Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-07-06

cars. 1 was Just about 20 drssr ar.u 20
down when one of the stateroom stewards
appeared at the door. I asked him what
all the noise was about. He said he didn't
exactly know, but it seemed that most Of
tho passengers ON one side of the ship had
been startled by a strange sort Of cry. I
noticed that Mr.. Fullerton, the gentleman
who had come 20 my cabin, listened very
attentively 10 this reply AS the commo-
tion had now subsidized I determined 30
postpone further inquiries until tho morn
ing.
At o'clock rang for the steward and
ordered up two cups Of coffee Mr.. Fuller
ton drank his eagerly. for no still seemed
TO suffer from the effects Of the shock.
When he had finished it he sat for some
time with his chin on his hand, evidently
In deep thought.
well" said, do you feel equal tc
telling me the cause of last nights dis
turbanoef"
For minute OF two he did not answer
81 suppose you will scarcely credit what
am about 20 say" he replied 90 length.
you know i am the sole occupant Of that
stateroom. ! sleep In the upper berth, to
be near the portfolio. Well, last night I
was suddenly aroused by blast of cold
air blowing In upon me- IL was pitch
dark, but I knew the portfolio window
was wide open, though l had closed It
carefully before turning In. Before could
move" he went on, with u slight shudder,
"a hand was thrust I'm from outside and
laid for an instant upon my face. Then
came a long, piercing wall, which seemed
TO travel down toward the stern. From
what the steward said last night ] was
not fh.a anlv nusa no haar ~ In -
So 10 seemed. No sooner did I go be-
low than was greeted on ell sides with
ibid you hear iti" The occurrence caus-
ed quite sensation on board, and though
tried to make light Of the matter Il was
not 80 easily set aside. told Mr.. Fuller
ton would put him into another state
room, or II he preferred 10 he could occupy
the couch IN my own cabin. He chose the
latter
In the course Of the day happened TO
mention the subject to the chief steward.
! gathered from his manner that the story
told by Mr.. Fullerton was nothing new TO
him. After some questioning he gave Inc
the following particulars:
On previous voyage a passenger had
committed suicide I'm that very stateroom,
and the body was buried az sea. Since
then, on one particular night In every pas
sage the ship made, whether outward or
homeward, the wall was heard, the port
hole window burst open and the occupant
of the upper berth-if IL did happen TO be
occupied-felt cold hand laid upon his
face. As near as he could Judge, this took
place when the vessel was closest TO the
spot where the body Of the suicide had
been consigned TO the deep That was
all he knew, but he had himself heard the
strange cry more than once
While we lay In port that stateroom had
a sort of grim fascination for me- never
went near 1t without stopping to look In
and gaze at the upper berth. took good
care that no one should occupy it on the
homeward trip. Before the voyage began
I had made up my mind to sleep there
myself on the night when 10 was likely q
repetition of the occurrence would take
place, II such thing really ever did hap
pen.
communicated my intention to the
chief steward, and he tried hard TO dis
suade me from ID. But was rather given
to be headstrong In those days and not
easily turned from my purpose. Besides
was firmly convinced that Mr.. Fullerton
had been visited by nothing worse than a
bad nightmare.
In order to leave no room for a shadow
of doubt ! got the steward 20 drive three
or four long nails round the circular rim
81 the little window. When it was done,
felt that could rest secure from any In
trusion In that direction.
The eventful night arrived. am free
to admit l had fortified myself with a
rather stiff glass Of spirits before turning
In. Whether OF not IL imbued me with
the proverbial Dutch courage / can't re-
member, but I know II made me uncom-
monty drowsy. soon fell asleep.
had slept perhaps for q couple Of hours
certainly not more-when was aroused
by a grating, tearing SORT Of noise. The
next moment heard the bang Of the brass
trimmed window as IL few open and struck
the woodwork, and gust of cold wind
blew In upon me Then, whether you
believe it or not, felt cold, moist hand
laid upon my face, and almost at the same
instant my ears were pierced by wild.
despairlng kind of cry that seemed TO float
past upon the breeze
could neither move nor cry out. lay
there shaking from head to foot, with the
moisture still on my face and an icy chilli
ness all over me. I had to weit until the
chief steward came and lifted me out. He
got me some brandy, assisted me to my
own cabin and remained with me the rest
Of the night. The next morning he ex-
Amined the stateroom and told ME the
window had actually been burst In, de-
spits the manner In which 10 was secured.
j. l.. Hornibrook In New York Dispatch.