The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-23

A mysterious terror seized the Spanish
divers when they were attempting to OK
amino the wreck of tho i'll fated battlesbip
Maine at the bottom Of Havana barber.
They never remained under water moro
than 10 minutes at a time, and their work
was SO hasty and incomplete that tho cir
substances may become a matter CT OIL
cial recognition. Captain John Magee.
Jr.. of tho wreokiDg tug Right Arm states
that the Spanish government bad the
greutcst difficulty In securing and keeping
divers. They never seemed to have the
same divers two succeeding days. At first
tho excuse CT incapacity was given out as
tho reason, then that their divers were
sicls and then that their equipment and
apparatus were out Of order.
No one asccrtaircd the real cause until
just before the Right Arm left fer Now
Yosk. The first Spanish diver only re-
mained down about flro milutes-not
lons:cr thar that-whon he pulled to BIO
hoistcd. If he had met the devil face to
faca under the water, ho could not hayo
looked more frightened and terrified than
he dia-so those cay who saw him when be
caflo up. He complained OF being sick
and refused to go dusn again.
His secret must have been carried to tho
other divers. for there was great trouble
in getting them to go down for the next
two days. 1t is ToportcdIha Juan Alvarez,
the frst diver. had seen the ghosts of tho
dead marines and other horrible, awo in
spring and terrifying objects.
The second diver is reported to have said
that be had as good nerve and as much
courage as any man, but that he preferred
to deal with 1.-Two people on the ground
rather than uncanny, Shiny and hostile
wanderers from the other world under the
water.
One Of tho Spanish divers believes that
he is perpetually haunted bb tho spirit of
Lieutenant ,Lenkins. 1t is said that he
cannot sleep without seeing the Same APP
partition night sitter night. Ho is said to
see it both In his waking and sleeping
hours. It is that of a commissioned Off
Ger, in fun uniform of a lieutenant, enyel-
oped in a dark shroud, he face palo and
tho burning eyes of fire illuminating tho
pallid face and raven black hair He Is
said TO be so haunted that he takes no in
terest in life and intends to leave Havana
upon the first ship with which he can sign
articles.
Iflesc spanash ulVers . seasoihR men
about Havana are an unintelllgent Igno-
rant and supeTstitious lot OF men. Why,
there is a report there that the harbor IS
haunted and that a spectral ship glides in
and out of Havana manned with spirit
sailors.
The first diver was Juan Alvarez a
tramp seaman, who has been IN almost
every pert IN the world ant sailed under
every flag. He old some of his
chat he had seen ghosts, appar1tlons ana
specters surrounding the MaiSs. re sald
tnat me snip s nulk was lnies'eu VIII cne
ghosts OF the men VINO nau aiea ~ her.
Ihe other divers claimed thae Iney, TOO
saw apparlsions' thaO snaaowy forms y
sailor rig Or INC unllcrm q fankee ma
zines 1oiioWea them anout' Deseecn,ng m ~
mute antolnlilq3or g proper burial lhis
explains why t~nesSranlsn alvefs uld noe
Spend ono.tonth sne ti'ne 1noer wafer tna'
uns Anicricnn utssis Wy.
Mhilo supeESslslon as rampanv v 70 iia-
sana pner'o.lsln presal.s - sem ! ot En-,
~ - s . g 'o strest l'raIsers to At ont