The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-06-10
CAPT. DRIsKO's GHOST STORY.
How the Good Ship Harry Booth was Saved
From Wreck.

From Wreck.
At meeting Of religious rcformers held in
the house of Mr. William III. Banks. East
Boston, a few evenings since, Capt. C,P. Drlsko,
who Is well.known as an able and experienced
shlpmaster, spoke IN substance as follows:
In the winter of 1865 commanded the ship
Harry Booth bound from New York for Dry
TOrtugas, with cargo of government stores
and two hundred mechanics and laborers to
be employed on the Notifications then in the
course Reconstruction. When the ship reached
the vicinity of Abaco the wind blew fierce
norther, with heavy rain; the sun had gone
down, and the weather soon became quite
dark To haul off was impossible, the wind
blew too fresh to carry sail, and the only ra-
tlOnal course lett was to incur the risk Of
crossing the Bahama banks. The ship drew
fourteen feet, and could not expect that there
was much more than fifteen feet OF water on
some parts of the banks. A foot is very little
to spare under ships keel but resolved to
take the chance, and accordingly squared away
that Is, put the ship before the wlnd,-and
took my departure from Berry island. Having
seen every thing IN order on deck, | left the
chief mate, Mr.. Peterson, careful and trust.
worthy officer, in charge, and went below for
little rest At 1880 o'clock heard voice
clear and distinct, say: $50 on deck and
anchor "Who are you?" | demanded, and
sprang on deck, for | was not man to take
orders from anyone. ] found the ship gong
along her true course, and everything rs |
could wish. | questioned Mr.. Peterson If he
had seen any person enter the cabin, but neither
he nor the man at the wheel had either seen
or heard anyone. Thinking It may have been
hallucinatlon, | went below again. About
II 80 man with a gray grcatcoat and
slOuched hat entered the cabin and, looking
me straight IN the face, commanded nae to 60
on deck and anchor He lett the cabin de-
liberately. l heard his heavy tread as he
passed before me- Once more | sprang on
deck and found the ship all right. Sure ofmy
course was not disposed, even with this sec
ond warning, to obey any man or anything
else, no matter what appearance it might put
on. Again | went below, but not to sleep,
for had everything on ready for spring on
deck AT 10 80 A. NJ. the same man entered
the cabin, and more imperiously than before,
said: go on deck and anchOr" | recognized
at glance that the speaker was my old friend,
Capt John Barton, with whom had sailed
when boy, and who treated me with great
kindness | sprang on deck, rounded the
ship to, and anchored her with fifty fathoms
of chain All hands were called and the sails
furled. Shortly afterward | felt the ship
touch, but neither the mate nor any one else
noticed 1t. A few minutes later, however, Oil
hands felt it, threw the lead first from one
side, then from the other, and found five faith.
Oms thirty feet of water. was perplexed,
and asked myself what 1t could mean, when
the same voice sang out: Throw the lead
over the stern" | did so, and to my dismay
| found only thirteen and a half feet. tThe
| ship drew fourteen feet) | Immediately set
the mizzen, topsall and spanker, and backed
her clear of the reef, against which she
shcered every time she brought strain upon
her chain. The danger was past; the ship
rode clear OF the reef, and sustained but little
damage where she struck A ship which
spoke me in the early part of the evening"
and whose captain was not familiar with the
Bahamas, SAID that he would follow me, and
for this purpose hung light over my stern
Watching my movements closely, he rounded
to almost Is soon as did, and thereby saved
his vessel No doubt the norther had shall
lowed the water on the banks and If we had
continued in our course we both might have
been wrecked. Will those who assume that
the spirits of our departed friends do not take
an interest in US please explain? What have
stated is true. 1t was the spirit of departed
friend, Capt. John Barton, we'll known as one
of the best shlpmasters in the country. He
commanded among others the ships Talleyrand
and Superior, and was esteemed by all who
ever knew him. My voyage IN the Harry
Booth was entirely ccessrul."-Boston Trau-
eNer.