The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-09

Capt. Benser's story OF n GhostIy MessAE,
THAT Concerned Some shlpwrecked Nen.

Capt. Benuer'r story OF n Ghostiy Message
THAT Concerned Some shIpwrecked Ten.
At q dinner in Creole lodgings, in Jamaica.
some three years ago. tho conversation turned
upon the subject OF ghosts and apparitions.
A person present quoted the words OF Prof.
Proctor: There may be some means Of commu-
~nication, under special conditions, between mind
and mind at q distance. though no one may be
able to explain how such communication 10
brought about" One OF the guests present
made a reference to a tale of a mysterious appa-
rition at sea. adding:
IF you ever meet Capt. Blank OF the Blank
line, ask him to tell the story. The incidents
happened TO a relative of his; he can tell them
better than l. and will vouch for their truth
A few days ago Capt. Blank was found on
board his steamer. He is not only a skilful sea
man and navigator, but also a very courteous
gentleman. Although about to sail he took time
to tell the following:
In the early thirties Capt. Bonner, granduncle
Of the narrator, commanded the brig Mohawk Of
New York. then engaged in the West Indian
trade. After leaving ST. Thomas, her last port
of call, on one voyage the brig was steering a
northwesterly course, homoward bound, beating
up under short canvas against high winds and
heavy seas following in the wake Of n hur.
ricane which had traversed the tropics
five or six days before. Her Captain,
who had been some hours on deck, went below
at midnight after directing the first officer,
who was on watch. 10 keep the course then
steered and to call him in case of any change
for the worse in the weather. He Law down
upon q sofa in the main cabin, but, as the brig
bell struck twice. became conscious OF tho figure
OF a man, wearing a green sou wester. standing
beside him in the dim light of the cabin lamp.
Then he heard the words:
"Change your course to sou'west, Captain"
Capt. Benner got up and went on deck, where
he found that the weather had moderated and
that the brig was carrying more sail and making
better Roadway. he asked the mate on duty
why he had sent down to call him. to which
tn at officer replied that he had not done so. The
Captain, ~fancying that he had been dreaming.
went back to the cabin, but was disturbed soon
green sou'wester. who repeated his previous
order and vanished W, the companionway. The
and pursued the reirestins figure, but saw no no
one until he met the mate on watch. who insist
Mystined and perplexed. Capt. Benner re-
turned to the cabin only to sec his singular visi-
Change eSr nssp he Course SE 1s to s ot%R esPe With mi the eFa asde %
warning: If you do not 1t will soon be too
late" and to see him disappear as before.
Although a cool.headed seaman, fairly proof
against superstitions. the Captain was never.
theless deeply impressed by these happenings.
den in the order of his midnight visitor.
Going on deck he gave the necessary orders
s sor sRs change PSe d IL aae Of sh, ,RRe S s9nr'e ue 1e
not only surprised but also indignant
ss tsls Of s9 ooafse. and The to newt sh course sn STosSRs Pss
vessel at a right angle to her proper direction.
and if persisted in woula strand her on the
er had moderated stll more. additional sail
had been got upon the vessel. and she was being
driven still further from her destination.
Her impatient officers had finally determined
to seize their Captain and put him in irons:
reported some object dead ahead. AS the vessel
kept on it was made out TO be a ships boat. As
il ranged abeam 1t was seen to contain four men
living under its thwarts. one of whom wore n
green sou'wcster. The Mohawk was promptl
hove to, a boat lowered, and the castaways
tain and three men, the only survivors of the
crew OF a vessel which had gone down in tho
hurricane, and they had been drifting helplessly
without food for five or six days. The green
sou was the property Of the rescued Cap
tain. A few days later, when he had recovered
sufficiently to be able TO leave his berth. he was
with Capt. Bonner. He suddenly asked his host
whether he believed in dreams.
since I have been here he continued. IT
have been thinking how familiar this cabin
looks. I think that / have been here before. In
the night before you picked me up ] dreamed
that l came TO you here in this cabin and told
you to change your course to sou'west. the
first time you took no notice of me. and / came
the second time. in vain: but the third time you
changed your course; and 1 woke to find your
Then Capt. Benner. who had noticed the re-
semblance of the speaker to his MYSTERIOUS Wis
itor. told his own story of that night.
Capt. Blank could not rec III the name of the
wrecked vessel, hut said that all the facts were
confirmed by the logbook of the Mohawk. even
to the detail Of the intention of the ceicers of
the brig to put their commander in iroAs, The
story is an oft.repeated one in Capt Blanks
family. and is well known in the locality from
which he halls.