The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1910-11-04
DEMON SHIPS.
Vessels That Seemed to Be Moved by
the Spirit of Destruction.

vessels That Seemed to Be Moved by
the Spirit Of Destruction.
There is an old Cornish legend of a
phantom ship which is seen In or OF
Porthcurno harbor and which. unlike
most ghosts. has a terrifying habit
Of pursuing any vessel which it sights
II 1t catches its victim there is a
j collision, but no roar OF inrushing
water. At the moment of contact the
ghost ship vanishes into thin air, and
the puzzled crew of the other vessel
rub their eyes in terrified amazement.
To any one who knows the legend
the vessel that saw the phantom ship
is, however. doomed Before the next
New Years day she will he sunk in
collision with another vessel or rock.
One wonders whether the original of
this phantom at all resembled that
notable and appropriately named yacht
Satanita. The Satanita was fine 4
very powerful cutter, which originally
belonged to Mr.. c. ID. Clarke and after
ward to Sir Maurice Fitzgerald.
The Satanita was a hard weather
craft, but let the breeze be the least
heavier thaE she liked and she would
be seized with what seemed more like
demoniacal possession than anything
else, and even with four men hanging
on her helm she would sometimes take
charge and rush right up into the
wind
She was the cause of several serious
accidents, the worst of which hap
pened at the Mudhoox clubs regatta
in 1894. On that occasion she was be-
having In the most perfect fashion when
suddenly and without the slightest
warning she flung all control, and, just
as race horse will sometimes savage
an opponent. she dashed in a mad
fury at valkyrie ii. and sank her ike
a stone. Well was the Satanita called
the demon" yacht.
But II is not only sailing ships that
act at times in q strange and unac-
countable fashion. Some years ago the
British warships Pique. Mutine. Ro-
sario and Britomart entered Kiukilng
harbor and dropped anchor in single
file. Presently steamer which had
been discharging her cargo unan-
chored and began to steam out.
She was just abreast Of the war
ships when she suddenly made
straight for the Pique. The war
ships officers and men saw the man
at the steamers wheel doing all he
knew to keep her off, but she fatty
refused to answer her helm and went
crashing into the Pique, smashing her
boats and davits.
After clearing her she went for the
Mutine, but luckily did not strike her
full. However, she carried the Mu-
tines bowsprit clear away. Not yet
satisfied, she made a rush at the Ro-
sario, but by superhuman efforts on
both ships the mad steamer was pre-
vented from doing more than Craze |
the third warship.
Something OF the same kind was
seen In the Thames a few years ago |
when the British steamship Poplar. !
turning to enter her dock. was struck |
and cut down to the weter line by the |
French vessel Cordilleras. She at
once began to fill, and the captain or |
dered full speed ahead for the purpose |
of Bleaching her.
Instead of making for the beach the |
Poplar made sudden rush in great |
circle out into the river smashing into
everything she came across. Then, as
If filled with spirit of revenge, she
made for the vessel which had SO ter
ribly damaged her.
The Cordilleras tried in vain to get |
out Of the way. but the Poplar smash
ed into her, damaging her 80 severely
that she, too, had to be beached.-
Pearson's Weekly.