West-Jersey pioneer., 1878-03-07

| hoiPS' luc HOre SuperStltlOuS part o
our crew would rather have borne his ty
rannical treatment than have lived in {
haunted ship, while some of us welcomed &
friend in this unaccountable spiritual pres
ence, or whatever it might be.
The captains angry passions were to
some degree checked by it, though now anc
then they broke forth so suddenly that the
obJect of his fury received a blow before il
could interfere. We had arrived within a
couple of days sail of the English coast
when, becoming exasperated by some blund
er of Hastings, he hurled Delaying pin,
which struck him on the head. The pool
fellow suddenly clapped both hands to the
spot with a yell and rushed into the fore
castle. The captain, after having thrown
the missile, appeared, as 1 thought, sur
prised at not hearing anything, and | no.
ticed him glance nervously aloft. But still
hearing nothing he recovered his courage
and ordered Mr.. Raynor to ''call that man
on deck again.
The mate, getting no answer to his call,
went below and found Hastings delirious.
He reported that he believed the man to be
In critical condition, and the captain di-
rected him to do whatever he thought best
for his relief. l think Capt. Phelps, like
some other hard cases that | have sailed
with did not dare venture into the forecas-
tie himself for fear that he might never get
| out again alive.
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 might well have been raised
| by 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 under our bow.
Mr.. Raynor and the captain, who were on
deck, rushed to the side; hat was seen for
a moment bobbling up on the crest of the
sea, and the same dreaful yell of insanity
| was repeated, even more shrill than before
Captain Phelps echoed the cry, but family,
and fell insensible to the deck.
Mr.. Raynor hailed us on the topsail yard
with a voice like trumpet blast-"Lay
down from aloft. Clear away the small
| boat.'
We thought the mate was quite as mad
as the poor suicide; and SO he was for the
moment. By the time we reached the deck
he was ready to countermand the ORDER
Everything was hidden in darkness, the
wind and sea fast increasing; and it was
aln
little boat to live. The captain, still un-
conscious, was carried below, with many a
muttered wish that he might never come up
again; and bitter were the oaths of ven-
geance, mingled with kind words and tears
for our departed messmate, that went round
among our wakeful little circle during that
stormy, dismal night.
When the Hull pilot boarded us, forty
eight hours al erward, Capt Phelps was at
his post, trying to look like himself, but
still pale and trembling. The mate told us
that he should have him arrested as soon
as we arrived in port. But think he must
have relented and connived at his escape,
for he was missing before the ship was fair
ly secured. L uOu tnluk ue Was tfeI
brought to justice, though did not wait to
see. l was glad enough to shake tie dust
of the Norway off my feet, and to forget, if
possible, the history of the voyage.
But often found myself, while on sub
sequent voyages, puzzling my brain to &C
| count for the strange phenomena of which
have spoken. Five years passed away and
| was not the wiser in that respect, when |
| found myself in Liverpool, where | had ar
rived from a South American voyage and
had been paid off with fifty pounds con-
siderable sum for me to have in my posses
sion at one time.
Strolling along the streets at early even
ing, ready for anything in the way of amuse-
ment that might turn up, my attention was
caught by poster announcing the perform
ance of ''Prof. Holbrook, the unrivaled and
word-renowned ventrioquist." had never
seen performance of that sort; but aftel
reading the bill l resolved to go. was
lust in time when l reached the hall of ex
hibition, and taking ticket | entered ano
took a seat. 1 thought the professors en-
tertainment the most wonderful thing hao
ever seen or heard. After variety o
sounds and voices had been initiated with
marvellous skill, he informed us that hi
would hold a conversation with an imagl
nary person up the chimney. When th'
responsive ssHa, hap came down l wa
startled to such degree as to rise from m.
sent 1t was the same voice, in precisel,
the same peculiar tones that had heard 81
many times from the Norway's main-top.
A minute later, the professor, having fin
ished his part, came forward to the front Q
of the stage; and, in spite of his fowln
p beard and other DISCUSSES, recognized ON
p whom had supposed to be dead five year
before, "Jack Hastings!' said |, aloud, fol
D getting, in my excitement, where l was.
ssSit down." "Put him out!' cried doz
, en- voices at once.
| subsided, of course, but not before ha
. received a sign of recognition from the yer
triloquist. When the performance wa
over he beckoned to me, and in the privac
4 of his own room grasped my hand with
hearty pressure. "Hastings," l asked
chow in the name of miracles were yo
saved ?"
q "Saved! Where ?''
"When you jumped overheard ravir
" mad.'
y He laughed his own natural, heart
IS laugh; not the unearthly one which he sci
down from chimneys and mastheads.
81 never jumped overheard, Ashton,
said he; and l never was any more ma
% than | am at this moment 1t was only
a plan to frighten old Phelps, and think
- succeeded but too well. If he had bet
!, tried for his life and had thought him
r danger, 1 should have appeared In court al
10 frightened him again to save his lie. b
,l.,o+ ho fonnd and | never hea