Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-06-22
MisCeIlamenMs.
ROOM EIGHTEEN.

My first voyage in Southern waters
was from New Orleans bound South
l 100 miles to Blew6clds on the Mos.
quito coast The passengers were a
Texas sea captain, New Orleans mer-
chant and myself. Tho steamer was
one of the Morgan line, a fine side
wheeler of about go staterooms and u
fine saloon on the main deck from bow
to stern, The captain assigned room
II to the Texan, Is to me and 10 TO
the merchant.
The next morning thu many inquiries
from stewards, walters aud engineers,
How did you sleep last night, sir ?"
and the captains manner when making
the inquiry expressing unusual interest
made me very curious to know what it
all meant. ...s .5 .#
An old colored woman said hurriedly {:
"Your room is dangerous. For Gods
sake, keep away from it. The watch
man told mo about it. He saw the
naval officer go into your room last night
Just at 12" "Just at IL" was clew
to the mystery.
Before leaving the breakfast table
said to the captain:
"My ticket stipulates that | shall
have the exclusive use Of tho room you
assigned me during tho voyage. l have
discovered that you have deadhead on
board who occupied room Is with me
last night /; what explanation have you
to offer? You have fifty other rooms
vacant"
Seldom is sea captain embarrassed
ours was then. He hesitated and then
said -5e flgI sr.a .Esvr 30
"Rarely do we put passengers in these
three rooms now. The ships crew be-
come timid when room 18 is occupied,
and more 30 when II and 10 are also.
About year ago We had very fine
looking man Of about % years as pas
senger. Had but three others she oc-
cupied room Is. lie 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, bis parents address
in New York city, and life insurance
policy. The ships officers testified to
the manner of his death, and the insur-
ance company and the parents were
notified, and VIC put into Belize and had
him buried and supposed that was to
terminate his passage. These colored
peoples theory is, until the body is re-
turned to the friends the spirit haunts
the scenes Of departure from this life.
"Since then seldom have we made q
voyage without having an unknown man
reported, sometimes seen going into
room IS, or lying on the sofa outside,
or sitting at this table after all had re.
tired. The voyage before tho last the
chief steward was level-headed fellow
About half past 10, after lying down fol
the night, had word from him to come
quickly to the saloon did so, and the
steward said be had not taken bis eyei
/ of the door Of room 18 since he saw th,
naval officer go 10. The room was thel
unoccupied. lit the lamp and asked
him in, and he came in boldly. Hi
disappointment at seeing no one mad
him the most timid man on the ship
We have sometimes left New Orlean
with not half dozen hands on the shil
who had ever made voyage on he
before. and after few days out all kneV