Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-05-30
From the New Orleans Pfcayune
THE GHOST OF THE ENRIQUE
BY SIDNEY HERBERT.

BY SIDNEY HERBERT.
Eight years ago 1 shipped on board
the Enrique, Capt. James. Our voy-
age was to Hilo, Sandwich Islands, and
back to Puget Sound, whence we sailed.
The captain, officers and crew were,
when | joined, Americans and West In
-diamen, but, as another hand was
wanted besides myself, I persuaded
Tom Martyr, an Englisnman, with
whom / had become friendly, to fill the
vacancy. Tom was ine-looking fell
low, very iovial, and had lots of in
formation, which he knew how to use
a sailor, he bad 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 mis-
take; and as he had the eyes of hawk,
no fault committed by man or boy es-
capped him. This was specially unfortu-
nate for my English shipmate, He had
shipped on able seaman's wages; but
his deficiencies were so many and glar-
ing that our captain, who seemed to
watch his movements more carefully
than the rest of the crew, often inflicted
upon him punishments painful to wit
ness. [ had strong attachment for
Martyr and stood his friend whenever
/ could by taxing some of his duties
along with my own; but [ was not al
ways on hand to help him so he fell Of
tener than others beneath the captain
displeasure.
One night when [ was at the wheel
the wind rose into a 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
tyn, instead ofletting go the reef tackle,
let 90 the weather foretopsail brace, and
away went the yard, fore and aft By
lutfing up smartly, however, we managed
to get checked without carrying any,
thing away. But Capt. James, frothing
at the mouth, swore he would tan the
foolish lubber's hide who had done so
clumsy thing, Saying which he
rushed at poor Martyr with a piece Of
ratline, which he brought down upon
his head and shoulders, giving them a
fea ful cut. He was in the act of rails
ing 1t again, when a voice from aloft
roared out:
Stay your hand -
The voice was wonderfully loud and
clear, seemingly coming from the main
top. The captain fell back, and, look
ing up, cried in a great rage:
''Aloft there ?"
@'Helloa ?" was the answer back.
~'Come down on deck" was the cap
Idln OfQ0T.
Game up here and see how you will
like it, was the contemptuous re-
spouse.
"Come down, say, on deck ~ foamed
the captain.
Come up and fetch me" returned
the voice from alOft.
''Who is up there, Mr.. Scott ?" cried
the captain, appealing to the first Off
Ger.
''No one, sir" was the reply, $50 far
as | can see. Ali seem present on the
deck
"The captains rage was terrible to
witness.
''All seem present, Mr.. Scott? What
do you mean by that sir? [ ask you
again, who is up there ?'
No one known to me, returned the
mate. "All are present; 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, looking
all around the masthead, and then re-
ported himself alone.
HThen the snip must be haunted 7"
cried the chief mate
The captain thereupon dropped the
ropes 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 felloW-country
man escaped further punishment that
night.
But in few days our skipper had for
gotten his fears and looked about for
another object upon which he could
vent his spleen. | lad the Ill fortune to
a knot In the end of an old jagged rope
to be used in making a lashing. In a
little while | returned, saying | had
made the best job l could out of rope
which was quite tagged out.
well" said he, eff that's your best
you are as much of lubber as your
friend 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 a neat piece of
work Of it.
Indeed" said. cit is sadly tagged. .
Tagged, is it?9 cried he, scornfully.
<tThen I'll finish it over your lubberly
back"
40 you won't'' roared out voice
from behind the longboat.
The captain rushed in the direction of
the sound, but failed to discover the
speaker
"Who was that ?" he cried in storm
OfTrath. "I.et me know who it is, and
r II lnrGSn H1m WItHln al lncu VI LIS
life ~
''Will you? Ha ha hap 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 startled
and mystifed by the occurrence as the
captain; but neither he nor /, nor any
of the crew to whom he applied, could
throw light thereon. But whoever or
whatever uttered the words, my pur-
pose was served as was Martyrs on a
previous occasion. The irate captain
went below, filled more with fear than
rage, throwing behind him, as he
stepped upon the cabin ladder, the
ropes end which had so vexed him.
Sailors, in general, are superstitious