New-York tribune., 1910-07-31
THINGS THAT SAILORS FEAR
Some Odd superstitions of the
Sea. and What They Mean.

While most SailOrmen will stoutly deny
that they hold superstitions and that the
occult has no stronger hold on them than
on landsmen, the popular belief is to the
contrary. 1t is likely that the seaman S
isolation from outside influences and the
weeks and months spent a1oat with only
his mates for company served 70 roster
superstitous notions in the days OF sailing
vessels, while the general spread Of knoWl-
edge works but slowly in these occult mat
ters, concerning which Jack is peculiarly
unreasoning.
The Finn is the most superstltous OF
all Sailors" according TO writer IN Tine
London Globe" There are many of this
race who still believe in the ominous por-
tent of the phantom ship, the folly OF start
ing voyage on a Friday "a notion by no
means confined to seafarng mem, the low
burning blue lights which are ghost spirits
lowering near to give warnings or ap-
preaching disaster and many other things.
all of which
.Fill the sailors mind with murmurings,
And speak to him of wrecks
"A story is told of brigantlne WHICH
numbered several extremely supersutlous
men among her crew One night Wheh
there was no moon and a slight ground
swell was running, the watch, VINO nap
nened TO he the most superstftious of them
all heard an unearthly waiing coming ap-
parently from the very surface of the sea
The mate and the helmsman also heard 1t,
but the former lacked imagination, and al
though he was certainly interested, he
nearly blew the watch's head off when he
yentured to suggest mermaids. The helms
man 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 complimentary references to ms
courage and abilities. Slowly the sound
began to move along the ships side, be-
coming more and more agonized as 1t ap-
preached This annoyed the mate. and
, going to the side of the vessel he waited
unul he had located the sound and then
emptied d bucket of water over the rail
There a gasp, and then dead silence,
and nothing more was heard that night
When the watch went off duty he. OF
course. gave a detailed and lurid account
ened. as he thought. in awed silence. and
then called on one of the audience for his
version of the matter. This man, a Tyne
slider who dearly loved d joke, and had no
respect at all for hoary superstitions, had
conspired with his fellows TO play trick
on the watch On the night in question ne
had crept over the bows without a sound.
carrying with him the ships cat secured
in bag. Crouching under the stays, the
joker let the cats head out of the bag.
which he tied round the animals neck so
his teeth to the unfortunate animals tail.
Everybody knows the fearsome sounds an
angry cat is capable of producing. and
those TO which Il cat whose tail is being
bitten gives vent are among the most
hair-raiSing. The sound was more or less
regulated by squeezing the IuckleSS beast :
body. The mates bucket of water was as
unwelcome as unexpected. and caused the
Tynesider to beat Il hurried retreat.
Not only is the origin of many sea super
stitionS 'Wropt in mystery but also any
logical explanation of cause and effect. 1t
would puzzle any one to say why it should
be unlucky for the ships boy to whistle on
the Weather bow. except that it is generally
unpleasant from music lovers point OF
view for bOv to whistle on any bow al all.
Nor would it be easy to explain why =
sneeZe 10 starboard presases disaster. and
why should the squeaking of Il pig al night
be considered an evil omen? At the mere
sight Of an overturned hatch many sea
man will declare that another ship has just
gone 10 the bottom. ard he will say the
same should the salt hOX or the cracker
barge tanglice biscuit boX) be upset