Telegram-herald., 1890-02-15
OCEAN REMINISCENCES
a Remarkable Mirage and the
Captains Mad Purpose.

Let no recall a ,rtafnz incident %
n shipboard lifs-sn experience small
and hrlef, Indeed Bat yividly fresh and
OF clearest aud keenest outline IN mem
ory. We we're ou the zambiqUe par
allels. we'll % the eastwards; the wealth
er hot the ssy coppsrish. and the sea
az a saii0fsisL blae With a thick. slow
fo~ ~ sReu as though the water was
heavY and sluggish With oil; weak
breeze ~ wind blew OF the port quar-
ter with = sort Of sting az heat IN 10, Ike
the bite 0i the sun himself and the
ship under al s-udding-sails on that
side went rollng forward in q kind of
loathing way. a. though alive 20 the
trucks with instinct. and very well re-
membe the stopping noise OF tho water
as it feu FROM her bow like finging
bucketsful Of liquid grease overheard
u Eas about tao o'clock In the after
noon. when tho thickness over the star
board bow died ogt along the horizon
there and showed the ses-line clear 20
the edge oi the ocean. with twisting
and gianring " yellow fires in 10 from
the sun. as though lines oi motion brass
were slowly sinking ia IT, It vas then
that sail vas made out some three
points on tho bow or thereabouts, ap-
parent.y a largo ship, showing % her
courses with her mizzen-topmast gone,
and che spanker-gaf naked, with some
colors fylnga 10. As We slowly rose
her she showed like = frigate upon the
water. with her band ~ broken ports
and her big wing of standing jib; and I
heard The captain tell the mate after
taking a long Wow OF her through a
telescope that ne believed she was such
and such ship, naming a well-knOwn
Indiaman OF those days. She was IN
stress, Il was now gathered; for IL
seems that she carried a brace % signal
haiyards a. her gaF-end, on one oi which
vas h0isted tie English ensign, jack
down while or the other futtered a row
% bunting out Of Narrysts Code, sig
nifyin4 that there was serious sickness
on board
can SEE that ship now as saw her
then. her canvas had the whiteness of
froth touched by mooushine; she rosa
and fell very majestically, her ports
heave of tho waters. b. the aid of tho
glass, which furtlvely = employed on tho
mate turning his back. could distinctly
make out The white quarter-boats swing
ing at her davtts, tho CLEANS of tho
glass % her large windows, the hurried
saadowing ~ hep sails IA they swung In
ard out and tho faTs lowering n reds
and whites and blues from the peak end.
The helm oi our ship was shifted fcr
her. aad we Eot her right under our fy-
ing ubhoom end. There was not
enough yavn In the foot Of the toresau
to disclose her from the poop; and 10 be-
irr now sour o'clock and my turn 20 qu:t
the deck 7 strolsd forward on 20 the
forecast % watch tho very noble pict-
ura on the -oal.0e shat was rendered
significant beyond expression hy her a7-
pealnz coiors and ~ che mutilation 81
her ahaf. A group II our Jacks stocd
against one ~ the catheads gazing. too.
7 had rot been looking above three min
utes when one % them exclaimed, in a
hoarse voice.
What. the biszes' Il that there muck
a-drarinr up around her, or is she Ads
soivinE1"
"Ths Flying Dutcbman,' Or ny EYES
sln'tm ma+esr said a second man, in sub
dued voice - Mingled aveand sstonish-
ment
watch her a-dvinr 0u+i Suite mo.
ff mortal eyes ever see th9 llse oi tn5t
af1ro.~
My gaze was upon che ship as the men
sDoke. and sure enough. / observed her
~ 30 slowly melting ont. not as though
n for rere driving down upon her. but
nsa rainbow dies. che tints shining and
Fading and perishinz. In few mo-
uents al vas blank sea where she hsd
been
There vAs sn expression ~ disms7 On
every wsrt-ridden. vhiskered face
glanced az The captain. the nate ard
a npu her - passengers were moviEx
ard moupinr ike COLLINS over che brass
r-lu a. .1e hreas ~ ths poop 81 search
% Ere su1asinE rban tasu. Tie Vss. -
course. a mirage, but is took AL hands,
f-ru1 rhe skipper down - tha COO Z
mate sorna sine to roaiire &C.. 50 ma
veicus raj beer the Illusion. 80 snh-
stsnrisl to ere vision thas rolling snd
statelg fsb-ic. ar sxqgisitely rad the
painted mirroring - Der frcod tbe l'na
~ she sea Wien s-ns fancy rsae ths
real oh tecs cos'd not "a Far 0T. zoe
cartain cor rarued - read in the di-e--
tfrn .n which tre ~i -are had shcna
urf1 sha fsrEoess same whan the shar
vss hrerght to her COURSE s-resh 4
few iaTs before ~ sailed fr'm "a