Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-07-05
The Ghost of the Enrique,
BY SIDNEY HERBERT.

BY SIDNEY HERBERT.
Eight years ago | shipped on board
The Enrique Capt James. Our voy-
age was to Hilo Sandwich Islands, and
back to Pudgct sound. whence we
sailed. The captain. officers and crew
were, when | joined, Americans and
West Indiamen, but. as another hand
was wanted besides myself. ! persuad-
ell Tom Martyr. an Engishman. with
whom | had become friendly. to fill the
vacancy. Tom was n iine-looking fell
low. very jovial, and had lots of infor-
nation, which lie knew how to use; but,
though he talked and dressed like a
sailor, he had not been long on board
ship before it became plain that he had
not been brought up salt
Our captain was a Tartar. and no
mistake; and as he had the eyes of a
hawk. no fault committed BY man or
bov escaped him. This was specially
unfortunate for my English shipmate.
He had shipped on able seaman's
wages; but his deficiencies were so
many and glaring that our captain.
who seemed 10 watch his movements
more carefully than the rest OF the
crew. often inflicted upon him punish
ments painful TO witness. | had
strong attachment for Martyr and
stood his friend whenever | could by
taking some of his duties along with
my own; but was not always on hand
TO help him so he fell oftener than
others beneath the captains dis
| pleasure.
One night when | was at the wheel
the wind rose into gale. The captain
came on deck and set all hands to reef
topsails. The men were manning the
halyardS to hoist away when poor Mar
t, n, instead of letting 90 the reef tackle,
lot 90 the weather foretOpsail brace,
and away went the ard fore and ait
BY luffing up smartly. however, we
managed TO get checked without
carr ing anything away. But Capt
james, frOthing at the mouth. swore
he would tan the foolish lubber's hide
who had done SO clumsy thing Say
ing which he rushed at poor Martyr
with piece of ratline. which he
brought down upon his head and
shoulders, giving them fearful cut.
He was in the act of raising it again,
when a voice from aloft roared out:
Stay your hand!"
The voice was wonderfully loud and
clear, seemingly coming from the
maintop. The captain fell back, and,
looking up, cried in great rage:
'Aloft there?"
'Helloa?' was the answer back.
Come down ON deck" was the
captains imperious order.
Come up here and soc how you will
like it.. was the contemptuous re-
Sponse.
Come down. | say. on deckl'
foamed the captain.
Come up and fetch me-" returned
the vo ce from aioft.
WHO is up there, Mr.. Scott?" cried
the captain. appeal ng to the first Off
Ger.
mo one. sill" was the reply. 80 far
as can see. All seem present on the
deck."
The captains rage was terrible to
witness.
"All seem present. Mr. ScottP What
uO you lhedl W mat sIEF i ask you
again, who is up there"
No one known to me-" returned
the mate. "AIl are presents; all are on
deck.
Such was the case. But the second
mate, without awaiting ORDERS sprang
up the rigging and looked over the top.
rim. then made the circuit of it, look
ing all around the masthead. and then
reported himself alone.
Then the ship must be haunted"
cried the chief mate.
The captain thereupon dropped the
rope s end which he held in his hand
and went below. 1t was evident that
he was strangely affected by what had
occurred. And so my fellgw- country
man escaped further punishment that
night
But in few days our skipper had
forgotten his fears and looked about
for another object upon which he could
vent his spleen. had the ill fortune
to feel his wrath. He ordered me to
make knot in the end of an old Jag
ged rope to be used in making lash
ing. In a little while ] returned. say
ing had made the best Job | could
out OF a rope which was quite tagged
out.
Wei" said he. at that's your best
you are as much of lUbher as your
trend Martyr. But I'll dock you both
TO ordinary seaman's wages"
! tried to show him that the rope was
too much worn to make neat piece of
work of it.
Indeed" l said, ii. is sadly fag-
ged."
Tagged. is itP" cried he, scornfully.
Then I'll finish it over your lubberly
back"
No you won IT, roared out voice
from behind the longbo
The captain rushed in the direction
Of the sound, but failed to discover the
speaker.
Who was thatP" he cried In storm
Of wrath. Let noe know who it is. and
I'll thrash him within an inch of his
lifer'
will you? Ha! ha! ha!'' was the
knocking reply dropping seemingly
from the maintop.
1t was broad daylight when this took
place. SO We could see that there was
no one up there. | was as much startl-
ed and mystifed BY the occurrence as
tho captain; but neither he norI. nor
am of the crew 10 whom he applied,
could throw light thereon. But who
ever or whatever uttered the words,
my purpose was served as was Mar.
tyD on prev Gus occasion. The irate
cGptnin went below. filed more with
ioar than rage, throwing behind h m,
IA he stepped from the cabin ladder.
lao ropes end which had so vexed
II IN.
Sailors. In general, are superstitious
beings. Whatever cannot easily be
made out or accounted for on natural