Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-08-14
Continued from First Page. }

who was az the wheel. neither of whom
could throw light upon the incident TO the
captain. who had rushed on to the deck in
"A state of terror. and demanded in vain for
the production of the offender.
From that dav it was clear to all that
Captain Phillips was tormented by appre-
tensions of coming disaster. An idea was
fixed in his mind that his ship was visited
by spirit from the invisible world, which
preferred to make itself heard rather than
seen. And this idea was strengthened by
the fact, that when he was on deck, and
became angry at the conduct of any of the
men. especially when his anger was made
manifest in oaths and blows-the unseen
but ever-vigilant visitor, from afar, would
Z -perched apparently on the top of the
mainmast-utter the insolent laugh or the
dolorous warning. On these occasions the
Il. poor man would rush off to his cabin with
blanched check and lettering limb, and
there abide until the gale in his moral
scnsibilites should subside.
That it was angry with no one else but
the captain was clear. from the fact that it
never took notice of the conduct of any
other person. The mate or the boatswain
might act as they liked, or the men might
jbe and call each other; no matter-the
voice was not heard-leither laugh nor
moan fell upon our ears. But most of
those who lived in the forecastle were far
from being happy; many of them shared
the fears of the skipper; and | saw that
they would much rather have braved his
wrath than to be tormented as they were
by the voices of the night or the day"
Myself and Chester were exceptions.
What his opinion was, he would not say !;
he met all my questions by adroit evasions.
As for myself. had no explanation to
give.
Thus matters went on until we were
within two days. sail of the islands. All
the while our poor captain had heen kept
from tyranny by his fears of the voice
but now, exasperated by some fault in
seamanship on the part of Chester, and
being the worse for liquor, he hurled a
Delaying pin ut him, which struck him on
the head. Clapping both hands thereon,
with yell he rushed into the forecastle.
i was evident the skipper expected to
hear the voice, for he looked nervously
aloft but when all was silent in that di
rection his courage returned, and he de-
sired the second ofiicerto call Chester back
TO the deck. Getting no answer to his
call, the mate went below. when he found
the poor fellow deirious. Returning to
the deck, he reported him to be in dam
gerous condition.
This filled the captain with fear. He
ordered that every attention should be paid
him, which was done. That night it be-
came necessary to have all hands on deck
to reef, and while we were on the yards
an awful cry, like that of maniac, arose
from the bows of the vessel. and next mo-
ment several of us saw a human form on
the rail near the fore-swiiter, and then a
loud splash was heard in the water under
our lee.
The captain and chief officers who were
on deck rushed to the side hat was
seen for a moment bobbing on the crest of
a wave the manacal scream was repeat
ed. when Captain Phillips, himself utter
ing cry, fell senseiess on the deck.
The mate then hailed us who were on the
topsail yard Come down from aloit
clear away the small boat" We thought
he was as near beside himself as was the
captain and so he was for the moment,
for when We had gained the deck he was
ready to countcrmand the order.
Everything was awful beyond express
sion; the wind and the water were raging
wild; it was impossible for small boat
to live IN so rough sea, SO, making a
virtue Of necessity, the search for the poor
msaddened fellow was abandoned, amid
vows of vengeance against the captain
and tears for our lost messmate.
EForty-eight hours after this we entered
the port of Hilo. \ vast change had
come over the crew. The captain, know
ing their peculiarities. had supplied them
with money and copious libations of whis-
KY; 50, instead of reporting him to the
consul, as they had declared they would,
they were ready to shout his praises all
day long. In this, however, | did not
agree; but unable 10 bring the tyrant to
Justice single-handed, resolved to quit
the Nigsr.
Ibid 70. After hiding in the woods sew.
era1 d&ys, was caught and brought bach
to tie ship. As my adventures as Il fug
tive are not essential to the unfolding o
mystory, pass them by, and take up tn,
thrSad Of my narrative.
We set sail on our return voyage. Cap
tain Phillips was an altered man. He alb
stained from spirits, he controlled his TEN
per, and this, with the addition OF fin,
steady breeze, made our lives on boarC
happy. But, alas we were doomed to
sad ending up of the voyage. Keepin,
too near the land, and squall laying hole
on the ship, we were driven on a shore
1t was just after midnight when we struck
and the darkness was terrible and lean
ing out Of my hammock, ran on deck
/ could see nothing save the wild waters
racing over the deck. cried out to IN,
shipmates but got no answer. 1t was no
possible to reach the after part of the yes
sci where the life belts were kept so act
ing on the impulse of the moment.
leaped into the sea. Catching hold Of
friendly rock, was saved. Daylight
came after weary waiting. The frs
thing ] saw was the dead body of poo
Captain Phillips and not far from ii that O
our Chinese cook. The rest were saved
We made our way to Portland, where W
were paid off. Thence proceeded to Sal
Francisco. had often asked mysel
whence came those strange voices an,
fearful words, which had so alarmed on
captain and put most of the crew in terror
and had so opportunity on one occasion
saved me from the vengeance of the cap
tain. But it was beyond my power to an
swer the inquiry neither could the mat,
nor any of the survivors throw LIGHT there