The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1908-02-12
Sam Matthews
Ghost
How Il Warned Captain Ezra

lne pedestrian, Inc vessels tied up
at T wharf looked bleak and cheer.
less; but they were very comfortable
under matches. In the cabin of the
schooner Emily Parsons brisk fire
was burning In the round stove, and
the odor of tobacco so appetizing to
those who like 1t scented the air
Capt. Ezra Parsons, in a comfortable
chair. with his feet upon the stove
fender, was pulling upon a villainous
looking pipe, while reclining upon one
of the hunks which lined the cabin
was Seth Jenkins. and half a dozen
members of the crew were distributed
about the little room.
Kind O. snug here" said Seth Jen-
kins with grunt of content. Just the
same | wouldn't like to be outside
the bay in this"
The Emily is as safe as a church In
any kind of weather." said Capt. Ezra.
Course she gets little wet now and
then, but you expect that. | wouldn't
change her for the White House, no
sir"
Well" said Seth, "'taint likely that
Roosevelt II ask yer to swap don't
like these wet ships myself"
you don't?" sneered Capt. Ezra.
We'll, l don't see you ownin' or com
mandin' any dry ones or wet ones
either. Just pass that bottle this
way"
81 don't know If ought to let you
have It," hesitated Seth. Spirits
amt good for man with your hot
temper. First thing you know you'll
be seem things, snakes and green
bugs and maybe ha'nts."
Ezra acquired the bottle and poured
himself a liberal drink.
81 saw a ghost, once" said Capt
Ezra.
There was a sensa ION. Several Of
the boys sat up in their berths, and
the Nova Scotia man jumped out upon
the deck Only Seth laughed
Il knew you'd be seem things If
you took another drink" he said
Tell us about it, cap" said the
Nova Scotian.
"'Taint much of a story" said Ezra,
but it happened, all right. Any o.
| you boys remember Sam Matthews?
Well, he was an old dory mate O.
mine, and one o. the whitest lads that
ever breathed. We sailed under Capt.
Duncan McGann in the schooner
Cheyenne, one of the fastest boats out
O. Gloucester 10 years ago.
Sam and me had some fine times
together and some tough ones; but
the last was one January day. We set
out from the ship in the mornin with
not a drop 20 drink or bite to eat in
the dory. We set our travis and tend
ed them till about noon. when fog
came on and we started for the ship.
She was gone and we couldn't find
her. We was 80 miles from shore
with wind and tide against us and
It was bitter cold. Sam wasn't easily
scared. but he SEE TO me; I guess it's
all day with us, Ezra. and | couldn't
see much chance for us. But we
started to row ashore, and we rowed
until our hands was blistered terrible
and the salt water would get into the
blisters.
The first day we couldn't ha' made
20 miles. That night it come on tc
blow and we shipped so much water
that our clothes froze on us. That day
we couldn't ha' gone ten miles and we
wasn't sure we were goin' right. We
both was so weak we couldn't hardly
keep at the work, but somehow We
was able to live till mornin'. Then
Same give in and lay down in the bot
tom and | couldn't get him up. 'Taint
no use, mate he said, we've got &c
60. In little while he died. Not al
hour after we was picked up. | got
well. but lose toe from frostbite
never forgot Sam. and always KEEP
thinkin' If he only could ha' held OF
an hour more.
"A little later / bought the Emily
Parsons and took her out. | guess Il
was Ave years after that | was OF
Browns bank gettin' fish. and started
for home. There came on a thick fol
and a heavy sea, and had to go by
reckonin', but knew the place pretty
we'll and thought | was goin' right
| remember II just as plain as can be
| l WAS at lut Wuttl, JOe Willis wal
forward as lookout, everybody els'
was below. II was just about mid
night. All OF a sudden / seen mar
standin' alongside o. me in oilskins
drippin' with wet. He looked up anC
II was Sam Matthews.
Il was so scared l could hardly hole
the heel, and | could only look a
/ His face was terrible pale, jus
az looked when he died
Ezra, old friend he SEE to me
DO you know where you're goin'
You're goin' straight for Cape Sable
an you'll be on the beach in FIVE min
utes Get your anchors out. Thei
he seemed to kind O. fade away and
was alone. ! let out yell tina
brought The whole crew up. an | go
them anchors out in a ilffy But W.
dragged and dragged, and II seemed
hours before they held. The mel
thought / was crazy; but ! wouldn'
tell them nothin'. but went down ant
drank near quart of whisky TIT
| ...,.t ,,,rygnt ,ubon tho for IIftad