The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1912-11-30


Superstition has it that the appearance Of the
phantom ship leads to certain and swift misfor
tune.
Old sailors will tell of the ship of the Flying
Dutchman bowling along in the very teeth OF
the wind and of her overtaking their own ship
which beating to windward. Some OF them
say they have seen her sail clean through their
ship the swirling films of her sails and rigging
leaving a cold clammy feeling like the touch OF
death.
Cornwall in the old days remarkable for
its wreckers. and it's rockb bound coast was the
scene of many evil deeds The Priests Cove
wrecker during his evil life lured many vessels
to their doom upon the cruel shore by means Of
a false light hung round the neck of hobbled
horse. To this day the good Cornish folk will
tell you of the phantom of the wrecker seen when
the winds howl and the seas rage high, carried
cnging to a log of wood upon the crests OF the
breaking seas. and how it is sent crashing upon
the rocks. where in the seething foam it disap-
pears from sight.
The wide stretching Standardized estuary Of
the Solway has many a ghost story and more
than phantom ship.
The Spectral Shallop" is the ghost of ferry
boat which wrecked by rival ferryman while
carrying a bridal party across the bay. The
ghostly boat is rowed by the skeleton Of the
cruel ferryman. and such ships as are so
lucky as to encounter this CHASTITY pilot
usually doomed to be wrecked upon the sands.
No money would tempt the Solway fishermen
to go out to meet the two Danish searovers
whose ships. upon clear nights, are seen gliding
up one OF the narrow channels which thread the
dried-out sands. the high-curved prows and rows
OF shields along the gunwae glittering in the
moonlight These two piratica ships It seems
ran into The Solway and dropped anchor there
when sudden furious storm came up and the
ships which were heavily laden with plumber
sank at their moorings with all the villains
which composed their crews
Among the rocks upon the rugged coast of
Kerry was found winter morning early in
the eighteenth century, a large galleon mastless
and deserted. The Kerry wreckers crowded
aboard, and wild their JOY, for the ship was
laden with ingots Of silver from the Spanish
Main. They gradually filled their boats until the
gunwaes were almost down to the waters edge
and hastily they pulled to the shore in order that
they might return for further ingots before the
tide rose and ioated the ship away. Nearing the
shore huge tidal wave broke over boats and
ship. and when the wave had passed. the horri
fed women watching shore saw no sign re-
naming Of boats men or ship
Wild horses would not get Kerry fisherman
to visit the scene Of this disaster upon the ami
versary Of the day the grim tragedy took place
for only bad luck has come to those who have
seen the re-enactment of the affair which Kerry
folk believe takes place upon that day
The Newhaven ghost ship signified her own
doom ship built at Newhaven in Jani1arv
l641, having sailed away upon her maiden vow
age, was thought to have been lost at sea when
one evening In June. during furious thunder
storm. the wel-known ship was sighted sailing
into the river mouth-but straight into the eve
OF the Windmill she neared the town. when
slowly she faded from the sight OF the peonIe
who crowded on shore to watch her The ap