New-York tribune., 1886-06-03
Tile FLYING DUTCHMdM

The fact that Queen victorias grandsons Prince
Albert Victor and Prince George OF wales, were
bonored with sight of that venerable terror Oh
the Seas the Flying Dutchman. Is duly set forth IN
the book which those royal sailors have Just puo-
lished In London. The work is q compilation from
their private lous. and the incident OF the Dutch
mans apparition is described in such way as 10
favor the impression that the writer's believe more
than they arc willing to admit Nor inaeea IL IL
.urprising that they should do so when the testi-
monv ,s considered It was on July @, 1891, that
the .appartion was seen. At \ a. IN. the flyihs
Dutcnman crossed our bows. A strange red light,
us of a phantom ship. all aglow, in the midst OF
which light the masts, spars and sails OF the brig
two hundred yards distant stood ont in strong
relief As she camo up tho lookout man on the fore
st,e reported her as close the port bow, when
also the officer on the watch from the bridge clearly
saw her, as did also the quarterback midshpman'
who was sent forward at once to the forecastle
But on arriving there vestigc nor any sign what
ever of any material ship was to DO seen, either
near or right away to the horizon"
Inc night was clear, the calm and thirteen
nersons altogether saw the mysterious vessel, ac-
cordng to the story apparently without countin
those on the Toutmane and Cleopatra, who also
saw her, and subsequently signallcd the Bacohante
70 ascertain if she had seen the strange redlgbt"
That all these people saw something may Do
promptly conceded. 1t is not less easy to admit
that they may have seen red light; and II we
sunpose that red light to have been aurora in char
acter. its changes. its possible radations. might
easily have produced appearances liable to be mis-
taken for masrs and spars. OF course so tame and
matter-of-fact an explanation will not satisfy
lovers of the marvellous; nor will it probably be
accepted by the seafarng folk, who are prcjudlced
in favor of the Flying Dutchman Even these how
ever. must admit that Vanderdecken has never
before made his appearance IN precisely that way.
II is true that he exhibited before royalty,
and il may be argued that the ruddy glow In which
his ship appeared was intended as a compliment TO
the Young Princes. But then everybody knows
that the Flying Dutchman always brings misfor-
tunes and the legend did not fail him. For hrst
tho seaman who had reported the mysterious craft
fell from aoft and was killed, and then the
Admiral was stricken down. So it is plain that no
compliment was meant by tho lurid vision.
Still the Flying Dutchman must have got out OF
his latitude on this occasion. lie had no business
in the neighborhood of sydney. But seamen IN
these days are ready to swear that there Is more
than one of these supernatural haunters OF the
ocean and very few old salts but will If duly en-
tell highly interesting stories about ships
seen carving royals and staysails and studdngsals
allow and aoft when their own vessel was hove TO
under a close reefed maintopsail and storm trysal
This indeed is the usual form in which the Flying
Dutchman aprears, and she gdeS by with gently
lifting bows Oh an even keel, the wind dead aft
while tho hurricane Is whstling through the rig
Qinc of the mortal vessel and her terrified crew have
to hold on TO their whiskers to keep them from
being blown away. The old business of heaving to
and sending boat for letters seems to have been
PLAYED ont long ago. The modern Flying Dutch
man never tries to communicate, but it is evident
that her commander has not forgot his cunning,
and knows how to adapt his effects to the height
ened demand of a sceptical and cultured age. The
envelope of red light was a very pretty piece OF
stage business and docs credit to the progress OF
personagc too commonly regarded as ultra-consery-
ctiye,