The times., 1900-12-23
A CURIOUS OCEAN STORY.
Mariners Spend n Night in Searching
for a Phantom Ship.
From the Philadelphia Enquirer )

(From the Philadelphia Enquirer.)
strange, uncanny story of the sea is
that which Captain Smith and the Off
GERS of the Doris have TO tell. which re-
Gently reached San Francisco from China.
On the outward voyage of the steamer a
whole night was spent in searching for a
phantom ship. Sounds of distress We're
borne TO the Doris across the waves; then
they ceased and wreckage was washed up
against the side of the steamer In full
view of the crew and passengers. An at
tempt was made to secure the wreckage
but ii eluded the grasp of the sailors who
were after it. and was seen no more.
The strange occurrence took place on
the night of lost day. The steamer had
Just crossed the 1s0th meridian. and
Thursday, July II, was dropped from the
calendar. a day always being lost. es is
well known. when travelling toward the
sun.
1t was moonlight night, but the view
was obscured by a slight haze.
An officer reported TO Captain Smith
that he had heard a long blast of siren
On the port bow. Several others had
seard it and Captain Smith, without
stacking speed, put the vessel about and
ran back over his track for two or three
miles and then came to a dead stop. The
whistle was sounded continually and
blue lights were burned. but no answer
ing signal came out of the haze. The pas
sengers were nervous with excitement,
and every glass on board was sweeping
the ocean.
The DorIc remained hove to for an hour
and then slowly proceeded on her course.
Captain Smith assured the passengers
that the sound OF the siren must have
been some trick OF the Imagination and
begged them to think no more of the
matter.
Half an hour later the strange sound
was heard again. this time by some of
the passengers as well as by the officer of
the bridge It sounded like moan from
someone in deep pain. Captain Smith
again ordered the vessel put about. Again
blue lights were burned and the whistle
sounded every fifteen minutes. The air
was full OF strange forebodings; there
was mystery here, and the passengers
listened with intense feelings for a rep
etition Of the sound. Through the haze an
object was made out on the starboard
side. being carried toward the Doric on
the waves The steamer was stopped and
the wreckage washed up against its side.
Here was something strange indeed.
Third Mate o'Neiil climbed down the
Jacobs ladder as far aft as he could 90.
and reaching down with his foot touch
ed the wreckage. 1t resembled the plank
ing of a lifeboat with several ribs at
tached. 1t drifted out of reach of
o'Neill. and the Doric was sent back
short distance and the forward boat on
the port side was lowered.
The wash from the steamers propeller
sent the wreckage away from the ships
side. and all hands on the steamer gath
cred at the rail and endeavored to keep
the wreckage in view. When the port
boat rounded the Doric's stern there was
nothing to be seen. For an hour search
was made. but the labors of the boats
crew were unrewarded.
Captain Smith resolved to remain in
his position all night and kept the whis-
tie and the blue lights going. There was
no sleep for the passengers that night.
They crowded into the smoking-room and
passed the time In speculation on the
mystery of the sea.
When daylight broke the Doric got un
der way once more. and she made q grid
iron course-fve miles out and then back
in q diagonal direction. The performance
was repeated several times, but nothing
was seen. Reluctantly Captain Smith at
last gave the order full speed ahead. and
the mystery of the lost night remained
buried In the sea.