Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-25
A HAUNTED SHIP.

A HAUNTED SHIP.
Three years ago shipped ON board
the Niger, Captain Phillips. Our voyage
was to Hilo, Sandwich Islands, and back
to Puget Sound, whence we sailed. The
captain, officers and crew, were, when
Joined, Americans and West Indiamen;
but, as another hand was wanted besides
myself, I persuaded Jack Chester, an En-
glishman with whom had become friend
~, to fill up the vacancy. Jack was a fine
looking fellow, a jovial companion, and
had lots of information, which he knew
how to use but, although he dressed and
talked like sailor, he had not been long
on board ship before it became plain that
he had not been brought up salt.
Our captain was Tarter and no mis-
take, and as he had the eye of hawk, no
fault committed by man or boy escaped
him. This was especially unfortunate for
my English shipmate. He had shipped
on able seaman's wages, but his defcien-
cies were so many and glazing that our
captain, who seemed to watch his move
ments more carefully than those of the
rest of the crew, often inflicted upon him
punishment painful to witness. had a
strong attachment to Chester, and stood
his friend whenever 1 could, by taking
some of his duties along with my own !;
so he fell oftener than others beneath the
captains displeasure.
One night when was at the wheel the
wind rose into gale. The captain came
on deck and set all hands to reef the top
sails. The men were manning the hal
yards to hoist away, when poor Chester,
instead of letting 60 the reef-tackle, let
go the weather fore opsa;l brace, and
away went the yard fore and att. BY
luffing up smartly, however, we managed
to get checked without carrying anything
away. But Captain Phillips, frothing at
the mouth, swore he would tan the fool
ish lubber's hide who had done so clumsy
thing. Saying which, he rushed at
Chester with piece of ratline, which he
brought down upon his neck and should
in the act of raising it again, when a voice
from alcft roared out, "Hold your hand p
The voice was wonderfully loud and
clear, seemingly coming from the main
top. The captain fell back, and looking
up, cried in great rage, "Aloft there!"
"Halloal" was the answer back.
"Come down on deck" was the cap
tain's imperious order
"Come up here, and see how you will
like it, " was the contemptuous response.
"Come down, say, on deckw foamed
the captain.
"Come up and fetch me-" returned the
voice from aloft.
"Who is up there, Mr.. Rassom!" cried
the captain, appealing to the first Office
''No one, sir was the reply, $50 far as
l can see. All seem present on deck"
The captains rage was now terrible tt
witness.
"AH seem present, Mr.. Rassom! Wha
do you mean by that, sir? ask yor
again, who is up there9"
mo one known to me-" returned thu
man. "All are present All are or
deck, in sight"
Such was the case But the SECOND
mate, without waiting orders, sprang W
the rigging and looked over the top rim
then made circuit Of it, looking al
around the masthead, and then reported
himself alone.
"Then the ship must be haunted |!
cried the chief mate.
The captain thereupon dropped tn
rope's-end which he had held in hi
hand, and went below. 1t was eviden
that he was strangely affected by wha
had occurred. And so my fellow country
man escaped further punishment tina
night.
Butin few days our skipper had for
gotten his fears, and, looking out for an
other object on which to vent his spleen
Ihad the ill-fortune to feel his wrath
He ordered me to make knot in tn
end of an old tagged rope to be used fo
flashing. In a little while 1 returned
saying that had made the best job
could of rope which was quite fagge
out.
'sWell," said he, "if that's your best
you are as much Of "a lubber as you
friend Chester. But I'll dock you bot
to ordinary seamau's wages"
tried to show him that the rope We
too much worn to make neat piece {
work. 'e
sIndeed," said, 'sIt is sadly tagged
gagged, is it," cried he, scornfull,
''then III finish it over your lubberl
back"
'sNo, you won'tr' roarcd out voie
from behind the long boat.
The captain rushed in the direction
the sound, but he failed to discover Il
speaker.
ssWho was that?" he cried, in storl
ofwrath, adding, "Let me know who it
and I'll thrush him within an inch Of hi
life"
"Will you." Ha! ha! hap was Il
hooking reply, dropped seemingly fro
the maintop.
It was in broad daylight when tn
took place, so every one could see tn
there was no one up there. was
much startled and mystifed by the o
curence as was the captain; but Meth
he nor I, nor any of the crew to who
he appealed, could throw any light ther
on. But whoever or whatever uttered Il
words, my purpose was served, as W