The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1904-11-03
GHOST OF THE SHIP.


nearing the Wipdwsrt passage. en-
route from Cape Town TO Galveston.
Wonder n well make II this time
without blow he raused. looking to-
ward the southeast. where a cloud
bank was rising. around which at short
intervals played flashes OF lightning.
Doesn't look very good for this time
O. year. chi Mr.. Munsonf he said. 4
addressing his frst oficer. at the same /
time pointing TO the southeast. is ,
everything on the deck seearedf"
Yes. SIR" the mate replied; the /
bos'n Just reported everything doubly /
lashod'
Darkness falls rapidly In the tropics I
and in a short time after the sun sank
from sight the Foxhali was wrapped In
inky darkness. which more clearly re
vealed the flashes OF lightning from the
southeast Keep her west by nor
tili seven bells. then let her 30 no nor
west" said the skipper as he started
below to answer the summons Of the
dinner bell. Ills foot was on the hrst
step OF the ladder leading 10 the deck
below. when-swishi something about
the size OF a potato shot past his ear,
then. spatl something cold and clsmmy
struck him full In the face
While Capt Thomas was trying 10
l figure out what had struck him. Mr..
Munson on the other end Of the bridge
was yelling: Get out. yol beast, get
out-lo' 10 my earl le' goi" What
is ~" sang out the captain; Jersey
| mosquitoes1" no. IT'S bats said
Munson. Look here. this one WAS try
ing 20 make a nest IN my ear" Where
did they come FROM" asked the skip
per. savagely cycling the creature.
From the islands" replied the first
mate. they are getting away from a
hurricane. They're a cure sign OF a
blow. % he continued. a sure siEn. I've
naviEated these parts nigh on 20 20
years and never knew Il to fail II we
don't see some fun tonight. then
miss my guess The mate was right
Before six bells in the hrst watch the
storm broke with all the fury Of it's
kind iashing the sea into a yeasty
foam For while 90 looked as II the
ship could not stand the strain. she
pitched and rolled. shaking herself
clear Of one sea. only 20 struggle with
= bigger one. by skiliful handling and
the use of oil = catastrophe was avert
81 So next morning found the Fox
hail weather beaten. but able 20 pro
coed Early on tho morning Of the
9fh Rohecca shoal light was made on
she starhoard beam. distant ten miles
The departure was taken and the
course set across the Gulf Of Mexico
Tor Galveston we ought to pick ur
tho noilvor Point hrht az three O'Clock
in thc morning SAID the skipper
emerging from the chart house. wher,
De had been figuring out the course
and the distance
A tho time calculated for Bolivei
Point light 10 be seen an hands were
| trying TO pierce the darkness ahead
Seven bells were struck and no lirh
IN sight The "oid man" was pacini
she bridge like a Gagged tiger. stopping
NJ every turn 90 peer with his nigh
glasses into the gloom Mind you
helm. thorci" he yelled 10 tho man a
the wheel who had let her run OF
half point Keep her steady Turn
inE suddenly he asked the officer @
the watch ~ The searchlirht was ready
An ready. sir" the officer replied
"Have it turned ON. then" he said
Ave. aye. SIR" said the officer repeat
Inns tho order to tho electrician. VII
was stationed Co operate o. The cui
rent was switched on. and abe instr
mont began to click. a. the carbon
. automatically came together thor
with a swlshine sound. beam of llei
shot ont across thc water The oil
was misty. causing thc finger of iiei
fo reveal erotcsQueiy tho ulght bird
De- as they circied and csrccnod In o.
wake Every eye was expectantly 10
10 iowiur the path OF the ueht. when SUI
denly Che captain cried. Look NJ
o. Cod DO YOU see that9 Rack her. Bac
her. For Gods sake back her." !
Do shouted The third mate pulled n
"a handle 81 The telegraph back. to viii,
siUnai the engines promptly respon
II Cd Does anybody see it," hoarse
whispered the skipper. pointing
shaking finger az the ghost For gho
90 was floating lightly on the air
or The beam ~ ught its long arms wa
ing franucaly. as 30 TO warn the
5 back once 30 vanished then rea
scared gesuculatins more frantical
De-. than before. then disappeared and VI
o' seen TO more. Every one saw Il Al
felt fear in his bones. The next /
slant the ship struck and ground h
Boz, nose In the sand. But the engin
'' we're doing their work. and she back
on rolling deeply IN the ground swe
She continued backing until well cles
Here is the ghost. captain" q
I'm claimed the electrician. who had be
operating the searchiight. holding up
badly scorched bar by the wing
had found IFS way into the searchlir
% during the shower Of bats on I
Windward passage When the cure
was turned on It's shadow projected
the beam Of lght. producing the
partition that scared all hands out
years growth. but saved the 81
from sure destruction. Boliver Poi
leht, a. well as the whole city OF G.
weston had been destroyed by the III
ricane of September s. tn which tho,