Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-19
CAPTAIN pRlscos GHOST Story.

AT meeting of religious reformers held
Boston, few evenings since, Captain c.
T. Drisco, who is we'll known as an able
and experienced shipmsster. spoke in SUBJ
stance as follows: g In the winter OF 1860
commanded the ship Harry Booth, bound
from New York for Dry Tortugas, with
cargo OF Government stores and 200 me-
chanIcs and laborers to be employed on tho
fortlflcations then in the course OF con-
struction. 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 rational course left 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
hfteen 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 wind and
took my departure from Berry Island.
Having seen everything in order on deck
lett the chief mate, l.. Peterson-a careful
and trustworthy oticer-in charge, snd
went below for little rest. At 1850
o'clock l heard voice, clear and distinct,
say Go on deck and anchor ! Who
are your l demanded, and sprang on deck,
for l was not man to take orders from
anyone. found the ship going along her
true course, and everything as you 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 hallucination, | went below
again. About ii so man with a gray
greatcoat and slouched hat entered the
cabin, and, looking me straight in the face,
commanded me to 90 OH deck and anchor.
He then left the cabin deliberately. !
heard his heavy tread as he passed
before me. Once more l 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 form
it may put on. Again | went below, but
not to sleep, for had everything on ready
for spring on deck. At 1880 A. NJ. the
same man entered the cabin, and more i'm
periously than ever before, said "Go on
deck and anchor - l recognized at
glance that the speaker was my old friend
Captain John Barton, with whom l had
sailed when boy, and. who treated me
with great kind1sss. / sprang on deck,
rounded the ship top and anchored her
with so fathoms Of chain. All hands were
called and the sails furled. Shortly after
wards | 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
80 feet) of water. | was perplexed, and
asked myself what it could mean, when
the same voice sang out, Throw the line
over the sternp / did SO, and to
my dismay found only l31 feet. The
ship drew IA feet) / Immediately set
the mizzen topsail and spanker and
backed her clear of the reef, against which
she sheered every time she brought strain
upon her chain. The danger was past
| the ship rode clear Of the reef, and sus-
tanned but little damage when 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 i
hung light over my stern. Watching
my movements closely, he rounded 10 al
most as soon as did, and thereby saved
his vessel. No doubt the norther had
Swallowed the water on the bank, 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, Captain
John Barton, well known as one of the
best shipmasters in the country. He com.
manded, among others, the ship Talleyrand
and Superior, and was esteemed by all who
ever knew him. My voyage in the Harry
Booth was entirely successful"