The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-03-26
THE HAUNTED SHIP.

THE HAUNTED SHIP.
I shipped in the Norway, for the
passage from CrOnstadt to Hull, and
another Englishman who went by the
name of Jack Hastings, joined her at
the same time. He was a man of con-
siderable information, and from his
talk had seen his share of the world,
but was not much of a sailor, as I had
already surmised from the cut of his
jib.
We found Captain Phelps of the
Norway, a Tartar in the worst sense of
the word ; and the voyage was anything
but pleasant one, especially to Hast
ings. He had shipped for able sea-
mans wages, and his deficiencies were
soon apparent, especially to the cap
tain who had a hawks eye for the weak
points in a man, that he might come
down to him. AS I had a strong feel
ing of respect for the young man, I
stood his friend whenever I could, by
trying to do more than my own share
of duty and cover up his shortcomings;
but I couldn't always be on hand, of
course.
One hight, when it was blowing quite
fresh, and I was at the wheel, the
captain was up and all hands putting
reefs in the tOpsails. The men had
lain down on deck, and were manning
the halyards to hoist away, when poor
Hastings, instead of the reef-tackle, let
go the weather fOre-tOpsail brace, and
away went the yard fore and aft.
However, by lufhng up smartly, we
managed to get it checked In again
without carrying away anything. But
Capt. Phelps, frothing at the mouth,
vowed he would tan the clumsy lub-
ber's hide that did it, and would " ride
him down like q main-tack." He
rushed at Hastings with a piece of
ratIiRe stuff and brought it down once,
with terrific cut, over his neck and
shoulders.
As he raised it aIoft to repeat the
blow, while all hands stood looking on,
hushed into silence, voice from aloft
rOared out, ." Hold your hand
The sound, which was wonderfully
loud clear, seemed to come down out of
the main-top. The captain fell back
aft, SO as to look up, but could see
nothing.
"Al0ft there :" he yelled in a rage.
No answer.
' MaintOp there !"
"HaIloa " was answered spitefulIy.
Come down on deck !"
"Come up here, and see how you
like it !"
The captains rage was now fearful to
behold.
''Who's aIoft there? Who is it, Mr..
RRynOr?" he demanded of the mate.
Nobody that I know of sir" an
swered the officer. "They're 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 alOft and looked over the
tOp-rim and made the circuit of it,
looking all around the masthead, and
reported himself alone. The captain
dropped his ropes end and went below,
his mind in a strange chaos of rage and
fear, and Hastings escaped further
beating for that night.
But a few days were sufficient for the
captain to forget his fears, and myself
was the next victim of his wrath. He
had ordered me to make a lanyard-knOt
in the end of an old tagged rope, to be
used for a lashing somewhere. L did
SO and returned it to him, telling him
had made the best job of it that [
could.
"WelI, if that's your best, you're as
much of a lubber as your partner, Hast
luRSs L II OOCh you DOGA ~ VI 4cLA
seaman's pay" said he.
In vain I demonstrated, saying that
the rope was two much worn and tagged
to make nice piece of work.
Tagged is it? Well, I'll finish it
up over your lubberIy back %
No you won't p sang out voice
from behind the long boat.
He rushed round in the direction of
the sound, but there was no one there.
''WhO was that that spOke?" he cned.
60 If knew who it was I'd cut his heart
outI l"
"Halha! would yep was answered
derisiveIy-from the main-top, now.
It was broad daylight, and all could
see that there was no one up there. I
was quite as much startled and mysti-
fed as my tyrant could possibly be, but
the diversion served as good a purpose
as on the previous occasion, for he did
not attack me again. Had he done so,
l meant to resist, and grapple with him,
if 1t cost me my life.
That night the captains slumbers
were disturbed by a fierce cry, which
appeared to come In at the side-light In
his state-rOom, left open for fresh air.
The cry had been heard by the mate on
the quarterback, and by Hastings at
the wheel, who could give no exPlana-
ton of 1t, and seemed to share his as
tonishment and fear, when he rushed
on the deck and looked vainly over the
quarter in search of the cause.
From that day he was harassed and
persecuted at every turn by an lnvisi-
bic presence which gave him no peace
of his life. Whether on deck or below,
he found no escape from 1t, and esPe-
cially when he began to abuse any Of
the ships company 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 overhead.
But no manifestations ever troubled
us in the forecastle, nor did the nm
earthly voice ever address any one on
board but Capt. Phelps. The most
supersttioUs part of the crew would
rather have borne his tyrannical treat