Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-06-07
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A GHOST AT SEA.

At meeting of religious reformers
held in the house of William H. Banks,
East Boston, a few evenings since, Cap
tain G.. p. Drisko who is we'll known as
an experienced shipmaster, spoke in sub
stance 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
200 mechanics and laborers to be employ
ed on the Notifications then in the course
of construction. 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 be-
came quite dark To haul off was impos-
sible, 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
I 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 | resolv
ed to take the chance, and accordingly
squared away-that is, put the ship be-
fore the wind 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 1850 o'clock
heard voice, clear and distinct, say:
"Go on deck and anchor?' "Who are
your" I demanded, and sprung or deck
for was not the man to take orders from
any one. found the ship going along
her true course, and everything as [ could
wish. / questioned Mr.. Peterson if he
had seen any person enter the cabin, but
neither he or the man at the wheel
had either seen or heard any one. Think
ing that it might have been hallucination
[ went below again. About 1850 man
with gray great coat and slouched hat
entered the cabin, and looking me straight
in the tace commanded me to go on deck
and anchor He left the cabin deliber-
ately. I 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 Sc 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 1880 a. m. the same man entered the
cabin, and more imperiously than before
sail: "GO on deck and anchor" Irecog-
nized at glance that the speaker was
my old friend, Captain John Burton,
with whom had sailed when boy, and
who treated me with great kindness.
sprang on deck, rounded the ship to, and
Il RI Of
chain. All hands were called and the
sails furled. Shortly afterwards | felt the
ship touch, hut neither the mate or 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 perplexed and asked
myself what it could mean, when thu
same voice sang out: "Throw the lead
over the sternp' did so, and to my ois-
may found only thirteen and one.hal{
feet. (The ship drew fourteen feet). I
Immediately set the mizzen topsail and
spanker, and backed her clear of the reef
against which she had sheered every time
she brought strain upon her chain. The
danger was past;the ship rode clear of the
feel, anu SUSTAINED DuC utCl0 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 [ hung a light over
my stern. Watching nv movements
closely, he rounded to almost as soon as I
did, and thereby saved his vessel. No
doubt the norther Swallowed the water on
the banks, and if we had continued in
our course we both might have been
wrecked. Will those who assume 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 a departed friend, Captain John Bur
ton, we'll known as one of the best
shipmasters in the country. He COM
manded among others the ships Talley-
rand and Superior, and was esteemed by
all who ever knew him. My voyage in
the Henry Booth,was entirely successful
Boston Tr0ueler.