The Morning herald., 1877-05-29
FHE EsaRAE aS11o RI,


:, %. the time long before the days Of
H. Wilbsrforce and the emancipation Of
(1.,.. ~, . in the West Indies that the brigan-
s Nv oneen Charlotte left the island OF st.
'no 's;s homeward bound for London.
'u. a few DAYS akes she had pvt % ssa one
a 'ha ~, watch iorwarl ssE "a the twilight
4 the evening q agray>looking ngure amid
h;ns quite unlike anyone ne knew on
r .oard. and which suddenly disappeared:
"I fancy have seen q ghost" said ne,
.aer telling the circumstance to others,
% ,ho simply laughing at him.
D Pot AZ seamen are usually extremely
,,ners,i.ious, the idea was not quite relish>
! and still less 60 when, q night later,
-, ~, "a the Queen, Charlotte. still beating to
~ ], to q ssa ward 81 ST. l.ncia and where the
";nte du Gros Pitonl Swas sill y sight,
,rae Of tho watch saw fhe ssel.sanae figure
% 1rav or white :drels, with aidark visage.
soSiug VIM slowly along the brecastle while
bev we're amidihips. They after some
on.uin,ion and doubt, rushed forward,
n which it vanished near the weather cat
lead. 4,
nate e. who both laughed at the story ) but
he latter had some doubts or fears on the
inject, and it was resolved by him and
ne or two others to keep strict look out
br thi. mysterious appearance, which was
uly chronicled in the log.
For several nights the deck was watched
vain, till one night. when the brig was
eatire to windward in a heavy sea and
Fs,oendous gale, and when the high land
{ Dominica was in sight, the gale was be:
omipg tremendous, the thunder beloved
yerhesd, and lightning flashed along The
"a as it only does iip the West Indies, and
here, amid the tempest, TO the" horror o.
he whole crew, some Of whom were alofl
oakiur fast gear that had broken loose,
-hile others were at work on deck, the
hadovy spectre was seen in the long boat
vhich was dashed, Is usual amidships, be'
veeu the fore and main masts. r.
The mate made rush toward it, being
fearless fellow. But at that moment q
nightly sea broke clean over the brig, and
a,hed him almost senseless against car
onade to leeward, and when he gathered
himself up the appari,ion had vanished.
The storm abated with n morning; but tht
larm BY no means subsided in the mind,
f,he crew. many Of whom now misset
many things-1he salt junk Of one, the bis
uit Of another, and worse than all, tn
Irog Of third had mysteriously disap
eared, and these were the property o
huss who had made themselves the m mes
Prcminen. in the pursuit Of the ghost.
That The latter might haunt the unfor
innate brig seemed natural enough" SAT-
he bewildered mate; "but who the deuce
Fver heard Of ghost that stole beef ant
Piscuita and drank grog~
80 the crew Of the Queen Chariot
egan to fear that Davy Jones, or the fen'
himself was on board. All had grav
ears concerning the fate Of the brig; al
we're anxious fer the termination Of tn
Ioyage, when they might bolt, and shi
|n board ofother craft, and all were timi'
Ehen even the wind increased beyond
till reei-topsail breeze, for all were Of tht
ppnion that the spirit was in somewa
Founec!el with the storm IF the Isle {
Dominica.
Even tie captain, who was far frsm be
ng supers,iliuus, and was, moreover, a We
Pducslsd man, became bewildered, as
omIora,.e oyercoat had vanished frOl
bio c.blu when he was On deck that nigh
nd Two pillows had been taken from
hammock III the forscastle bunks, and MOI
yIog and biscuit.
One night, when the low, level Isle
Balblda, one Of the Caribee group, was
pile Of so to lseward, and when the utmo
are in steerisg is necessary, as the who
pat is foul and dangerous, being beset I
(lmosl every point with shoals and broke
|eefs, the maa at the wheel suddenly be
held close by his side, in the pale, sickl
ght Of the binnacie lamps, the tall fgul
specter-white or gray, he knew N
sAlch-wilh black yisage and glitterir
|eelh and eyes.
A yell Of terror escaped him. tt
pokes escaped from his hands the whe
evolves like lightning; the brig fell ava
psIore the wind, and by the trim Of h
ais she must have gone by The board, an
ne would have been reduced 10 q tot
tieck, had not powerful hands inslantl
aken the place Of his, and her prop.
ssrage been restored; but by whom was
The gray spe,terl
lnere, in the sight Of the whole ere,
'nom the yell Of the helmsman ha
prouyht n on deck, it stood, tall, and
1!e ppeaFance powerful figure, in linen (
IU"o'l ess dress, with black visage, eyebal
Is. hs. cleaned, and white savage.like teetl
hs' hs |! ig'lS'ened in the light thrown aft fro
as "s, pinnacle, and an emotion of despa
.OA W. possession Of the crew to find that 81
/" "atS WAS steering the ship, with all on boar
''"T,less %Sa to death and perdition.
,;a me sunken rocks-the sunken rocks
''r ~, the mate, with grsan.
fss~ n