Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-24
A SP00K STEAMBOAT
That Warned Ohio River Men Of the
Awful JOhnstOwn Fatality.
QUEER STORY TOLD BY A SKIPPER.
Another Similar Boat Seen Nowadays, but
1t Bears the Name Of
PITTSBURG, INSTEAD OF J0HNSTOWN
JEER STORY TOLD BY A SKIPPER.
PITTSBURG, INSTEAD OF JOHNSTOWN

That ancient riverman, Captain George r.
Wall, of the steamer Blue Juniats, told q
weird yarn as be lounged in the wharf,
masters office yesterday afternoon.
ibid you ever hear of the spook boat that
saw down the Ohio last year," ne asked.
ut was just before the Johnstown flood and
we were coming up from Cincinnati one
moonlight night. Right opposite Sewickley
our pilot sighted big craft bearing down
upon us. We got out of her road
as quickly as possible, and against
the moon 1 saw her steam past.
Just as she got astern a tongue of flame
leaped through one of her cabin windows.
IT was followed by another and another, and
before we could we'll realize what was going
on the whole boat seemed to be one mass OF
fame. Then from the doomed vessel came
the most terrible shrieks ever heard in all
my long life. Yet we could see no one on
the decks; not living soul appeared. The
fire wrapped itself about her tunnels and lit
up the whole river. By this angry light we
could discern the name around the stern Of
the rapidly departing boat. 1t read: City
of Johnstown.'
NO CREW TO BE SEEN.
"Seeing that the distance between US was
increasing every second, 1 ordered the
Juniata's head to be got round. 1t seemed
extraordinary tnat the JOhnstown had no
boats to lower, or no crew to man her
decks. The heartrendIng cries grew louder,
and the fire rose higher and higher. 1t
caught the flag that floated over the boat,
and in an instant only standard OF lurid
flame waved in the wind. Then, suddenly,
this floating furnace turned a point, and
when we, with all steam on, and in hot pur-
suit, followed in the Johnstown's wake, We
could not see even the faintest CLEAN of
light down the river.
1.-THE blazing steamer had either gonedown
into the rivers depth, or else it was a ter
rible phantom sent to warn the river folk of
coming disaster. No corpses were washed
ashore, nor any timbers which could have
belonged to such boat. There was no such
steamer known on the rivers as the City of
Johnstown.' Our story was laughed at and
ridiculed by all. We were looked on as
liars, though five OF US could swear to hav-
ing seen the fiery boat. Not a week after
ward the Conemaugh food leaped down
from the hills on fated JohnstOwn, and you
know the sequel of that sad tale.
"Last night 1 saw the ghost boat once
again. At the very same spot. opposite
Sewickley, it appeared. 1 was on the
bridge, and recognized the high, narrow
bows and white tunnels of the craft. A
single green light burned in the pilot house,
but though strained my eyes to the ut
most, 1 could not see the shadow of pilot.
I called out to Mr.. Duncan, my clerk, and
L. fha
hailed her, but no answer came.
SWEPT SILENTLY PAST.
IT ordered the whistle to be blown; she
did not answer, but swerved slightly from
her course, and swept silently by US. As
she did so the same strange flame burst out
along her line of windows, and the mad
ringing of a bell, mingled with the groans
and walls of the invisible crew.
'Ths time we did not follow her, but as
she got her stern toward us Mr.. Duncan
caught me by the arm and gave wild cry,
pointing to the new name which had been
painted there. 1 felt q sick feeling come
over me as saw that it was CITY Of Johns
town no longer. Plain to be seen in the
ruGdy glare, 1 read the words 'Pittsburg
City,"
Gas before, the burning boat disappeared
round the wooded bend below Sewickley
and the red light faded out of the sky. We
got into Pittsburg in good time, but Mr..
Duncan was almost unconscious during the
rest of our trip. The phantom made a
terrible impression on his mind, and may
drive him into a fever. You see, his wife
and little ones live on Water street, and he
is fully convinced that Pittsburg is going to
meet the fate Of Johnstown."
The old captain himself seemed good
deal upset by this "Flying Dutchman" of
the Ohio, and DO amount of reasoning would
get him to admit that the City of Pittsburg
was a creature of his imagination.
Clerk Duncan, of the Blue Juniata, was
found at his lodgings, on Water street. He
confirmed his captains statements, and
stated that he would move his family from
this city at the earliest opportunity.