St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-10
Eastern company returning to AGA

Eastern company returning to AGA
pulco.
1--WE were homeward bound, six days
out from Acapulco, the night L am tell
ing you of; in which l had the most
singular experience Of my life.
ut was bright moonlight night-one
of those calm, beautiful nights you
often get in those ATTITUDES. There was
a full moon-so light you could almost
see to read. 1t was my habit on nights
when there was no wind to go aft and
talk with the man at the wheel. The
fellow who was usually there during
my night watch was very bright man,
named Brown-unusually well in
formed and interesting to talk with. He
was on watch this night, and, after see
ing that everything was all right. L
Strolled over to the wheel house and be-
gan talking to Brown. A few minutes
after L greeted him he said to me, point
ing in certain direction:
MIR. L.. do you see that man over
there" | glanced over to where he had
pointed and saw man walking back
ward and forward Ill the open space
between the wheel house and the after
house. He wore long oVercoat and a
soft black hat, and as he walked back
face turned from us and toward the
rigging. as a Waterman OH sailing YES
sci always does. In fact, his whole APP
pearance was that of man on watch.
Yes, l see him. | replied.
"'Well,' said Brown, that's Sales
(naming one of the men from the fO'cas
tle). He's missed you and is spying
round to see whether you amt some
where asleep. If he should catch you
mapping he would report you and get
you into trouble; that's Sales all over,
and if | were you I'd go forward and
thump him for his Impudence.'
at made me pretty mad TO think one
of the men was spying OH me, and 1
was perfectly willing to act on Browns
suggestion. | watched the man for
few minutes. He did not look alta
man Oh watch never does-but if he
had he could not have seen me, as |
was in the shadow of the wheel house
and about twenty feet away, but in the
bright moonlight that shone on the
deck where he was walking he was as
visible as though it were broad day
light. He was evidently on the watch,
and the longer L looked at him the
madden l grew, SO presently L
started forward to do him up.
AS | did so the man suddenly
turned and went down a narrow pas
sageway between the side and some
bales that formed part of the cargo and
were slowed on deck. This passageway
at the end went down the step to a Gov
cred deck and on to the fOrecaStle. The
man did not seem to be running away
from me, but to have just then taken a
notion to go forward. l could see him
distinctly few feet ahead of me. but |
did not come up with him, although l
ran quite fast. Finally, though, l
thought had him, and was just reach
ing forward to grab him when he dis
appeared under the awning. and l
reaching the step a second later, fell
over it and went fiat on the deck.
II jumped up and ran into the to-
castle, where l found all the men who
were not on duty, Sales among them,
sound asleep in their hunks. l was
puzzled as well as mad, wondering
where the man could have gone, but
concluding he had escaped, went back
to Brown and was amazed to find him
in a dead faint hanging against the
wheel. got some water and brought
him to and then asked what the matter
was. He was an uncommOnly strong,
robust man, and | was dumfounded at
his queer turn. Instead of answering
my question he said: Mr.. L., did you
catch-that man?
Mo- said l. he got away, but it
wasn't Sales Sales is asleep IN his
bunk. This fellow went up forward,
and lost him just as L was going to
grab him.
"'My God. Mr.. H. said Brown, with
his teeth fairly chattering. The man
didn't go forward. You passed directly
through him as he stood there. Then
as you went forward he watched you
minute, took two or three turns across
the deck. and while l was watching him
he suddenly melted out of sight. That
was more than l could stand, and |
fainted.'
II was positive l had chased the man
down the passage. but nothing could
shake Browns story. He saw me pass
through the man, and he himself
looked through him and saw me. Then
the man, after watching me go down
through the passage, resumed his walk
and suddenly disappeared.
Livery man on the ship denied hay-
ing been the watcher that night. In
fact, no one but myself should have
been on watch just then.
Il didn't see the Specter again that
voyage, and left the ship on our return,
but l heard that it was seen every Yoy-
age after that until finally it got to be
almost impossible to ship a crew with
her, and she had such bad luck that the
owners finally took her off that line and
sent her North. l came to this coast
and lost track of her-don't even know
what became of her-Dut I've wished [
could get to the bottom of what it was |
saw that night"