The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-14
The Ghosts Visit

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We wero in the south Atlantic ocean, In
the latitude Of the island of Fernando
Norohma, abont 10 degrees 10 minutes
south, on board the barge b. G. johnson
homeward bound from Australia. IL was
the only passenger, and we had safely
rounded Cape Horn, with the barometer
at 2S degrees IS minutes, and yet had
somehow miraculously escaped any ex-
tremely heavy gale-had had light north
erly and casterly winds till we reached 20
degrees, and thence tho southeast trades
were sending us fast on our way to the
equator. sat on deck smoking my pipe,
with glorious full moon shedding Its
bright pathway across the blue waters and
chatting with the first mate, a man some
So years of age, who had followed the sea
since he was boy. For 20 years or more
he had been mate or captain, and many
and varied were the experiences he could
relate. A thorough sailor and skillful
navigator, he was as honest as the day Is
long-had heart as big as an OK and was
an all round good fellow and genial com
panion. Some of his yarns might he taken
cum grano sails, yet he always positively
assured me that he "was telling me the
truth" An account OF voyage that he
made in whaler from the southern ocean
to New Bedford seemed to mo worthy to
be repeated. He had rounded Cape Horn
six times and the Cape OF Good Hope 10
times, besides making many trips across
the western ocean and to South American
ports. give his account as near as posi-
bic In his own words:
ut was In 81 that l commanded the
whaler Mary Jane. We had been out from
home over three years and had on board
full cargo OF whale oil, besides 1000
pounds OF whalebone, which was then
worth 10 per pound. also had been for
tunate enough to find in a dead whale
which we came across large quantity OF
ambergris, and our hearts were all very
light us we began our homeward voyage,
and our thoughts all tended to the hearty
welcome which We should receive from
wives and sweethearts when we reached
our journeys end. Many night as lay
In my berth l had thought with great
pleasure OF the amount of money that
would be coming to me from the proceeds
of our voyage when we arrived in New
Bedford.
II calculated that ! had made $12 600
as my share Of the proceeds OF the whale
bone and oil, to say nothing of the am
bergris, which well knew would bring
at least SIC, 900, and one-half Of which be-
longed to me. You can therefore imagine
that was well pleased with myself as we
went bounding along through tho south
east trades. We crossed the equator in
longitude 80 and soon after took strong
northeast trades, and all was going as well
as could wish. We had put tho ship in
perfect order, painted her inside and out,
and you would never have recognized her
as the old whaling ship that had for three
years been plying the southern ocean for
whales Never shall forget an old bull
whale that we tackled about two degrees
to the south of Cape Horn-but that is
another story, which will give you an.
other time.
1--WE had just lost tho northeast trades
and were entering the gulf stream. sat
in my cabin with my chart on the table
before me rolled up. ! had just picked
our location on it and was thinking that
in week more I should be at home, sur
rounded by those near and dear to mo and
relating to them the story OF my great
good fortune.
ut was always my custom to work up
my latitude and longitude about O'Clock
In tho afternoon and then after supper
prick off her position on the chart, have
smoke and perhaps just before retiring
nip of grog, and then at $3.50 O'Clock, as
regular as clock, would turn In.
II am great smoker, and this day l
had been smoking all the afternoon, be-
sides having had two or three nips. We
had dog on board which We called
'Bosun, who had been out with us all the
voyage and who was afraid of nothing.
He had endeared himself to every man on
board. and when Bosun took water some
thing very serious was In the wind. This
night as l sat in the cabin heard most
dismal howl from Bosun and called out to
the mate to know what was tho matter
with the dog. He replied that he 'reck-
oned some Of the men had been teasing
him, and the occurrence soon passed from
my mind.
Suddenly saw some one coming down
the after companionway into the cabin.
l supposed at first it was the mate and
wondered ,Aat he had not first spoken to
me, but then I noticed that no wore
clothes had mover seen on the mate, nnd
as he advanced into the cabin l saw his
face. 1t was the face of man l had never
seen in my life. He was thin and pale
and haggard, and as he advanced he look
cd about the cabin ana at the roilea up
chart on inc taoie' 1here seeiieu 10 10 "li
appeal III MS eyes, anu theh tnore h"'p'
over MS lace LOOK OF ihtehse aisnppo'he-
menu ana oelore couNh nho'e Vi speah
ne hao Vahishea rom my sighc.
NOW, nm very pr'Dt,cai man. anu
az once Strengthened myself IN my CHAR
ana salt TO myself we'll oid man. you
nave smoked one TOO many pipes today or
else you nave had one drink TOO lnuoh' LOT
you have been asleep IN your chair ana
seen ghost' was quite satisled that
had had dream especially as called to
the mate ana asked MIN II he hud seen any
one come below. he said no; that he had
not LETT the deck for the last hour, ana