Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-19
- r all classes of men those who
follow the sea are probably
the most prone to superstition.

lures below them, q Deilel III Tue gu
pernatural is easier than ashore under
the cheerful gas lamps. Strange sto-
ries of the sea are plentiful, ard an
incident which happened within my
own experience has made me some
what chary Of clubbing man fool OF
coward because he has encountered
something he cannot explain. There
are stories Of the supernatural with
prosaic sequels; there are others to
which the sequel has never been pub
lished.
was fifteen years old at the time,
and as my father, who had strong
objection to the sea, would not appren-
tice me to 1t shipped before the mast
on sturdy little brig called the En-
deavor, bound for Riga. She was a
small craft, but the skipper was as
fine seaman as one could wish for
and, in fair weather, an easy man to
sail under. Most boys have rough
time Of it when they first go to sea-
but, with strong sense of what was
good for me. had attached myself to
brawny. good natured infant named
Bill Smith. and it was soon understood
that whoever hit me struck Bill by
proxy. Not that the crew were par
ticularly brutal. hut sound cutting
occasionally is held by most seamen
to be beneficial to lads health and
morals. The only really spiteful fell
low among them was man named
Jem Dadd. He was morose, sallow
looking man Of about forty. with a
strong taste for the supernatural and
a stronger taste still for frightening
his fellows with it. I have seen Bill
almost afraid to go on deck OF a night
for his trick at the wheel after few
Of his "reminiscences. Rats We're q
favorite topic with him, and he would
never allow one to be killed il he
could help it, for he claimed for them
that they were the souls OF drowned
sailors; hence their love Of ships and
their habit Of leaving them when they
became unseaworthy. He was q frm
believer in the transmigration Of souls.
some idea Of which he had no doubt
picked up in eastern ports, and gave
his shivering auditors to understand
that his arrangements for his own I'M
mediate future were already perfected.
We were six or seven days out when
a strange thing happened. Dadd had
the second watch one night, and Bill
was to relieve him. They were not
very strict aboard the brig In fair
weather, and when mans time was
up he Just made the wheel fast and.
running for'ard, shouted down the
fo'c's'le. On this night happened to
awake suddenly In time to see Bill slip
out Of his bunk and stand by me, rub
bling his red eyelids with his knuckles.
.Dadd's giving me long time" he
whispered. seeing that I was awake.
cts whole hour after his time"
/, He battered up on deck. and was
Just turning over, thankful that was
too young to have watch to keep.
when he came softly down again, and.
taking me by the shoulders, shook me
roughly.
Jack" he whispered. "Jack!'
raised myself on my elbows and,
in the light Of the smoking lamp. saw
that he was shaking all over.
"Come on deck" he said thickly.
pulled on my clothes and followed
him quietly to the sweet, cool air above.
It was beautiful clear night but,
from his manner, looked nervously
around for some cause Of alarm. saw
nothing. The deck was deserted except
for the solitary figure at the wheel.
"Look at him." whispered Bill. bend
ing contorted face to mine.
l walked aft few steps, and Bill
followed slowly. Then saw that Jem
Dadd was leaning forward clumsily on
the wheel, with his hands clinched on
the spokes.
'He's asleep" said I. stopping short.
Bill breathed hard. "He's in queer
Sleep" said he. kind O trance more
like. Go closer"
took fast hold Of Bills sleeve, and
we both went. The light Of the stars
was sufficient to show that Dadd's face
was very white and that his dim. black
eyes were wide open and staring in
very strange and dreadful manner
straight before him.
"Dadd," said softly. "Dadd!'
There was no reply, and with view
of arousing him tapped one sinewy
hand as It gripped the wheel and even
tried to loosen It.
He remained immovable, and sud
denly, with great cry, my courage
deserted me, and Bill and fairly
bolted down into the cabin and woke
the skipper.
Then we saw how It was with Jem,
and two strong seamen forcibly loosen
ed the grip Of those rigid fingers and.
laying him on the deck, covered him
with q piece Of canvas. The rest Of
the night two men stayed at the wheel
and, gazing fearfuliy at the outline
Of the canvas. longed for dawn.
It came at last, and, breakfast over.
the body was sewed up in canvas, and
the skipper held short service COM
piled from a Bible which belonged to
the mate and what he remembered of
the burial service proper. Then the
corpse went overheard with splash,
and the men, after standing awkward
ly together for few minutes, slowly
dispersed to their duties.
For the rest Of that day we were all
very quiet and restrained, pity for the
dead man being mingled with dread
Of taking the wheel when night came.
1.-The wheels haunted" said the