The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-04
Capt. Drisko's Ghost Story,

At a meeting Of religious ref0rmers
held in the house of Mr. w. H. Banks,
East Boston, recently. Capt. G. p. Dris-
kO, who is well-knOwn US an able and
experienced shipmaster. spoke in sub
stance as follows:
In the winter of 1868 commanded
the ship Harry Booth. bound from New
York for Dry Tortugas. with cargo
II government stores and two hundred
mechanics and laborers TO be employed
on the Notifications then in the course
OF construction. When the ship reach
| ed 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 rational
course left was to incur the risk ofcross-
ing the Bahama banks. The ship drew
fourteen feet, and l could not expect
that there was much more than fifteen
feet OF water on some parts of the banks.
| 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 wind,
and took my departure from Berry
island. Having seen everything in or
der on deck, left the chief mate, Mr..
Peterson, a careful and trustworthy of.
ficer in charge, and went below for q
little rest. At 1880 o'clock l heard q
voice, clear and distinct, say: Go on
deck and anchorn Who are yOu?' de-
nanded. and sprang on deck, for l was
not man to take orders from anyone.
l found the ship going along her true
course, and everything as l 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 hallucina-
ton, l went below again. About 1l:50
q man with gray great-cOat and SLOUGH
ed hat entered the cabin. and, looking
me straight in the face. commanded me
to 90 on deck and anchor. He left the
cabin deliberately. heard his heavy
tread as he passed before me. Once
more sprang on deck, and found the
ship all right. Sure of my course was
not disposed, even with this second
warning. to obey any man or anything
else, no matter what appearance it
might put on. Again l went below. but
not to sleep. for I had everything ON
ready for u spring on dock. At 1880
A. M. the sanre man entered the cabin,
and, moreimperiously than before. said:
Go on deck and anchOrr l recognized
at Il glance that the speaker was my old
friend, Capt. John Barton. with whom
had sailed when boy, and who treat
cd me with great kindness. l sprang
on deck, rounded the ship to, and an
chored her with fifty fathOms Of chain.
All hands were called and the sails furl-
ed. Shortly afterward felt the ship
touch, but neither the mate nor any
one else noticed it. A few minutes later,
however, all hands felt it. threw the
lead first from one side, then from the
other. and found five fathOms (thirty
feet) of water. was perplcxed, and
asked myself what it could mean, when
the same voice sang out: Throw the
lead over the stern did so, and to my
dismay found only thirteen and half
feet. (The ship drew fourteen feet
Immediately set the mizzen tOpsail.
and spanker, and backed her clear of
the reef, against which she sheered ev-
cry time she brought a 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 ia
miliar with the Bahamas, said that he
would follow me, and for this purpose l
hung light over my stern. Watching
my movements closely, he rounded to
almost rs SOON as did and thereby
saved his vessel. No doubt the norther
had Swallowed 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 l
have stated is true. 1t was the spirit of
departed friend, Capt. John Barton,
well known rs one of the best shipmast-
ers in the country.-Boston Traveller.