Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-01-25
Ghosts on Our Warships.

And young and modern though he be,
Uncle Sam himself possesses a fleet of
haunted ships. The natural flagship
CT the squadron is the famous old Con-
stitutfon, relic of the days when the
Flying Dutchman was as much of q
reality in the minds of many mariners
as any craft that ever ploughed the
waves, says the New York Sun.
1t is 81 years since the Constitution
whipped the British frlgate Guer-
rere, and the staunch old craft has
long been used as a receiving ship in
the navy yard at Portsmouth. Never
theless, some Of the seamen attached
to her say she is still haunted by the
ghost Of Capt. Isaac Hull; every mid
night, they allege, the wrath of the
gallant old sailor may be seen pacing
the quarter deck, arrayed in uniform
coat, shining cooked hat and the ia
nous white trouers that were split in
the memorable engagement of August,
1912. H carries a long glass under
his arm, now and them levellng it at
the horizon, as if in search of an enc
my's sail.
The Frolic, an old-fashioned craft
of about 700 tons that was used for
years as a dispatch beat and tender,
was long alleged to behaunted because
Of certain extraordinary noises heard
in the ward room about the beginning
OF the mid watch every night So per-
sistent we're these sounds that none of
the wardroom boys could be persuad-
ed to enter the apartment, unless ac-
companied by a commissioned officer,
after 10 O'Clock, when lights were put
out Even the officers were annoyed,
since the noises not only interrupted
the slumber of men liable TO be called
for duty at any hour of the night, but
also increased the natural superstition
Of the sailor. Mr. X, the Junior
watch officer, professed to have been
kept awake several hours one night,
and, on his motion party was formed
tion of surprising the ghostly visitant.
The officers sat up to an unusual hour,
but nothing happeden by o'clock and
they turned in. About forty minutes
later the first lieutenant was awaken
ed by the sound of a heavy body NOV
ing stealthily around the wardrOom
TO the accompaniment of a muttering
voice. The lieutenant arose and step
ped out into the light that came dimly
from single lamp over the center ta-
BILE On the table itself he beheld the
figure of Mr.. X. dressed only in pa
jamas and moving in circle on hands
and knees over the polished mahogany
Meanwhile he repeated over in sepul-
chral accents a mystic phrase: Lit
tie pieces Of orange peel; little pieces
of orange peel" Being aroused Mr.. |
X. explained thta he had dreamed he
was on the verge of an important dis
covery. The disclosure that Mr.. X.
was a sleep walker was thought to
solve the mystery; but, though he was
carefully watched thereafter, the |
noises continued, and on the FrOlic's
arrival in New York she was sold and
broken up.
The newest of American haunted
ships is the Fern, used throughout the
Spanish war as supply vessel, but
now turned over as a practice ship to
the naval militia in the District OF Co
lumbia. After the Maine disaster the
Fern was the first United States vessel
to visit Havana; several OF the injur-
ed sailors were taken aboard and two |
Of the victims died on her deck. Now
1t is stated that the ship is pervaded |
by peculiar and inexpllcable mystery |
Being an old wooden vessel she never
went to sea, before her visit to the
Names wreck, without carrying a
large cargo of rats. On her return
from Havana it was noticed that all |
the rats were deserting her, singly, or
in parties of three or four. Little at
tention was paid to this until one
night a water-tender, who had been
down into the ccal bunkers, came up
trembling and white as a sheet. This
man, a Maine survivor, affirmed that
while below he had distincty heard
the voice OF one of his cid shipmates
grcaning. Several officers started
down toward the coal bunkers, and,
when nearing them, plainly heard
noises such as the sailor had describ-
ed. AS the party went en- the sounds
grew fainter and finally ceased. They
are said to have been heard since on
several occasions.
Another Fern ghost story is based
on the alleged apparition of a setrange
beast that roams about the ccal bunk
ers, and, when any one approaches,
takes refuge near the propeller shaft.
1t is described as a shadowy creature,
somewhat resembling wildcat,
though larger, with two big yellow
eyes that glare ferociously out CT the
Dogs have been taken down
to attack this mysterious creature sew
eral times, but they have fed to the
deck invariably with howls of terror
after nosing around few moments.
Neglected colds make fat grave
yards" DIR. Woods Norway Pine
Syrup helps men and women to hap
py, vigorous old age