The morning news., 1892-03-26
AT SEA WITH GHOST
Why the Mirabel Came Back From
Matanzas With a New Crew.

Why the Mirabel Came Back From
MatanzAs With a New Crew.
From the PhilGdelphia Times.
A strange story is told by Capt Joseph
Sims Of the schooner Mirabel, which ar
rived here yesterday from MAtauzas. The
vessel was ma anned by a new crew, a fact
which occasioned much surprise in ship
ping circles and caused the captain to be
deluged with questions by persons inter-
ested In the ship and its crew. When seen
by reporter Capt. Sims appeared to be
weary from the questions put TO him, but
cheerfuily gave the reporter an account Of
his trip. be said that whsn his vessel
sailed from this port for Matanzss on Jan.
20 last she was manned by thirty stalwart
sailors. mostly Englishmen. Nearly all of
them had served on the Mirabel for a num-
Der OF years, and were capable seamen.
just before sailing for Matanzas several
new men had been taken on, and there was
no way OF discovering their ability. This
Is the story in the captains own words:
II found that the new men were all able
sailors and willing to work. There was one
man. however, who was addicted TO drink
to a greater extent than is usually the CASE
He always had a bottle in his pocket and
drank continually during the day. | did
not, of course, like to see this, but as he did
not become intoxicated and was able 70
K
This habit Of drinking could not be kept up
all the time, however, without serious re-
suits in time, and when ! saw that he had
no intention OF giving it up | spoke co him,
saying that he was drinking too much. he
did not take offense. but promised to give
up the habit while at sea-
He did not drink anything the next day,
but it was very hard on him. aud felt very
sorry for the poor fellow. He was on watch
that night from midnight until daylight.
The last thing | said to him before he went
on deck was; Remember, Bilson, about
the liquor to which he replied that need
not fear. Well, it could not have been
more than two hours after l retired when 1
was awakened by tremendous noise on
deck. fastening above, l saw two of my
men endeayoring TO hold Bilson, who was
doing his best to leap overheard. On in
quirlng what was the matter l was told
that the fellow was suffering from delirium
tremens. aud wanted to drown himself. He
had broken his good resolution and had
been drinking more heavily than before.
After severe struggle, during
which the men were severely han
died by the maddenad man.
Bilson was finally overpowered and put in
irons. He howled and raved during the
entire night, continually shouting for some
one to take them off. The men whom 1
found holding Bilson when l reached the
NSO@
ing him shouting and running around the
deck. They went up to ascertain the cause
OF the commotion, aud as soon as they
appeared Bilson made a motion as though
about to jump into the water. Quickly
grasping him they were engaged in trying
to subdue him when reached the deck
"But the straDgest part of the story is yet
to come. Bilson did not recover from his
attack of tremens, and died during the
afternoon. We kept him until the next day,
when, wrapping him in a sheet Of canvas,
we consigned his body to the waves.
1.-TWO nights afterward / was awakened
by knock at my door, and upon opening
it saw the midnight watch standing before
me with face white as chalk aud hair
almost standing on end. In a trembling
voice he told me that Bilson was on deck
sitting on a coil of rope in the stern Of the
boat. OF course l thought the man was
mistaken, and told him that he must have
fallen asleep and dreamed he saw Bilson.
He said, however, that he had not been
asleep, and was positive he had seen either
Bilson or his ghost. He begged me to go
on deck and see. / finally consented and
went above.
Upon reaching the deck 1 looked aft,
and to say that | was startled would be
putting it mild. l was dumfounded. There,
upon a coil OF rope, sat BIlson, with hts
head erect, gazing fxedly into the water.
head. then went to the place where he
sat, but when reached the spot nothing
but the rope was there.
"He did not appear that night, but the
next night and a number of times after the
apparition appeared on deck and took its
SO I upon the rope. Every man on board
saw it, and as It seemed to have no inten,
tion of leaving the vessel, the men became
frightened and vowed they would leave
when we reached port. The last time Bill
sons ghost appeared was the night before
we got to Matanzas. At the usual
hour we were all on hand waiting
for the apparition. We had not long to
wait, for ic a short time the ghost appeared,
from where no one could tell, and took its
into the water a short time 1t arose and
pointed its finger in the direction of the
town we were approaching. 1t then walked
noiselessly to the deck rail, and, looking
down into the water, shuddered. 1t again
turned and looked toward Matanzas, then
gave leap and disappeared beneath the
waves without sound. Every one heaved
a sigh of relief, but that night every man
on board made up his mind to leave the
Mirabel, and they all did.
after unloading the vessels cargo l
could not induce any one of them 20 sail on
the return trip, and was forced to look up
new crew. The apparition did not ap-
pear on the vessel during the passage to this
CITY,"
The captain said he was not SUI ersti-
tious man, but he could not but feel a little
bit squeamish when he saw the ghost He
thinks that Bilson may have been alive
when buried, and took the means above
described for getting even with those who
were instrumental in having him buried at
sea. The fact remains. however that his
ghost did appear, and there is no way OF
accounting for the mystery.
VAINLY SEARCHING FOR WILL.
A Pathetic Incident of Life in Colo