
all hands out to reef again, and while
we were on the yards, a thrilling Cry
arose from the bows, such as well might
have been raised by a maniac. A human
form was seen by several of us erect on
the rail, near the fore swifter, and then
| loud splash WAS heard in the water un.
der the lee.
Mr.. Raynor and the captain, who were
on deck, rushed to the side, hat was
seen for o moment, bobbing up on the
crest Of the sea, and the same dreadful
yell of insanity was repeated, even more
1 l.