The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1910-08-19
SALT SEA YARNS.
Signs and 0mens to Which the
Sailor GrimIy CIings.
A JOKE THAT PROVED FATAL.
Superstition and Guilty Conscience
Proved Too Much For the Morse
MANA Bucket of Water That
Stopped Mysterious WaiIing.

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1t is 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 stucI, In the mast or an
albatross or 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 great number Of years, with
touch probably added here and there,
turning comparatively ordinary sto-
ry 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.
tion by no means confined to seafaring
men), 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 slight
ground swell was running the watch,
who happened to be the most super
stitious Of them all, heard an unearth-
ly wailing coming apparently 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 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 agonized as it 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 bucket of water over
the rail. There was n gasp, then dead
silence, and nothing more was heard
that night.
When the watch went Off duty he Of
course gave detailed and lurid ac-
count of the incident to his shipmates
who listened, as he thought, in awed
silence and then called on one of the
audience for bis version Of the matter.
This man, Tyne-sider, who dearly
loved a joke and had no respect at
all for hoary superstitions, had con-
spired with his fellows to play trick
on the watch. On the night In ques-
tion he had crept over the bows with
out sound, carrying with him the
ships cat secured In bag. Crouch
ing under the stays, the joker let the
cats head out Of the bag, which he tied
round the animals neck so that 1t
could not 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 tall Is
being bitten gives vent are among the
most hair raising, The sound was
more or less regulated by squeezing
the luckless beasts body. The mates
bucket of water was as unwelcome as
unexpected and caused the Tyne-sider
to beat hurried retreat.
Not only Is the origin of many sea
superstitions "wropt In mystery" but
also any logical explanation of cause
and effect. 1t would puzzle any one to
say why 1t should be unlucly for the
ships boy to whistle on the weather
bow, except that 1t Is generally un-
pleasant from music lovers point of
view for boy to whistle on any bow
at all.
On one occasion superstition and a
guilty conscience caused practical
Joke to have fatal consequences. The
incident arose through one of the sail.
ors, Norwegian, boxing the ears of
the ships boy for the aforementioned
crime of whistling on the weather bow.
Not unnaturally the boy was annoyed
and determined to pay the Norwegian
out. Aided by two other sailors, a
white shirt and some string, a very
presentable "ghost" was arranged In
the foc'sle on the night the Norseman
was on. watch. He was to be allowed
only a glimpse of the spirit on enter
ing the foc'sle, and 1t was then to van
fish from view, being jerked by means
of q string underneath the bunk OF ono
pf the jokers. Everything was ready,
and the three conspirators lay in their
hunks awaiting their victim, Unfor-
tunately they all fell asleep. to be sud
denly awakened by loud cry from
the Norwegian. lie stood gazing at
tho 'ghost," the dim light shed by the
lamp falling on his CHASTITY face. The
three were about 10 call out to him
when he spoke. "No. no." he cried, Il
did not mean TO kill you, Morgan! oh,
mercy, mercyp And no rushed madly
49, s.na~tn fyA.ntaaH his shin.