Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-01-29
A SAILORS REMINISENCE.
BY A. H. MoDRIcKER.

lilt 1dSlCltON- anu ~ - VN'f"- N-s,~%--'
Il most certainly do, for I've seen the
like. in my cruising among the waters of
the world.
I'D heard a great deal about the Fly
ing Dutchman and other specter craft,
but was sceptical. However, after my
own experience, am willing to believe
in phantom ships, witches, sea-serpents,
and in fact everything.
Il had just gone home after a five
years cruise, and had saved up my
money so as to take nice little sum
home to the old woman, and was well
come.
Having been gone for SO long, and be-
ing no hand with pen to write home,
was afraid Mary might have got spliced
again. believing that Ihad set sail for the
port of Paradise.
But, no; she was true to the sailor
lad, though the country parson was
cruising round her pretty sharp, and try
ing to beat windward of her affections.
But then, Mary had comfortable
home which was all paid for, and the
parSon only got half hundred year.
However, broke up that matrimon-
ial voyage. and silenced his yarns of af-
fection for Mary, when | run in and drop
ped anchor at the old home.
1T was in 1S45, that | got connected
with the ship Falcon, cruising for right
whales in the Sontl Pacific.
"We were away down in latitude sixty
three. having followed the whales south
ward with extremely good luck, although
with constant danger from bodies of ice,
which were drifting from the Antarctic
circle. when we fell in with the Langue-
doc from our own port; and her captain,
Bosworth, bringing with him his mate
and two boat crews, came on board of
us see Captain Collier, our commander
OF course. good chat was had among
officers and hands.
Having left home year later than
ourselves, the Languedoc's men had the
advantage of us in the way Of news; and
they told how such ship was lying in
docks when they came away; how such
another was loading at the head of the
wharf; how the Morrison Plummer had
lust got in and the l.. b. Stafford been
heard from: and who had got married
in the years interval, and who had died,
ETC., etc.
But presently they informed us Of
singular circumstance, which only few
davs before had occurred in connection
with themselves. Right in the midst Of
school of whales, they had encountered
the FLYING Dutchman. which had just
cleared their stern by not more than ten
foot, and on hcr deck they saw that the
crew were dressed in white, which were
as silent and motionless as corpses.
Now, mates, you know it is embar-
rasslng to deny, to a PERSONS face, the ex-
istence of a thing which he assures us
that he has seen; however I'm not over
nice in this particular.
Zone of our crew said that he would
try to believe enough of their story to
oblige them; bnt this, with an old tar
like Perry Davis was-poor Davis! he Is
dead and gone now-is an unusual con-
descension with regard to ayarn involv-
ing doubt. Thus it may well be imag-
med that no attempt was made to dis
guise the incredulity with which the ac-
count Of the Languedoc's crew was re-
ceived in our fo'ksel.
MY mates evidently thought that there
might be some foundation of fact for the
story, but they were not prepared to ac-
cept all its embelli hments.
1T was desirable to know what the
Languedoc's Captain wo.i Id have to say
on the subject.
Yes. said our visitors, ask the old
man. You can't take the turns out of
what he says
I'VE soon found that Captain Bosworth
corroborated the story Of his men, and
related The extraordinary yarn to Cap
tain Collier, while his mate was no less
positive in the same direction.
MY mates, therefore. concluded that
the Languedoc's crew had seen some
thing very remarkable, although to what
degree fear and wonder might have
clothed it with terror beyond the reality
was still uncertain.
AT all events we were placed sharply
ON the lookout for an object so astonish-
ing. hoping, yet half dreading, to see 1t.
For some days the Flying Dutchman
formed the chief theme Of conversation
on board the Falcon. and all that any of
the crew had ever heard or read concern
ing the mysterious craft was brought up
afresh and related with new interest.
One night as we were running slowly
we sighted a large schooner which was
coming right down upon us, and the cap
tain iammed his helm to port and hailed
her hard.
But he paid no attention to us, and
came straight on, Just clearing our stern
bv not more than six feet. 1t was mar
row shave, and the crew, most Of whom
were on deck. were terribly frightened.
But noticed something that l did
not like.
First the schooner was white all over
from hull to truck, and on her decks the
crew saw were dressed in white, and
they were as silent and motionless as
corpses The schooner also carried with
her a chilly air that made me shiver, and
/ felt uncommonly uncomfortable. In
fact, it was the Flying Dutchman, and it
had appeared to us in the same manner
as it had to the Languedoc's crew.
We got safely into port but we sent a
dead body ashore, for one of the crew
had died the day after we had seen the
phantom schooner, and this set me think
ing more about the craft.
~Three months later we again sighted
the white schooner. She was abeam. and
coming on a course that would bring her
across our bows, if the captain held on.
Now, mates, the Falcon was a fast