The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-03-14

subsequent voyages, puzZllng my brain
to account for the strange phenomena
OF which | spoke. Five years passed
away and | was none the wiser in that
respect, when found myself in Liver
pool, where l had arrived from a
South American voyage and had been
paid off with fifty pounds-a considera-
BILE sum for me to have in my possession
at one time.
Strolling along the streets at early
evening, ready for any thing in the way
of amusement that might turn up, my
attention was caught by poster an
nouncing the performance of "Prof.
Holbrook, the unrivaled and world re-
nowned ventriloquist. | had never
seen performance of that sort; but
after reading the bill resolved to go. l
was just in time when | reached the hall
of exhibition, and taking ticket I en-
tered and took a seat | thought the
Professors entertainment the most
wonderful thing that had ever seen or
heard. After u variety of sounds and
voices had been initiated with marvel
Gus skill, he informed us that he would
hold a conversation with an imaginary
person up the chimney. When the re-
sponsiye "Ha, hal" came down | was
startled to such degree as to raise
from my seat 1t was the same voice.
in precisely the same peculiar tones that
| had heard so many times from the Nor
ways maintop.
A minute later, the Professor, having
finished his part, came forward to the
front of the stage; and, in spite of his
flowing beard and other DISCUSSES, |
recognized one whom | had supposed to
be dead five years before.
"Jaek Hastings!'' said l, aloud, for
getting, in my excitment, where | was.
"Sit down!n "Put him out!n cried
a dozen voices at once.
| subsidized, of course, but not before
| had received sign of recognition from
the ventriloquist. When the perform
ance was over he beckoned to me, and
in the privacy of his own room grasped
my hand with a hearty pressure.
Hastings,n | asked, show in the
name of miracles were you savedp'
"Saved! Where?"
When you jumped overheard raving
mad.o
He laughed-his own natural, hearty
laugh; not the unearthly one which he
sent down from chimneys and mast
heads.
81 never jumped overheard, Ashton .
said he; :" and | never was any more
mad than | am at this moment 1t was
only a plan to frighten old Phelps, and
| think it succeeded but too we'll. If he
had been tried for his life and / had
thought him in danger, | should have
appeared in court and frightened him
again to save his life. But he could not
be found, and 1 have never heard of
him since. My madness was all sham,
and the man overheard was only a bum
die of old duds, surmounted by my old
hat. / slipped down into the forepeak
and lay concealed till the night after the
ship arrived, when | stole out and went
ashore. Of course you understand the
cries you heard?"
Certainly; and the other strange
sounds on board. Your ventriloquism
explains the whole matter''
81 performed in most of the cities
and large towns in England before /
knew you; but 1 was dissipated in my
habits and squandered all that l made.
While on one Of my sprees I shipped
and went to sea, and that is how you
found me at Cronstadt. But was new
er stock to make sailor of Since
have returned | have done we'll and
saved money, and you must allow that
| acquit myself better on this stage than
l did on board the Norway"
And that's the only haunted ship that
ever | was in. I've heard of others, but
probably those cases might all be ex-
plained in some similar way.