The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1890, 1888-10-06
SAILORS SUPERSTITION.
bpD FANClES OF THOSE WHO
LIVE ON THE OCEAN.

bDD FANClEs OF THOSE WHO
LIVE on THE OCEAN.
Warnings from the Spirits Of the Depart
ed-Gloomy Forebodings-Fate Of the
Good Ship Friday-Birtls Of the Sea.
Norwegian Sailors.
Sailors believe that the spirits Of the
eparted. as in life, possess all their own
ocular ways Of warning or communi.
ating to their friends on earth such in.
ormation as they deem essential to their
pelfare and happiness It is not an un.
ommon occurrence for them to credit the
hades of some friend with many of those
rifng little changes in the flowing and
bling of the sea as indicative of some
Prospective i'll luck or joy.
Rarely does it happen that the etymol.
gy of their superstition contains pre-.
cursor for joy. Such gloomy forebodings
IS they are capable of interpreting are in
Fariably omens Of misfortune. Truly
hay it be said that superstition forms the
alphabet of the seafaring man as one
gnorant Of its varied branches is gener-
(lly looked upon as green, and becomes
butt of his more fortunate and enlight.
Ined 'chums."
Their transformation into the ethereal
|ealms of space does not, in the belief of
hose whom they have left behind, alter
heir ideas one iota, and hence it is that
lie several trifling mishaps and other cir
umstances incidental to voyage are in
erpreted by the sailors into realities
phich would fill q volume in themselves.
b Justice TO them, however, be it said,
hat such fatuitions conceptions are not
Without foundation, as the loss of the
teamship Friday many years ago will
pstify to.
FATE OF THE FRIDAY.
This vessel was huge ironclad, built
Scotland regardless of expense, and
lamed after the unlucky day. She was
banned and commanded by capable and
Experienced officers, selected for their
capabilities, and altogether thoroughly
(dapted for such task as the trial voy.
lge OF an ocean steamer. She set sail on
friday, and when nearing the Cape of Good
Hope few weeks afterward OH that very
eame day, sank, drowning all her crew
Is believed that owing to this disaster
Peamen have considerable fear Of putting
70 sea on Friday, and some 20 so far as to
'ay that their fears date from this sad
catastrophe Captains of small vessels
lave always dreaded the prospect of sail
ng on Friday, while those of larger ones
ook upon that day with the greatest non.
,halance and unconcern,
The sailor on land and on sea are two
Instinct characters, each possessing his
'wn singular attributes. On land no
'ther being has more utter disregard Of
premature danger or mishaps, as his daily
ctlons and nocturnal orgies demonstrate,
when once on sea he blossoms out
gain INTO smiles Of excessive obsequious.
foss' There when danger dogs his foot.
iePs at every track superstition is his
ool; to 1t ne sacrifices every selfish senti-
nent and in it he trusts for those happy
Piesentlments which may afterward save
pm from destruction.
Even while partaking of their meals
's'a 'a'lors rarely lose an opportunity of dis
:usslng and rehearsing stories which the
.sserage man would regard as the product
. maniac's brain. The days happen.
ags are Interpreted by each and notes ex-
hanged: The most gifted romancer Ia
,aen looked upon with feelings of rever-
'nce and respect. A visit to their sleeping
quarters will reveal miscellaneous col.
eeuon OF horseshoes, nails, palmlike
caves and numerous other articles, each
winch has history of it's own. When
'lros are swept aboard in storm they are
invariably left untouched, as sailors eye
nem with delight and satisfaction as the
spirits OF some dear departed friend met
|aMorphosed. The birds of the sea,
lotaoiy the petrol, immortalized by Proc
,or' M and the sea gull. are held sacred in
ohsequence Of the latter apparently rest
.ns on the surface of the sea after the
1'ahner OF the Saviour on the Lake Of
dcnesareth.
whenever this occurs in the immediate
y'lcnlty nc OF ship calm is predicted, and
-ne lolly tars lose little or no time in
l:o!l1ylng the captain Of their glorious
VISION. vision. In sailors eyes the porpoises are
|uvver w., pleasant objects to contemplate.
" men they suddenly appear during q calm
10 sailors look for another wind from the
'ame quarter as that which was blown
; 'us, w., and If they skip about it means that
gale is coming.
IN AWE OF TIRE SHARK.
me common barnacle which adheres to
sn1ps side becomes, according to their
Mne1' ~ later on in life goose. But amonp
u! those signs nothing Is so well calcu.
ateo to till them with awe as the appear.
luce OF shark. When this monster of
ne deep is seen to follow a ship for
,.seral days death is to occur on board.
.nu While clambering up the rigging
9Sfra oains are adopted in maxine tbaiS