The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-07-14
THE
PHANTOM IN THE AIR

We passed through Behrins
Straits with everything humming
Our ship was the Warren, Captain
Blake. We were bound far North on
q surveying expedition.
/ was aloft serving the footrope OF
the maintopsail-yard, where it had
become jammed against the mast
when far ahead of me, looming up
from the center of an ice foe, l saw
something huge and black.
I at once notified the captain, who,
with syp-glass in hane, mounted
Rloft.
ut is some kind of a craft, which
has been stove in and capsized in the
icer' said hes
Then he gave orders to lower the
quarter boat, which, soon after, with
good crew, was speeding along to-
ward the object.
l was one of the crew, having been
called down to take my tbwart; and
Tat once proclaimed my opinion that
the craft was the bark Winchester, a
vessel which he had spoken during
q gale few days before.
Having expressed my opinion to
one of the boats crew, an old tar, he
said that he, too, thought as | did,
although no trace of the vessels
name could be discovered, her stern
board having been ripped of by
waves and ice.
The mainyard was braced forward
on our return, and we proceeded On
our course.
Next morning we we're obliged to
tack. There was thick fog bank,
and the same huge foe of ice we had
seen on the day before, ahead Of US,
as we came round.
/ was looking toward it earnestly
endeavoring to make out the capsized
wreck, when far up In the air, fal
above the ice, l beheld the figure Of
woman, family discernible through
o slight mist. There it was appa
rently floating along the air, waited
by the breeze.
was about pointing it out to my
messmate, when, to my chagrin, g
fog cloud rolled over the mirage and
concealed it. Soon our knightheads,
spirit-sailyard, forerigging, foretop
sailyard, every available part of th,
ship, in fac:, was crowded with blue
jackets, all anxiously toward rhe
spot had pointed out.
We were now running two points
free, under whole topsails and top
gallant sails, 80 that we made good
progress. In quarter of an hour
the fog cleared, when there again
sure enough, was my mirage, the
form of the girl, still apparently
floating along through the air.
1t now bore about point off our
lee bow, wherefore orders were given
to the quartermaster to keep of. He
obeyed, and we went booming swiftly
along, with the cold spray and little
splinters Of ice flying around OUT
bows like showers of diamonds
Away we went, in chase, as 1t were
of the mirage, which seemed slowly
to recede from US as VIC bowled
along.
One old tara sheet anchorman-
rolled his quid, and shook his head
solemnly.
"That ere's sprise," lie growled
"I'vs heard of them things afore
and / know that no good will come Of
our chasing it,"
just as he spoke, the girls form
growing fainter and fainter every
moment, suddenly vanished.
The sheet anchorman shook hi,
head, as much as to say, "You see
was in the right" then went abou
his business.
Meanwhile the ship had approach
ell within quarter of o mile of tn
foe, when, the fog again clearing, W
saw the mystical figure, still seemin;
to maintain its position in the all
The Captain ordered the mainyar
backed and the cutter lowered.
LADS" said he, addressing hi
men, they were mustered aft, "there'
woman somewhere in Distress
probably floating on a cake of ict
Well have hard pull, I doubt mo-
to get her, but what is hardship if
be the means of our saving a huma
life! Who'll volunteer?"
A dozen men, myself among then
at once stepped forward, touchin
their caps. The cutter was manned
and away she went, cracking alon
.I-----i IL