The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-18
A PHANTOM WAR VESSEL

master of a small fruit schooner plying be-
tween Galveston and Vera Cruz, reported
with unmistakable agitation and terror
that on his last trip he had encountered a
vessel of strange build, filed with men
whose CHASTITY, terrible countenances
seemed to him those of the dead, it was
laughed at as the ridiculous story of a
superstitious sailor, having no foundation
except in q brain fired by strong drink.
But on the same day it received such strong
confirmation from Capt Eric Anderson, of
the Norwegian ship the Fair Hilda, that
the authorities began to suspect that some
thing unusual, to say the least OF it, was
afoot.
Capt Anderson, who had Just landed
and could have had no previous knowledge
of McLoughlin's story, and who is besides
gentleman of tried integrity, states that
when half day out from port, and just at
early dusk, he perceived close under the
bows of his ship sailing vessel. apparent
ly rushing down upon him. He shouted
to the man at the wheel to huff, but before
the order could be obeyed the strange craft
swept past within what seemed to him ten
feet, giving him an instant's glimpse of
her decks, crowded with men who struck
him as being most extraordinarily calm
and Indifferent to the peril which had
threatened their ship, for leaning over the
taffrail or lounginG about the deck, not
one even raised his head to glance at the
Fair Hilda.
But the thing which puzzled Capt. An
derson most was the strange light which
pervaded the ship, and which seemed only
TO outline every spar and rope as if rubbed
with phosphorus, without Illuminating her
or casting a shadow. Questioning the
man at the wheel as to his carelessness in
allowing an accident to become so immi-
, nent, the sailor assured the captain that
the strange vessel had seemed to spring
into being all at once right under the Hill
da's bows, and that she could not have ap-
preached gradually without his seeing her,
as he had been gazing straight ahead az
the time, and it was still so light that no
difficulty could have been experienced in
making her out, covered as she was with
full canvas.
Capt Anderson described the vessel as an
old fashioned craft of the kind known as a
foretopsail schooner with black hull, and
with mounted guns, presenting so unmis-
taxable warlike appearance as to mark
to amaze the captain, who fully expected
to hear on reaching port that some I'M
looked for war had broken out since he be-
gan his voyage. The schooner was also
accompanied by two feluccas, and was fly
ing a huge flag, but owing to the dim
light and the rapidity with which she
passed and disappeared its nationality
could not be ascertained No vessel
equipped for war could possibly have any
business in these waters, and both alarm
and establishment were felt over her pres
ence. kilograms were at once sent to New
Orleans and Key West, inquiring if aught
was known at either port of such a craft,
and were answered not only in the mega
tive, but IN a tone of perfect incredulity.
Suspicion had from the first pointed to
Mexico or Central America as the hailing
point of the mysterious Vessel, clearly en-
gagged in no legitimate business, and the
seaports of these countries were wired in
regard to her, but reply was made in every
case, and with undisguised surprise, that
no such vessel had or could have left IN
seen at any point along the coast. From
the little port Of Santa Maria, however,
came an addition to the denial which only
served 10 deepen the mystery. This was
the statement that the same vessel or one
answering to the description, had been re-
ported seen in that vicinity at intervals of
every few years, but though every facility
at hand had been employed to find out her
errand, or even the slightest fact about
her, she still remained a problem to the
authorities. No crew had ever been known
to come ashore, and every attempt made
20 reach her, however slyly planned, had
ended in failure and bewilderment, for,
though in plain view of the land, when
the spot where she had seemed to be
anchored was reached she was found to
have disappeared as completely and with
out trace as fleck of foam.
II was thought best to pursue investiga-
tons quietly, and not to make common
talk of the occurrence. but Mclaughlin
and the crew of the Fair Hilda, who had
also seen the ship that so amazed the cap
tain, openly declared their belief that she
was a supernatural appearance, and spread
the story, which is now the absorbing topic
about the wharves. The correspondent
visited them yesterday TO pick up what in
formation was atioat concerning the mys-
terious craft, when, joining a group col
lected about an old sailor, by name Ben
Davidson and Familiarity known as 'Old
Larboard," he was entertained by the fol-
lowing explanation of the mystery:
1--WE bin alvin on this here island
nearly fifty year now, of and on, 'cept
when a-v'yaging, and this here is the fifth
or sixth time I've seen that ere craft stiru
a mighty fuss and wonderin', and I'd bet a
ships biscuit against sharks tooth that
this amt the las time by long shot she's
/ goin to doit. What is she' She's Lafitte's
4 Pride, and she amt goin' 20 quit these
! here waters where she did al her devilment
ELL the Judgement day sets her free. The
crews she carries is them bloody pirates
! that used to carouse over this here island.
/ and who sent many sn honest sailor man
/ 20 Davy Joness locker underneath these
/ mere dancin' waves. Lord, Lord, 70 think
/ o them s-tryin' 10 stop her and board her.
as L hears they're plannin' to- Might as
well think o. ketchin' and holdin' one OF
/ these here witch lights what come o. nights
4 and run up and down a ships riggin'.
/ Cord help 'eTn, / says, too, if they did work
! II to git aboard o her and face them there
I spectral tars she carries.
How does ! know what she is and who's
aboard her, / knows il cause nv fat her.
who used 10 know Jim Campbell, Iafitte's
! first mate fore she took TO piratin'. seed
/ him stariD' over her tSfTrail onct. with
his threat cut from ear 10 ear and the
blood a-bustin' from it and a-Snoutin' out