Arizona weekly enterprise., 1888-02-11
4 FLYING DuTcHMAN" STORY.
A Strange Sight at Sea-Adventure with
 a Phantom Ship.


 q Phantom Ship.
 One of these accounts was given by the captain of a large brig, whose veracity and common sense could not be doubted. The story was that while becalmed some miles off the New England coast a deep resonant blast, or prolonged groan, sud- denly startled the sailors from their quarters below deck. Those on duty were so dumfounded by the strange, unearthly noise that they were rooted to the deck and unable to move. In few moments every one was ready for orders. A second prolonged groan, that seemed to die away in the distance, like the whistle of hur- ricane, convinced all that the noise did not proceed from the ship itself There was scacely wind enough to keep the sails full, although now and then little puff would sweep across the ocean and give the ship strong forward impulse, but not enough to make any noise among the shrouds. Every few moments the deep resonant blast broke upon the ears of the astonished sailors, the captain included, and then died away ill prolonged howl or whistle.
 Things were becoming quite exciting on board the vessel, when suddenly strange sight loomed up out of the dark ness. A great dark object was floating along on the waves, surmounted by cloud of White canvas, that seemed three | times the size of an ordinary vessels rig. The whole object was very indistinct. but the outlines of the sails and hulk were plain enough to convince any one of the reality of the ships presence. The cap tain hailed the strange apparition, but the only answer he received was another un- earthly blast. The brow of the good ship was turned towards the white vision; but the sailors had now become thoroughly alarmed, and ill spite of the captain s orders and threats the vessel was headed directly from the Flying Dutchman, and not until the startling whistles and blasts were no longer audible did the sailors dare to speak in tones above a whisper. It is needless to say that the captain felt angry at this result of his venture with the phantom ship. He was con- vinced that, once having lost the oppor- tunity to investigate this strange specter, he would never meet with another chance. Contrary to his expectations, however, he was rewarded with another opportunity. A year later he was sailing over the same course, when the sailors were once more startled by the unac- countable blasts and whistles of the phantom ship. A few moments later the black and white object loomed up in the distance again. This time, when the vessels prov was turned toward the Flying Dutchman, no dissenting voice was heard on board. The phantom shir appeared to be standing still, for they drew nearer and nearer to the gigantic
 object. The sails, instead of becoming - ,.-orc distinct as tlic snip appToaC1-sd tiIS
 sides of the Flying Dutchman, appeared
 gradually to resolve themselves into strange, fantastic forms. They no longer
 resembled the canvas of sailing craft
 The black hulk, too, seemed to take on cone shaped appearance. The resonan , blasts alone seemed the same as before
 only louder and more distinct.
 Gradually the vessel approached tn side of the strange object. Every eyt
 was strained to catch good glimpse 0 the white shrouds, and every hear 5 trembled as the loud death like groan broke out upon the air. It seemed as i g the truth of the matter dawned upon tn 1 minds of all the sailors at once, for uni I versal whisper broke out on the stillnes Y of the night air from the bow to tn . stern, ''It's a fog" It was nothin, I more. The dark object was an immens . whistling buoy, which was anchore, . above a reef some distance from tn :. shore. A light cloud of fog usually hum s : over that part of the sea, and both time that the captain passed the place it hap V pened to be night, and thick mist wa partly enveloping the automatic buoy The captain felt more nettled than SUI 9 prised, and his second account of meet I ing with the phantom ship was neve
 saven to the land authorities by himself
 but it did leak out through some of tn ' sailors, who thought the joke too good keep.-New York Evening Post.