The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-11-22
PHANTOM SHIPS AND SAILORS
The Wandering Indiaman
and the Murderous Ger
man Baron.

sh p tales, which form about the
most familiar oi sea legends. The
famous ship that remains off the
cape as the harbinger of wreck and
woe is Dutchman, whose skipper
dresses In yellow, wears u night
cap, smokes IA short pipe and is al
ways kind enough to heave in sight
when vessel is going to founder
or run ashore. The idea is, of course,
that the old fellow has been trying
for several centuries to double the
cape and not manage it with his
old tub. He is so Jealous of others
who succeed that he delights in
doing all he can to frighten away
competitors.
There is, however, another spec
ter that haunts these waters. Years
and years ago ship was homeward
bound from the Indies with cargo
of specie and spices, but in conse-
quence of some wickedness on
board she added disagreeable and
unwelcome individual to the mus
ter list in the shape of Yellow Jack,
and at no port of call was she al
lowed even TO enter quarantine. So
she cruised about until the crew all
murdered each other, and now she
&c, IA1r,oI fn r~,
manned by the ghosts of defunct
mariners. Sometimes it is said
that the ship was slave ship that
was attacked by the plague, but the
facts as gathered point to her as
being an East Indiaman, deeply
laden with bullion and well worth
a search by savage hunters.
Then there is the story Of Baron
Falkenberg and how he came to
haunt the wedding feast of long
lost brother, who returned home
suddenly with pocketful of coin in
order to marry gentle village
maiden upon whom Falkenberg
himself had his eye. 1t was annoy
ing, but still as the Baron found his
brother was the favored one, and as
he himself was short of cash, he
thought it better to be amiable to
his brother, so he went to the feast
prepared to operform the "bless-you-
my-children" act in due orthodox
style. The champagne was capital,
and the menu one that the soul of
the Baron loved. Therefore, by the
time the bride withdrew to don her
travelling dress and the guests were
gathered in the hall with mysteri-
Gus packets in their hands, the
Baron was "mellow" enough for
anything.
Unfortunate, however, his BROTH
er touched him up in the wrong
place and turned his good nature
to a perfect frenzy, which resulted
in his seizing a champagne bottle
and hitting his brother on the
head. The brother fell like log
just as his bride ran screaming into
the room. The Baron tried to in
duce her to accept his love and fly
with him, but she declared she
would sooner die. Taking her at
her word, the Baron plunged a
knife into her heart.
AS the guests, attracted by the
noise, began to arrive to inquire
into its cause, the Baron thought
he had better go out for a short
walk, and he went-in fit of alb
sent-mindedness taking his broth
.er's purse and pocket-book with
him. He sauntered down to the
shore as the quietest place for con-
sidering what was next to be done,
and there be found a boat with her
nose on the beach and man sit
ting in her, who got up as the Baron
approached and respectfully ex-
tended hand to help him aboard.
."The captain expects you, Baron"
said the boatmanj "onr ship lies out
yOnder."
The Baron entered the boat and
was rowed off the ship, from which
ne has not landed for 600 years
How is this known? Why, on wild
wild winter nights the phantom
ship is constantly seen in the Ger
man ocean, heading for the north,
but without helmsman. She is
painted gray, has colored sails and
flies a yellow flag, so that she can
not be mistaken for any modern
craft. Upon her deck the passing
mariner can plainly see the Baron
sitting alone, playing dice for his
soul, while about the masthead a
blue flame can be seen flickering.
--Neu York Times.
Why Prices go up and