The Forrest City times., 1895-10-25
FORREST CITY ARK. FRIDAY AFTERNOON OCTOBER 25 1895

| pinnacle, and leaning on the rail looks as if he might go over, so white and shal<y was he.
 After standing there for a moment and saying nothing, he asks:
 Do you believe in dead mems | ghosts?''
 T can't say," l replied, "being as never saw one.'
 Well" says he, after moments si- fence, If l didn't see Bentley's ghost in my cabin just now, then I never saw anything in my life" | Of course, l thought he had only been drinking little too much, ,and had | imagined he had seen a ghost So only smiled and said that guessed he had been dreaming or had had night | mare.
 NO, sir" he said, running his hand over his face, as if to brush something away; lit was no dream, and I say to you, as certain as God lives, I saw the ghost of Mark Bentley this nightl" "Nonsense!" said I. Surely you can't believe what you are saying. It's only | 0 fancy"
 But for all that there was something in the mans look that gave me a kind of creepy" feeling. Say what you will" he replied, but just come to my cabin with me as soon | as you are relieved from your post, and you can see for yourself" With this, he walked forward and stood leaning on the rail, gazing into the sea. Although it is no uncommon thing to see sailors who firmly believe in such superstitious stories, I am not one of them. Still, 1 couldn't get the mans words and looks out of my mind, and when l was relieved 1 went to him, and, in light tone said: Come now, and we'll go down and take a look at Bentley's ghost" Without a word, he led the way to his cabin. It was quite dark in there, for there was no light save what came through bit of skylight that hadn't been covered with tarpaulin. I was about to strike a light, when he caught me by the arm and turned my face toward the bunk where he had been sleeping.
 Look" he cried, in a frightened whisper, his hold tightening on my arm. Il saw it again, but it faded away! There-there it isl" I turned my face toward the bunk. and as did so 1 saw a kind of shimmer- ing light lowering over the pillow. It seemed to move back and forth with the swaying of the vessel. Then all of sudden it grew brighter, and, as am living, there was the face of Mark Bent ley as plain as I see yours this moment. We'll, sir, you might have knocked me down with feather. stood there look ing at it till kind of cry came from Magsby.
 You see it?" he asked, Just as if they were the last words he would ever speak.
 Yes" says 1, IT saw something-' He uttered a groan, and I think he would have fallen had not caught him. When looked again, the strange vision had disappeared.
 Magsby and I went from the cabin to- gether, and from that moment he never entered the place again. He slept with me in my bunk that night; that is, he turned in with me, but l don't think he closed his eyes all night. Of course the story that Bent ley's ghost had been seen in Magsby's cabin was soon known to every sailor on board, and there was no end of talk over the strange incident. | was called upon to tell all 1 knew of the affair. and my story was listened to with mingled expressions of doubt and credulity.
 The next night crowd of sailors visited the cabin where the vision had appeared, but nothing was seen of the ghostly visitant. Magsby, however, kept aloof from the place, and could not be induced to enter. He seemed to be terribly downcast, and in few days great change had come over him. His cheeks were hollow, his face haggard, and he was forever glancing about him, US if he expected any moment to see something dreadful.
 One night he came to my cabin, and throwing himself on the edge of the bunk. said in a husky voice:
 'Tain't no use in trying-I can't stand this; it's worrying the life out of me-"
 ''Why-what is?" I asked, though I we'll knew what he meant.
 "BentIey's ghost" was the reply. Its going to drive me into the sea yet, to follow poor Bentley"
 That's all foolish talk" I said Ut is little strange what we saw in the cabin that night, but what's the harm