The Washington times., 1901-08-19
WARNED BY A SPIRIT SHIP.
Fishermen Declare They See a Phnn-
tom Before Each Storm

tom before Each Storm.
BANGOR, Me. Aug. 1S-Down along
the shores of the Bay Chaleur the people
believe as firmly in ghosts, spectres, and
phantom ships did their Acadian an
cestors 200 years ago. and just now they
are much excited over n spirit ship that
comes driving in from sea on stormy
nights. with everything set and going like
a race horse, headed straight for destruc-
ton on the rocky coast The French fish
ermen OF the Magdalen Islands and of
Miquelon have seen this phantom of the
deep. so they soemnly aver. and when
1t appears they always put for port and
stay there, knowing that a great tempest
is coming
The phantom ship always appears lust
before great gale, and she is full
rugged ship of rather ancient model with
decks swarming with men. all running
about very much excited. as though
breakers were just ahead or a collision
were imminent. Sometimes she is seen
tearing along. with everything drawing,
when there is not a breath of wind but
usually she brings the gale along with
her. or close astern Suddenly, Just as
she seems about to run down the vessel
that sights her, there comes a clap of
thunder, the ships mssts go by the board
and she founders. The bay shore people
believe it to be the phantom of ship
that went down in a gale many years
ago. with all hands. Its useful purpose
In appearing to them. the fishermen say,
is to warn them of coming storms
Other phantoms trouble the Bay Cha
leur people, and among lhem is that OF a
iow-hulled, short-masted, and long-yard
ed brig. which they regard as the spectre
n nrr
Kidd s terrible craft. This vessel is new
err seen at sea. but always lying at anchor
in some sheltered cove. and in good
weather. The smack Audacieux recently
brought home from Dead Mans cove a
startling tale of the spectre pirate, and
the story is believed by every man along
the bay shore. The Audacieux was on a
herring trip. and was manned oy Capt
Louis Gauthier, and seven men. ali of
whom declare that they saw the phan-
tom brig as plainly as they ever saw any
thing
The smack had anchored in the cove one
night, and lay there till morning. wait
ing for the fog to scale up. At daybreak
one of her crew turned out to see how the
weather looked, and the first thing that
met his eye was a most remarkable YES
sci lying at anchor just on the mouth of
the cove, while her people were making
trips back and forth between vessel ard
beach, few Of them staying on shore,
apparently engaged in digging CLAIMS. At
ter while the man on the smack con-
cluded that the strangers could not be
digging Ter CLAIMS, for they We're far up
on. the beach, and the tide was nearly at
its height Then he took notice of the
peculiar color of the brig, and of every
She was the color of the thick fog"
said the smack's man, and the others de-
ciared afterward that this described her
appearance very well. Another thing
that all of the Audacieux's crew noticed
for they We're all on deck shortly-was
that in all they did the briggs men made
never the slightest sound.
For little while the smack's men Won
dered, and then suddenly they. fell on
their knees and began to pray for the
protection of the saints. Captain eau
through his glass, when, with a cry of
terror he dropped the glass and crossed
himself. The crew looked at him, terri
fed, and one trembiingly asked what was
the matter.
She is ghost shipr' cried the cap
tain. Il can see right through her. A
gull has just now flown straight through
her mainsail There is no ship there
none,
The crew of the smack lay PROSTATE
ON the deck. end for some minutes never
a one of them moved-scarcely breathed.
Presently a boy, who seemed less terri
fed than the rest, raised his head and
looked over the rail. 'Oh, get up, get up. |
all of you" he shouted: she is gone: |
she went very quickly. too, did she not?'
Up scrambled the crew of the Auda- !
cieux and little time they lost in making |
sail and getting away from Dead Mans |
Cove. When the story of the phantom |
brig was told at St. Pierre people who |
mad never seen any phantoms asked:
We'll. and why did you fishermen not |
go on shore and see what the strangers !
mad buried there. where they Were dig |
it was gold they placed |
here. Pirates always have great deal |
If gold, you know"
To this the men of the AudacieuX re-
;ponded with shudders:
How easy to ask that, You here, safe |
IT home, The devil was in ii. be sure.
and the devil sells his gold at a high
Price"