The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-06-19

|. To have thee always near,
Or know . brother or fond sister
Thy future days would cheer.
w. w. ST0CKwHLL.
A HAUNTED SHIP.
| Three years ago shipped on board
the Niger, Captain Phillips. Oul
voyage was to Hilo, Sandwich Islands
and back to Puget Sound, whence we
called. The captain, officers and crew,
were, when I Joined, Americans and
West Indiamen; but, as another hand
was wanted besides myself, persuad-
Cd Jack Chester, an Englishman with
whom 1 had become friendly. to fill up
| the vacancy. Jack was hne looking
fellow. q jovial companion, aud had
lots Of information, which he knew
how to use; but, although he dressed
and talked like . sailor, be had not
been long on board ship before it be-
came plain that he had not been
brought up . sslt.
| Our captain was q Tartar and no
mistake, and as he had the eye Of .
hawk, no fault committed by man or
boy esceped him. This was especially
unfortunate for my Enghsh shipmate.
He had shipped on able seaman's
wages, but his Deficiencies were so
many and glaring that our captain,
who seemed to watch his movements
more carefully than those of the rest
of the crew. often inflicted upon him
punishment painful to witness. had
. strong attachment to Chester, and
stood his friend whenever I could, by
taking some of his duties along with
my own but 1 was not always at hand
to help him, go he tell oftener than
others beneath the captains displeas-
ure.
One night when was at the wheel
the wind rose into gale. The cap
tain came on deck and set all hands to
reef the topsails. The men were man.
ming the halyards to hoist away, when
poor Chester, instead of letting 60 the
reef.tackle, let 60 the weather tore
topesil brace, and away went The yard
fore and aft. By lufiing up smartly,
however, we managed to get checked
without carrying anything away. But
Captain Phillips, frothing at the mouth
swore he would tan the foolish lubber's
hide who had done so clumsy q thing.
Saying which he rushed at Chester
with . piece Of ratline, which he
brought down upon his neck and
giving them . fearful cut.
He was In the act Of raising It again
whom q voice from aloft roared out.
Hold your handv
Tho voice was wonderfully loud and
clear, seemingly coming from the
main-top. The captain fell back, and
looking mp, cried in great rage, sAloft
therei'
Halloa + was the answer back.
Come down on deck was the cap
tain's imperious order.
Come mp here, and see how you
will like IT, was the contemptuous
response. st
Come down, say, on deck = foam.
cd the captain.
Come mp and fetch me- returaed
the voice from aloft.
Who is up there, Mr.. Rassom P
cried the captain, appealing to the first
officer.
No one, sir was the reply, $50 far
- I can see. All seem present on
deck e.
The captains rage was now terrible
to witness. /
All seem present, Mr.. Rassom
What do you mean by that, sir2 1
ask you again, who is up there7' 1
No one known to me- returned the
man. sAll are present. All are deck,
In sight 80
Such was the case. But the second
mate. without waiting orders, sprang
mp the rigging and looked over the
and made . circuit of it, look
ing all around the masthead, and then
reported himself alone.
Then the ship must be haunted =
cried the chief mate.
The captain thereupon dropped the
r0pe's.end which he had held In his
hand, and went below. 1t was evil
dent that he was strangely affected by
what had occurred. And SO my fell
escaped further pun
shment that night.
But in few days our skipper had
forgotten his fears, and looking out for
object on which to vent his
spleen. had the ill-fortune to feel
ais wrath. He ordered me 10 make Q
knot in tho end Of an old tagged rope
% be used as lashing. In q little
while returned, saying that had
made the best job could of q rope
hat was quite tagged out.
'Weil,' said he, sif that's your best,
roo are - much of iubber 40 yeur
fiend Chester. Bnt I'll dock you both
o ordinary seaman's wages
] tried to chow him that the rope