The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-03-31
A HAUNTED sHIP.


board the Myers, Captain Phillips
Our voysge was to Hllo. Sandwich
Islands. and back to Puget Sound.
whence we sailed. The captain, off
GERS aid crew were, when | j'ined,
Americans and West lndiamen but,
as another hand was wanted besides
myself, persuaded Jack Chester, an
Eoplishman with whom ! had be
come friendly. TO fl up the vacancy
Jack was 6ne looking fellow, a jo-
vial companion. aud had lots of in
formation which be knew how to
use; but, although be dressed aud
talked like sailor, be had not been
long on board ship before it became
plain that be had not been brought
upa salt.
Our captain was Tartar, and no
mistake, and be had the eye of s
hawk, no fault eJmG,itted by man or
o,y escaped him. This was especial
ly unfortunate with my English ship
mate. He shipped on able sesman's
wages, but bis deficiencies were 30
many and glaring that our captain,
who seemed 10 watch his movements
more carefully than those Of the rest
Of the crew, often inflicted upon him
puuisbmenls painful to witness. |
bad q strong attachment to Chester,
aud stood his friend whenever
could, By taking come of his duties
along with nv own; but | was not
always at hand TO help bin. 80 he
fell oitener than Others beneath the
captains displessure.
Ooe night when was at the
wheel the wind rose into q gale
The captsin came on deck and set all
bands TO reef The topsails. The men
.ere manning the hslyards to hoist
away, when poor Chester, instead Of
letting go the reef tackle, let go the
weather fore topsail brace, and awav
went the yard fore aud aft. By luff
ing up smartly. however, we mansg-
ed to get it checked without carrying
anything away. But Captain Pnil
Ips, frothing at the mouth, swore be
would tan the foolish lubbe g hide
who bad done 80 clumsy q thing.
Saving which, be rushed at Chester
With a piece of ralliDe. which be
brought down upon bis neck and
shoulders, giving them fearful cut
He was in the act of raising it again,
when q voice from aloft rosred out,
Hold your hand J" |
The voice was wonderfully loud
aud clear, seemingly coming from the
maintop. The captain fell back, and
looking up, cried ia a great rsge,
''Aloft there "
"Hslloslr was the answer back.
Come down en- deck" was the
captains imperious order.
Come up here, and see bow you
Ill like it," was the conteDptuOu-
a..
Come down, ! say, on deckl"
loaned the captain.
Come up and fetch me-" returned
he voice from aloft.
"wbo is up there, Mr.. Rassom 7"
cried the captain appealing to the
i Ell officer.
"No ole, sir," was the reply, 80
far 81 can see All seem present
on deck"
The captains rage was now terri
BILE to witness.
"All seem present, Mr.. Rassom
What do you mean by that, sir!
ask you again, who is up there 7"
mo one known to me-" returned
the man. "All are present. All are
on deck, in sight"
Such was the case. Bot the sec-
ond mate, without awaiting orders.
spraog up the rigging and looking
over the toprim, then made the cir
cult of it, looking all around the
then reported himself alone.
"Theu the ship must be haunted "
cried the cbiet mate.
The captain thereupon dropped the
ropes end which he held 10 bis hand.
and went below. II was evident
that be was strangely sEec,ed BY
what had occurred. And so my fel
low country man escaped futber pun
ishment that night.
Bot in few days our skipper bad
forgotten his fesr-, and hooking out
for another object on which to vent
his spleen, had the i'll fortune TO
teeI his wrath. He ordered me to
make knot 10 the end of an old fsg-
ged rope to be used for lsshiog.
Ia little while | returned, saying
that bad made the best job could
Of rope which Was quite tagged out
WELL" said be, '1f that's yuur
best, you are as much labber As
your friend Chester But In DICK
you both &c ordinary ,eaman's
wages"