Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-10-02

aloft one could hear the seething Of
the sea alongside. Now and then a
heavy sea would strike us witt force
which shook the old vessel from stem
to stern. But she rode 1t like queen.
We had kept the sounding lead going
to learn the depth of water, as We
We're in too close to land for safety
Finally the leadsman announced that
the water was shoaling
IL there Is one thing that sailor
breads more than anything else 1t ial
shoal water and especially to get in tol
1t during storm. With all hands ON
deck, we We're ordered to keep our,
ears straining for the sound Of break-|
ers. Presently the old man ordered
the quartermaster to turn the search.,
light on and direct the light towarda]
the beach to ascertain If we were close
in shore,
Use Search Light.
"ObeYng the order, the quartermaa.|
ter climbed to the stand and turned
the light on. AS the long shaft Of light
pierced the awful darkness and it's ray
shot across the wild and turbulent
seas crested with immense white caps,
the sight which met our gaze as We
followed Its light, was one that froze
every man jack aboard into terror and
superstitious fear.
For there; running up and down
the long path Of light from the search-
light. waving it's arms wildly in the
air ami tossing it's head in demoniaol
glee was one of the largest and most
h1deous ghosts that any member OF
the human race had the pleasure to \
see. 1t was scene that is beyond de-
scription in words. That immense
spectre-like image, dancing In fiendi
ish glee amidst the bowling of the gale
IN wild night of gloom.
1T resembled some imp from the
inferno who had come dancing in wild
joyous glee to welcome us to our de.
struction. The crew, with blanched
faces stood trembling with fear. Short
ly one gave wild scream, which for
an instant was heard above the howl.
Ing of the gale, dropped to his knees
and with uplifted hands, cried out for
the saints to save him and soon half Of
the men were on their knees engaged
in the same plea. The skipper recoy-
cred himself first from the sight and
with an oath, ordered the man at the
light to turn 1t off and shut out the
terrible illusion.
The Mystery Fathomed.
All through the night we rode out,
the storm. The experience of thel
night had cast gloom over the men
and few spoke. Those who did inter-
preted the awful uncanny form as al
forerunner Of some terrible disaster.
they all breathed easier when day.|
light broke and the clouds and storm
drove away to leeward.
The weather permitting, the next
day we found the mouth of the river
and dropped anchor off the little viz
lage 1t was then the mysterious
shadowy form Of the night before was
1athomed. While one of the boys Of
the ship was on the bridge cleaning
the searchlight he gave a shout
which attracted the attention Of all
hands on the deck below. There be-
side the big light he stood, laughing
and holding up in one hand a huge
bat-dead. At once 1t dawned upon
us all what had caused the terrible
ghost in the ray of light. The bat
was one of those species which are
found on that coast and had in some
manner gotten into the cage of the Ian.
tern of the searchlight. When the ma
chine was lighted 1t had been stirred
up from It's roost and not being able to-
get out, had set up fiutter which had
caused the fiend-like dancing OF the
ghost in the long ray of light. But II /
had us guessing for a spell.n