The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-03-26

a Remarkable Mirage ana the
Captains Mad Purpose.

q
hr;sf indeed. but wildly fresh enc oi /
,learesi and keenest outline in my mem
orv. We were on the Mozambique par
.ll..ls well 10 the eastward the Eeaiher /
ha the skv coppeiish and the sea Of
sallouish blns, with thick, slow How oi /
swell. - though the waier was heavy
and sluggish ~;ih oil weak breeze OF
wind blew of the port quarter win /
.,,, If .;ing If heat in IL. like the bite
Of the sun himself and the ship under
fun stu5ding sails on that side went roll
ING forward in q Kind Of loathing way
a. though al;sc 10 ihe trucks with IN
stinct and ! very well remember the
stopping noise Of the water as it fell from
her bow like linging bueketsful OF grease
overheard.
y oas about two o',lock in the alter
noon when the ihicknes over the star
board bow died on; along the horizon
,here and showed the sea-line clear 10
,he edge of the ocean, with a twisting
and elancing Of yellow fires in IT from
the sun. as though lines Of molten brass
we're slowly sinking in il. il was then
that a sail was made out some three
..oints on the bow or tbereabonis, APP
parensly a large ship showing to her
courses with the inizzen-'opmasi gone,
and the spsnker-gsf naked, with some
colors fiying at IT, As we slowly neared
her she showed ike frigate npon the
water. with ber band of broken ports
and her big wing Of standing iib snd ]
hearl the captain tell the mate after TAX
mo n long view Of her through tele-
scope that she was such and such a ship,
naming a well known lndiaman OF those
aavs. She WAS in distress, Il was now
gathered for il seems ihat she car
ried a brace al signal halyards Al her
aa-end. on one Of which was boisled
the English ensign, jack down, while on
the other aui;ered row IF bunting out
Of Marrvatis Code, signik ling that there
was serious sickness on boaad.
/ can see that ship now as ! saw her
then her canvass had TIE whiteness OF
fro.h touched by moonshine she rose
and fell very msjesticilly her ports
bristling and fading as she leaned to the
heave of the waters By the aid Of the
elass. which fariiyely employed on the
mate turning his back. ! could distinctly
make out the white quaT;er-boats swing
ing at her daviis. ihe CLEANS of the glass
of her larse windows, the hurried shad-
owing OF her sails as they swung IN ana
ort and the flags lowering in reds and
whites and blues from The peak end
The helm Of our ship was shifted for her
aad We got her right under our flying
iihboom end. There was not enough
plwn in The foot Of the foresail TO dis
close her from the poop and it being
now four O'Clock and my tnrn to quit the
deck. strolied forward on 10 the fore
castle 10 watch the very noble picture on
the SEA. line that was rel dered significant
Ievond expression by her appealing col
ors and by the mutilaiion of her abaft.
A group Of our Jacks stood against one
of the catheads gazing, too. | had not
been looking above three minutes when
one Of ih,m exclaimed, in hoarse
voice
~Nhat the bla: Is Is that there muck
a-lrawing up around he, or is The a-dis-
solvin'?"
The FLYING Dutchman, or my eyes
amt mates said second man, in
subdued voice Of mingled awe and aston
ishment.
Watch her a-dyin' out. Smite me,
if mortal eyes ever see the like Of that
afore r.
Mvgaze was upon the ship as the men
spoke. and, sure enough, observed her
70 b. slowly meli'ng ont, no as though
a fog were diving town upon her, but
as rainbow dies, the tinis shining and
fading and perishing. In few moments
al was blank sea where she had just
been
There was an expression Of dismay on
every war ridden, vhiskered face !
glanced at. The captain, the mate, and
several Of the passengers were moving
and moping like gobiins over the brass
rail at the break of the poop, in search
Of the amazing phaniasm. IL was, OF
course. a mirage. but il took all hands
from the skin per down 10 the cook :
mate. some time TO realize II, so marvel
Nus had been the illusion, 70 substantial
ia the vision that rolling and stately fab
ric. 20 exquisitelv had The painted mirror
fitted the line of the sea. With some
fancy that the real object could not be
FAR of. the captain continued to head N
the direction in which the mirage had
eoone until the darkness came, when the
shin was brought 10 her course sfresh. \
few days before we sailed from Calcutta
we got news Of this phantom vessel. She
had been some leagues below the horizon
on which her likeness was painted, sig
Mailing for assistance 10 arother ship Sly
or seven miles distant from her. Iiad
the quality of ihe atmosphere remained
as Il was by which ] mean had the nj
rage fingered v hile longer-no doub
we should have brought the simulacrun
Of the other vessel into view. Thus j
will he seen that ships rs well as mel
have their ghosts.
This recalls 20 me another incident
belon sing, however, 70 no xferience O
mv own. II was the chef mate OF tins
same ship from whose deck We sighted
the mirage who told me the story. He
was third mate Of very handsom,
clipper barque, bound to New Zealand
port. The captain Of her was tall, aus
tere man, With grizzly beard and an
eve Of Il dead blackness Of unpoiished
jet. Instead of Il eaking OF him as the
'old man." his sailors called him the
monk" lie WAS exceedingly reserved
said little or nothing at table or on deek
otside OF such il struciions as he had tc
give yet. spite Of his monaslic or collegi
ate looks. which might bave qualified
him 10 adorn pulpit rAthsf than mer
cha0tman's quaiter-dscS, he was an ex
celient sailor. possessed e a Thorough
knowledge ofe-ery walk Of his vocation
and man Of considsrabl refinement o
speech.
Nothing Iarticalar occurred until the
little barqne was drawing on 10 the equa
Tor .beu II xrss observe that The can