The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1898-02-12
MYSTERY OF THE SEA
SToRY OF A GHOSTLY MESSENGER
IN A GREEN SOU'WESTER.

SToRY OF A GHOsTLY MESSENGER
IN A GREEN SOU'WESTER.
ROW captain Benner Came Merry Near
Being Put II Irons by Ea Crew For
Changing the Ships Courso~-The Four
Shipwrecked Men In . Goat
AT q dinner in Creole lodgings, in
Jamaica, some three years ago the. con-
versation turned upon the subject of
ghosts and apparitions. A persan pres
ent quoted the words Of Professor Proc
tor, ''Thege may be some means af com
munication, under special conditions,
between mind and mind at a distance,
though no oae may be able to explain
how such communication is brought
about" Oneof the guests present made
q reference to g tale OF q mysterious ap-
partition at sea, adding:
"If you ever meet Captain Blank Of
the Blank line ask him to tell the
story. The incidents happened to a rela-
tive of his. He can tell them better than
I and will vouch for their truth"
A few days ago Captain Blank was
found ON board his steamer. He is nat
only a skillful seaman and navigator,
but also a very courteous gentleman.
Although about to sail, he took time 8
tell the following:
In the early thirties Captain Benner,
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 steer
ing a northwesterly course, homeward
bound, beating up under short canvas
against high winds and heavy seas fol-
lowing in the wake of a hurricane which
had traversed the tropics five or six days
before. Her captain, who had been
some hours on deck, went below at mid
night after directing tho first officer,
who was on watch, to keep the course
then steered and to call him in case of
any change for the worse in the weather.
BE lay down upon a sofa in the main
cabin, but, as the briggs bell struck
twice, became conscious of the figure Of
o 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"
Captain 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 that 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 again by
q second visit from the man in tbs
green sou 'wester, who repeated his pre-.
vtous order and vanished up the com.
~panionway. The captain, now thorough.
" aroused, jumped up and pursued the
r~etreating figure, but saw no one until
he met the mate on watch, who insisted
that he had not sent any messenger be.
low.
Mystified and perplexed, Captain
Benner returned to the cabin, only K
see his singular visitor reappear, Il
hear him repeat the order to change thu
course to sou'west, with the warning
''If you donot, it will soon be too late,
and to see him disappear as before.
Although a cool headed seaman, fair
~ proof against superstitions, the cap
tain was nevertheless deeply impressed
by these happenings and determined,t'
see what meaning was hidden in the O.
der of his midnight visitor. Going OF
deck, he gave the necessary orders 70
the change in the ship S course toEorth
west. The officers Of the brig were no
only surprised but also indignant a
this sudden and to them unreasonable
change of course. The new ccurs
brought the vessel at a right angle {
her proper direction and if persisted j
would strand her on the coast Of SAINT
Domingo. Meanwhile the weather ha
moderated still more, additional sal
had been got upon the vessel, and sh
vas being driven still farther from be
destination.