Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-08-29
ROOM IS.

from New Orleans bound south !, 100 miles
20 Blewfleids on the Mosquito coast. The
passengers were a Texas sea captain, a New
Orleans merchant and myself. The steam
err was one of the Morgan line, fine side
wheeler of about 60 staterooms and a fine
saloon on the main deck from bow to stern.
The captain assigned room II to the Texan
10 to me and 10 to the merchant.
The next morning the many inquiries
from stewards, walters and engineers,
"How did you sleep last night, sir?" and
the captain manner when making the in
quiry expressing unusual interest made me
very curious to know what it all meant.
An old colored woman said hurriedly:
"Your room is dangerous. For Gods sake,
keep away from it. The Waterman told
me about it. He saw the naval officer go
into your room last night just at ~"
Just at 12" was clew to the mystery.
Before leaving the breakfast table | said
to the captains:
my ticket stipulates that shall have
the exclusive use Of the room you assigned
me during the voyage. I have discovered
that you have a deadhead on board who
occupied room IS with me last night;
what explanation have you to offer? You
have so other rooms vacant"
Seldom is a sea captain embarrassed
ours was then, He hesitated and then said:
"Rarely do we put passengers in these
three rooms now, The ships crew become
timid when room 18 is occupied, and more
SO when II and 10 are also. About a year
ago we had a very fine looking man of
about 90 years as a passenger. Had but
three Others: he occupied room IS. He and
the purser and two others were playing
cards at this table after lunch The young
man suddenly rose from the table, stepped
into his room; within minute the purser
followed him, and the man was stretched
on his berth dead, His trunks were opened,
and his effects showed him to be man Of
refinement, q United States naval officer,
his narents' address in New York city, and
a life insurance policy. The ships officers
testified totbe manner of his death. and the
;nsnronce COMPANY and the parents were
Notified and we mt into Belize and had
hin, bnr;ed and snnnosed that was to ter
INMATE his massage. These colored peoples
theorv ia until the body is returned to the
friends the snirit baunts the scenes of de-
narture from this life
sSince then seldom have we made a vow
Oryn vii In
nertod CON-, et;mes seen going into room is.
~ ~ laving On the sofa outside. or sitting
~ az tob1o aftar o1I had retired The
,ro , : 1oysl be,ded fellow About half mast
10 after WING down for the night. I had
word from him to como quickly to the
| so1oon aid az and tbe steward said he
had MT tol ken His ewes off the door of room
10 sinca he saw the naval officer 20 in. The
roon, ,vos them unoccunied lit tho lamr
and osk al him in and he came in boldly
He Jisannointment of seeing no one made
him the most timid man ON the shin. We
ia,t 'o an.'oa 80 oo +hn shin Who 0 baI
naan ', 49, vnraae M ber bafo,e and arte,
~, . a"ns w., 49, 81 tnatr shout tna nova
atam - WV '
Una mo cantain asked If we wished for othe,
,,oora frbo frexar renlied that he sboulf
| stav yrbera ha was nrovided a brass bani
IiI ,o+ Got in Tha Now Orlaans nerchan-
made no renly as to his occupying room /!
oftor two inoniries Room 1s being III,
o,,-,or ,o;,,t of tho shin the cantain look
;n@, 5;roct1v ,t ito occunant said.
SYou viii move. of couraePn
| uNIos+ cont oin,y - ba VOC ansvered
l MOSU CeItdllIy, Ao woo uAASNSAO0'
"Then you have fear Of the naval officers'
Not exactly. My feelings are indigna
ton. You knew that my two fellow pas
sengers here are gulf coast men and accus
toned to the racket of these low latitudes
such as ghosts, hurricanes, earthquake
and mary other things yet to come nj
doubt. You did not put either of these mel
into the danger point but you selected
Boston man, having no experience in han
ding these outlandish phenomena Having
no fear of your retired naval officer, vet