The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-22
Strange Yarns the
Old Seadogs Believe
New York. Oct, 10,

New YORK, Oct. IL.
N HANTOM ships that pass in the
I'D night before the credulous eyes
of tho superstitious 10 castle
Il sailors Of the old school are sub
jects Of some of the most interest
amusing yarns ever reeled by seafar-
ing man. One cannot hope to get these
tales frst-handed, because most Of them
date back centuries and have come
down to seamen as they came to their
ancestors, by tradition. But the old
time sailor, who sailed the high seas
before the steamboat took the place
of his picturesque bark and schooner
and inconsiderately destroyed many Of
clings doggedly to some of the old be-
iefs that were dear to him and his
stories about them are told with mani
fest earnestness which, If dealing with
almost any other thing than phantom
ships, would be convincing.
They tell one about specter that
haunts the Cape waters. Years and
years ago ship was homeward bound
from the Indies with cargo Of specie
wickedness on board (almost every
sailors yarn bears a moraD she had
added a disagreeable and unwelcome in
dividual to the muster list in the shape
Of Yellow Jack, and at no port or call
was she allowed even to enter quaran-
tine. So she cruised about until tho
crew all murdered each other, and now
she is doomed to cruise about forever,
manned by ghosts of the defunct ma
riners. Sometimes it is said that the
ship was slave ship that was attacked
by the plague, but the facts as gathered
point to her as being an East Indiaman
deeply laden with bullion and well
worth search by salvage hunters.
No tar who ever sailed into the Ger
man ocean has not heard the story Of
Baron Falkenberg, whose ghostly ship
haunts those waters, as It has for sew
eral hundred years, and will until the
Judgment Day-so they say. In this,
too, it will be seen punishment has
FaIkenberg once had long lost brother
who returned home suddenly and uAex-
pectedly and with a pocketful Of coin
in order to marry gentle village maid
en- upon whom Baron Falkenberg HIM
self had his eye. It was annoying, but
still as the baron found his brother was
the favored one and as he himself was
short of cash he thought it better to
be amiable to his brother and so he
"blessyou-my-children' in true ortho-
dox style.
The champagne was capital and the
menu most excellent. Therefore by the
time the bride withdrew to put on her
travelling dress and the guests had
gathered in the hall with mysterious
packets in their hands, the baron was
nmellown enough for anything. IN
o1Red Sm ~: his n ss aD5
turned his good nature to perfect
frenzy, which resulted in his selling
champagne bottle and hitting his
brother on the head. The brother fell
back dead, and the bride ran scream
ing from the room. The baron grasped
her and spoke his love in her ear, beg
ging her to accept it and fly with him.
the baron, taking her at her word,
plunged knife into her heart.
As the guests attracted by the noise
began to inquire into the cause, the
baron thought it better to 60 for short
walk. and he went, in fit Of absent
mindedness taking with him his broth
; er's purse and coin. He sauntered down
considering what next to be done and
there found a boat with her nose on
!, the beach and man sitting in her, who
got up as Falkenherg approached, and
respectfully extended hand to help
him aboard.
"The captain expects you, baron,
said the boatman. "Our ship lies out
yonder.'
The baron entered the boat and was
rowed off to the ship from which he has
3 not landed in 600 years. How is this
3 known9 Why, in wild winter night.
q the phantom ship is constantly seen in
the German ocean heading north but
without helm or helmsman. She Z
: painted gray, has colored sails, and flies
: a yellow flag so that she cannot be mis-
taken for a modern craft. Upon he,
3 deck the passing. mariner can plainly
see the baron sitting alone PLAYING dice
t a blue flame can be seen Pickering.
). The pope has conferred on Anton
: Lang, the peasant who acted the part
: of Christ in the Ober- Ammergau passion
t play, the Cross of Honor of the Order
{ Of Pro Ecclesia ct Pontifce,