The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-03-31
SOMERSET. Pa. WEDNESDAY. MARCH 81. 1880.

| j tried to show him that the rops
vas too much worn to make nea,
ii b of it.
Indeed" l said, "i. Il sadly faQe
ed"
"Fsgged, is it ?" cried he, scorn
fully; then III fnish il over your
Iubberly back"
NO, you won't!" roared cut q
voice from behind the long. boat.
The captain rushed 10 the direction
OF the sound, but be failed to discov.
er the speaker.
Who was that ?" be cried ic a
storm OF wrath, adding, Let me
know who it is, and LII thrash him
within an inch Of life |"
will you? Hs! ha! ha!' was
The mocklng reply, dropping seeming.
iy from the maintop.
IL was broad daylight when this
took place, SO every one could zee
that there was no Que up there.
| was rs much startled and mysti
lied by the occurrence - was the cap.
tain; but neither be nor |, nor any
OF the crew to whom he appealed,
could tarow light thereon. But y ho.
ever Or whatever uttered the words
my purpose was sreved, as was Cbes-
ier's on q previous occasion. The
lrate captain went below, filed more
with fear than rage, tbro wing behind
him. as be stepped upon the cabin
ladder, the ropes end which had SO
y.xed him.
Sailors 10 general are superstitieus
beings. Whatever cannot be easily
made cut or accounted for on natural
principles, is LAID to the account of
the supernatural. Our captain was
10 better 10 this respect tnan bis
crew, Tor he was Is illi,erate as they,
except In The mater of navigation,
aud as rough aud untutored He ev
idenlly believed that his ship was
haunted, aud that spirit from the
vas,y deep had mind to torment
him by Lis interferences. His fears
we're Increased not many days after
Ou retireing TO rest. NJ the end Of hi-
Evenings watch. bis slumbers were
disturbed by loud and fearful cry,
which seemed to enter the cabin bs
the cid, light, which was left open for
venulalion. The cry was heard by
the second officer, who was on The
quarter deck, and by Chester who
WAS at the wheel, neither of whom
could throw light upon the Incident
10 the captain, who bad rushed ON To
The deck 10 stste Of terror, aud de-
manded in vain tor the production of
The offender.
FROM that day il was clear to all
that Captain Phillips was tormeuted
by a2prehensious Of coming disaster
Au idea Was fixed ia bis mind that
bis -hip was visited by spirit from
,he invisible world, which preferred
to make itself heard rather tnsu seen
Aad this idea was strengthened by
the fact that when be was on deck
and became angry at the conduct OF
aoy OF The men, especially when bis
anger was .uscc manifest in oarbs
aud blows, the unseen but ever vigi-
iaut visitor from afsr, would perch
ed appareotly on the top of the main
mas,-utIer the irsolent laugh or the
dolorous warning. 90 these occasions
the poor man would rub OF to bis
cabin with blauched chesk aad torter
lug limb, ana thsre sbide until the
gale in his mural sensibilitie- should
suoside.
That it was angry with no one el-e
but the captain was clear, from the
fact that il never took notice Of the
con duct of aDy other person. Tne
maze or boats ain might sct IS they
liked, or the men might jio and call
eacn other hard names; no matter
the voice was not hesrd-neitber
laugh nor moan fell upon our ears.
But most Of those who lived 10 the
iorcastle were far from being happy Il
many OF them shared the fears OF The
skipper; and raw that they would
much rather have braved bis wrath
than 10 be tormented as they were by
the "voices Of the Dight" or the day
Myeelf ana Chester were exceptions
What bis opiuion was, he "ould not
say he MET all nv questions by sdroii
evss,oas As for myself. l bad 40
explanation to give.
Thus matters went on until we
were within TWO days sail Of the
islands
All the while our poor captain bad
been kept from tryanny by bis fears
Of the voice but now, exaspera'ed
by some fault 10 seamauship ON the
part OF Chester, and being the worse
for Iiquor, be hurled Delaying pip
at him, which struck him on the
head. Clappiog both hands thereon,
with yell be rushed toto the fore
castle. Ii was evident the skipper
To hear the voice, for be
luukeu nervouely sloft; but when all
as silent in that direction, bis cour-
age returned. aud be desired the sec.
ond uffieer to call Chester back TO the
deck. Getting no answer TO bis call.
The mate went below, when be found
the poor fellow deiirious. Returning
to the deck, be reported him to be lu
q dangerous Condition.
Tbs filled the captain With fear
He ordered that very attention should
be paid him, which WAS done That
night it became necessary 10 have all
hauds on deck to reef, aud while We
were on the yards 90 awful cry, like
that of o maniac, arose from the bo"s
of the vessel, aud the next moment
several Of US saw human form on
rail- near the fore sTitter, aud then
loud splash was heard IN the water
under our lee.
The Captain and chief Office S, who
were OH ueck, rushed 10 the eide A
hat " as seen for q moment bobbiog
on The crest of q wave; the msDlacai
scream was repeated, when Captaiu
Phillips, himself utteriog cry, fell
% the deck Tne maze then
bailed US who were on the topsail
y ard:
"Come down from aloft F! Clear
away The small bosts ~
We thought be was as near beside
himself as was the captain and 80 be
wac for The moment, for when we had |
o oaInsd Iha deak hs. uaS raAdp In |