The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-04-13


l was as much startled and mystified
by the occurrence as was the captain
but neither he nor /, nor any Of the
crew to whom lie appealed could throw
light thereon. But whoever or what
ever uttered the words, my purpose was
served, as was Chester's on previous
occasion. The irate captain went below
filled more with fear than rage, throw
ing behind him, as he stepped upon the
cabin ladder, the ropes end which had
so vexed him.
Sailors In general are superstitlous be-
ings. Whatever cannot be easily made
out or accounted for on natural princl-
Piles, is laid to the account of the super
natural. Our captain was no better in
this respect than his crew, for he was as
illlterate as they, except in the matter Of
navigation, and as rough and untutor-
ed. He evidently believed that his ship
was haunted, and that spirit from the
vast deep had mind to torment him by
its interferences. His fears were in
creased not many days after. On retir-
ing to rest, at the end of his evenings
watch, his slumbers were disturbed by
loud and fearful cry, which seemed to
enter the sidelight, which was left open
for ventilation. The cry was heard by
by the second officer, who was on the
quarter deck, and by Chester, who was
at the wheel, neither of whom could
throw any light upon the incident to
the captain, who had rushed on to the
deck in state of terror, and demanded
in vain for the production of the often
der.
From that time it was clear to all that
Captain Philips 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-perch-
ed apparently on the top of the MAIN
mast-uttered insolent laugh or the sol
emn warning. On these occasion the
poor man would rush off to his cabin
with blanched cheek and tottering limb,
and there abide until the gale in his
moral sensibilities 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 boat
swain might act as they pleased, or the
men might jibe and call each other hard
names; no matter-the voice was not
even beard-neither laugh nor moan fell
upon our ears.
Thus matters went ON until we were
within two days sail of the islands. All
the while our poor captain bad been
kept from tyranny by his fears of the
voice; but now, exasperated by some
fault in seamanship on the part of Ches-
ter, and being the worse for liquor, he
hurled Delaying pin at him, which
struck him on the head. Clapping both
hands thereon, with yell he rushed in
to the forecastle. 1t was evident the
skipper expected to hear the voice, for
he looked nervously aloft; but when all
was silent in that direction, his courage
returned, and he desired the second of
ficer to call Chester back to the deck.-
Getting no answer to his call, the mate
went below, where he found the poor
fellow delirious. Returning to the deck
he reported him to be in dangerous
condition.
This filled the captain with fear. He
ordered that every attention should be
paid him, which was done. That night
it became necessary to haveall hands on
deck to reef and while we were on the
yards an awful cry, like that of ma
MAC, arose from the bows of the vessel,
and the next moment several of us saw
a human form on rail near the fore
swlfter, and then loud splash was
heard in the water under our lee.
The captain and chief officers, who
were on deck rushed to the side. A hat
was seen for moment bobhing ON the
crest of wave; the maniacal scream
was repeated, when Captain Phillips,
himself uttered cry, fell senseless on
the deck. The mate then called us who
were on the topsail yard:
Come down from aloft Clear away
the small boats!"
We thought he was as near beside
himself rs was the captain and so he