The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-12-08
At SEA YARNS.
Slams and Omens to Which the
Sailor GrimIy cIings.
A JOKE THAT PROVED FATAL.

Superstition and Guilty consciencs
Proved Too Much For the Norse-
MANA Bucket of Water That
Stopped q Mysterious WaiIing.
1t is a well known fact that in the
past the sailor. was among the most
superstitious of mortals, and even in
these enlightened days there are a
goodly number of old salts who cling
tenaciously to their belief in certain
signs and portents. Some. no doubt.
Of these superstitions have vanished
altogether into the limbo Of forgot
ten things. but there will always be a
credulous few who will shake their
heads solemnly and prophesy dismally
IL a knife is stuck In the mast or an
albatross or a stormy petrol Is cap
tured and brought on board The
origin of some of these superstitions
cannot be traced Many of them have
been handed down from father to son
for a great number of years. with a
touch probably added here and there.
turning a comparatively ordinary sto-
~ into weird and mysterious legend:
The Finn is the most superstitious
of all sailors. There are many Of this
race who still believe in the ominous
portent Of the phantom ship. the folly
of starting voyage on Friday ia no.
ton by no means confined to seafaring
mem. the low burning blue lights
which are ghost spirits lowering near
to give warning Of approaching disas-
ter and many other things. all Of
which
Fill the sailors mind with murmurings
And speak to him of wrecks.
A story is told of brigantine which
numbered several extremely supersti-
tious men among her crew. One night
when there was no moon and q slight
ground swell was running the watch.
who happened to be the most super
stitious of them all, heard an unearth-
Iy wailing coming apparently from the
very surface of the sea. The mate and
the helmsman also heard it. but the
former lacked Imagination, and. al
though he was certainly interested, he
nearly blew the watch's head off when
he ventured to suggest mermaids. The
helmsman did not feel quite happy. but
he had to. stick: to the wheel. The
watch was pale. with terror, but he
kept silence owing to the mates COM
plimentary references to his courage
and abilities. Slowly the sound began
to move along the ships side. becom.
ing more and more Sagonized as 1t ap.
preached. This annoyed the mate. and
going to the side of the vessel, he wait
ed until he had located the sound and
then emptied a bucket of water over
the rail. There was gasp, then dead
silence. and nothing more was heard
that night.
When the watch went off duty he OF
course gave a detailed and lurid &C.
count of the incident to his shipmates
who listened. as he thought. in awed
silence and then called on one of the
audience for his version of the matter
This man, Tyne-sider. who dearly
loved joke and had no respect a.
all for hoary superstitions. had con
spired with his fellows to play trick
on the watch On the night in CUES
ton he had crept over the bows with
out a sound. carrying with him the
ships cat secured in bag. Crouch
ing under the stays. the joker let thu
cats head out Of the bag. which he TIED
round the animals neck so that II
could mot escape. He then applied his
teeth to the unfortunate animals tail
Everybody knows the fearsome sounds
an angry cat is capable Of producing
and those to which cat whose tail L
being bitten gives vent are among the
most hair raising. The, sound was
more or less regulated by squeezing
the luckless beasts body. The mate.
bucket Of water was as unwelcome a.
unexpected and caused the Tyne-sidel
to beat hurried retreat
Not only is the origin Of many SET
superstitions "wropt in mystery" bu1
also any logical explanation Of cause
and effect. 1t would puzzle any one Il
say why it should be unlucky for thu
ships boy to whistle on the weather
how excont THAT II is generally nm