Morning journal and courier., 1888-08-17
A GHosT-HAUNTED sHrP.
a Strange Craft Encountered at Sea-
Every Man ON Board Dead, Yea a
VOfce Halls the Rescuer-Queer
Sounds That Frightened the super
st7GaouS Mariners.

A Strange Craft Encountered at Sea-
Every Man ON BOARD Dead Ye1 q
yeice Aails the Rescuer-Queer
Sounds That Frightened the super.
stfGaous Mariners.
From the Boston Bulletin.l
"You see, messmates," )" says the old quar-
termaster, as he seats himself comfortably
again, Gin seafaring life we meet with
many rough jobs that are ont of all ordinary
calkiIation, and what them as haven't been
to sea wouldn't hardly believe. There was
that ship we fell in with in the China Sea-
that was an odd shing, that was.
1T was only just after daylight In the
morning watch as someone sung out sSsdl
ahead But it wasn't much Of q sail, for
there was only one mast-the foremast-
standing, but big ship sgoing steady afore
the wind, with her foretopaail set, but not
hauled taut, but all Tapping like. Well, we
see as there was no one aboard, or, if so be
there was, they didn't know how to manage
her. So when we'd run down little ahead
of her We lowered a boat, and was one of
the boats crew as went aboard; and as we
pulled up to her we could see nobody on
board, but only hsered dog barking; and
when we went up the side, sure enough,
there was half-stsrved dog sitting upon
the body of man; and when he sees us he
sets up dreadful bowling, but still he
didn't seem displeased to see us, but threw
back his ears, though he looked dreadful
melancholy and down IN the mouth. But
the curious thing was to see the number of
rats that were running about the decks, for
the ship was waterlogged, and the rats were
driv up from below and obliged to shift for
themselves
"Well, there were three more dead bod
les lying about; and when we come to look
at them the rats had eat most of their
faces and necks, and ripped open their
jackets to get at their flesh elsewhere, but
hadn't been able to touch; for you see the
rsts they lived upon the dead bodies, and
the dog he lived upon the rats-so we
supposed by the CARCASS of one of 'em as
was lying near him. And such rats as
they were I never see-almost as big as
half f-grown rabbits, and SO tame that they
didn't make no account of us. You see
aboard that they looked upon us as SO
many sheep or cattle, or what not, as was
come aboard for their live stock.
"Well, we tried to get into the cabin,
but that was full of water, and SO was ev-
erythine below decks; and there was no
name upon the stern, or We couldn't make it
out where the ship was from or where bound;
SSNAOASO
couldn't find no memorandum nor name,
only love letter sewed up in piece of oil
skin inside his pocket and signed Sarah.
And when we were thinking what was best
to be done, whether to throw the bodies
overheard or what, voice, as seemed close
to Us, sung out in a curious low tone, more
like a females than a mans, Ship ahoy,
therel What ship is thata'
'sWel1, that started us almost out of our
senses; for we couldn't see nothing, and the
bodies on deck was dead we knew by reason
their faces YVES eat; and says one of the men,
TT naust be the dog says he; 'hs've been a
thinking over to hisself all he've heered, and
he've boon and taught hissef to speak, and
says he to the dog, answering his hail like,
sThe Zenobia, six hundred tons; John Shum,
master, of and from London, bound for Sim
gapore, with general cargo But the dog
made no answer to that; and while we was a
wondering what it could be the same kind of
a voice sung out again, Steward, glass OF
grogi Well, now they dent take no grog.
Then says another man, Pm much deceived
If that ERE voics don't come out of tbs Haain-
mast'-that is the stump of ir-and out OF
the middle of the ropes and halyards that
was hanging about the pins the voice comes
out again and says: %, sweet Polly! No
higher, keep her ram full
well, we soon cast off the ropes, and
what should we see but fine gray parrot q
setting in kind of nest she'd made, and
looking as if there wasn't nothing the matter
with her.
''Well, we hove over the dead bodies and
left the rats to feed upon themselves, but we
brought off the parrot and the dog, though
he wouldn't leave the body till we'd taken
the jeeket off and laid it down in the boat
for him, and then he came willin' enough,
and Captain Shum took the dog and bird
and brought them home to his old woman,
and perhaps they're both alive now"