The Ocala evening star., 1911-01-03
SALT SEA YARNS.
Signs and Omens 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 q Mysterious Wailina.

Proved Too Much For the Morse
MANA Bucket of Water That
Stopped q Mysterious Wailina.
1t Is a well known fact that In the
past the sailor was among the most
supersutious 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
If 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
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 a voyage on a 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-
ly 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
heImsman 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 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 a 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 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 his version of the matter.
This man, a Tyne-sider, who dearly
loved a joke and had no respect at
all for hoary superstitions, had con-
spired with his fellows to play a trick
on the watch. On the night in ques-
ton he had crept over the bows with
out a sound. carrying with him the
ships cat secured in a 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 a cat whose tail 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 a 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 unlucky for the
ships boy to whistle on the weather
| bow, except that it is generally un-
| pleasant from q music lovers point OF
| view for boy to whistle on any bow
at all.
On one occasion superstition and a
| guilty conscience caused q practical
| Joke to have fatal consequences. The
incident arose through one of the sail,
| ors, a 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, q
/ white shirt and some string, very
presentable ghost was arranged II
| the foc'sle on the night the NorsemaI
/ was on watch. He was to be allowed
only a glimpse Of the spirit on enter
ing the foc'sle, and 1t was then 10 van
ish from view, being jerked by means
Of a string underneath the bunk OF one
! Of the jokers. Everything was ready
and the three conspirators lay In theil
hunks awaiting their victim. Unfor
tunately they all fell asleep, to be sud
| denly awakened by loud cry from
the Norwegian. He stood gazing a
the ghost" the dim light shed by th'
lamp falling on his CHASTITY face The
three were about to call out to hin
when he spoke. NO, no." he cried, :"
did not mean 10 Kill you. Morgan. Oh
mercy. mercy" And he rushed madl!
from the foc'sle. Terrified. his ship
mates followed him. but as they reach
al tho dacl, rhpy saw the Norwegian