American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1913-03-27
OCEAN sPECTERs.
Phantom Craft That Are Said to
Haunt the High Seas.
A CURIOUS ENGLISH RECORD.
Tho Log Of the Warship Baochants
Under Date Of July II. 1881, Bears
the Entry, Flying Dutchman Cross
ed Our Rows"-Iha Goblin Shin.

Under Date of July II, 1881, esars
the Entry, Flying Dutohman cross-
cd Our Bows"-The Goblin Ship.
here are numerous legends and st0-
ries of ghostly vessels that roam the
briny deep, and many hard headed
mariners. free from the common su-
perstition of the ordinary sailorman.
stoutly maintain that they have at
least once In their maritime career en-
countered what was undoubtedly a
phantom ship.
Best known of those mysterious
craft that haunt the high seas Is, Of
course. the famous Flying Dutchman,
or phantom ship OF vanderdecken.
How the story originated is doubtful,
but 1t has been ascertained that there
was a seaman of repute who many
years ago sailed from Holland to the
east via the Cape Of Good Hope, but
was never again heard of.
Some authorities say that. meeting
with contrary winds off the cape, he
swore a terrible oath, in
Of which the divine wrath decreed
that he should be occupied till the
crack of doom in ~endeavoring to
weather the headland. Others state
that this punishment was melted out
TO him In retribution for a terrible
murder he committed before commenc-
ing his fateful voyage.
whatever the cause Of this ancient
gentleman's monotonous wandering
may be. 1t is probably in connection
with him that the most authentic and
old hooded record of any phantom ex-
lists either afOat or ashore. for 1t Is
stated that in the log of H. NJ. S. Bac-
chante while on a voyage round the
world with the little princes In 1881
there appears on July II the entry,
Flying Dutchman crossed our bows"
The log book of one of the then largest
of her majesty1s warships is certainly
the very last place to expect to find
that which is generally associated with
the historical of either sex.
During January. 1647, a vessel left
New Haven, Conn, on her maiden voy-
age, but was never again heard of. In
the following June, lust before the
hour of sunset and after a severe
thunderstorm the missing ship was
seen sailing up the river. The inhabit-
ants. taking their evening stroll, were
over1oyed at her return. but the most
observant of them noticed that there
was something uncanny about her, es-
p%ecially in that she appeared to be
sailing up against the wind.
Then. to the CONSERVATION Of all, she
gradually faded away before their eyes
and entireley disappeared. We may be
assured that there were not wanting
those who maintained that the vessel
in spirit had paid a last visit to her
port before resting for good on the
ocean bed.
In the CHRONICLES of the st. Law
by lie Maine. it is recorded that
a certain day In the year a phantom
ship is seen off Cap d'Espoir, in Gospe
bay. Lights are seen aboard her, and
decks are crowded with men. By
the foot of the bowsprit a man is con
s~picuously standing and facing toward
he shore. with a lady clinging to his
'rm Gradually the lights go out and
he vessel sinks. 1t is said to be the
ghost of the flagship of a f1eet which
vas sent out to reduce the French
'orts. the vessel being lost with all
lands.
To come to British waters. there are
Instances related in local
history of the visitations of ghostly
-esSels, the west of England. as might
'e expected. being most prolific In
heSe records. says a writer in the Lon.
on Globe Indeed. Cornwall boasts of
goblin ship probably unique the
world over. as she not only sails the
7ater. but proceeds most unconcerued
good distance inland.
This is the Specter ship of Porthcur-
O. and in Robert Hunts book on "Ro-
of the West of England" are re-
tied the experiences of a local inhab-
ant who witnessed one of her esca
She is described as a black
luare rugged single masted vessel.
towing a small boat. No
rev are ever seen: presumably they t
re down below. The personal nara I
We goes on to say: {
On came h craft. 1t passed stead |
y through the breakers. glided up g
yer he sands. steadily pursued its '
PURSE on the dry land as if it had been e
On 1t wen to Bodelan. where
Leven formerly dwelt 1t then c
eered its curse to Chygwiden and r
lere vanished like smoke" I
An Awful Blow. a
"YQc " Satd Clithorv HAgf,llc- 800 .