The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1913-07-11
OCEAN SPECTERS.
Phantom Craft That Are Said to
Haunt the High Seas.
A CURIOUS ENGLISH RECORD.
The Log of the Warship Baeehante
Under Date Of July II, 1881, Bears
the Entry, "FIyins Dutehmsn cross-
ed Our Bowsn-The Goblin Ship.

Sd 0uT 0UWS tu0 8SpttH SUtPs
There are numerous legends and sto
ries of ghostly vessels that roam the
briny deep, and many hard headed
mariners, free from the common SUI
perstition of the ordinary sailorman,
stoutly maintain that they have at
least once in their maritime career en-
countered what was undoubtedly
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 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 consequence
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 meted out
to him in retribution for 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
cold blooded record Of any phantom ex-
lists either afloat or ashore, for 1t is
stated that in the log Of Fl. M. S. Bac-
chante while on voyage round the
world with the little princes In 1881
there appears on July IL the entry,
"Flying Dutchman crossed our bows"
The log book of one of the then largest
Of her majesty's warships is certainly
the very last place to expect to find
that which is generally associated with
the hysterical of either sex.
During January, 1G47. vessel left
| New Haven, Conn, on her maiden voy.
age, but was never again heard Of. In
the following. June, just before the
hour of sunset and after severe
thunderstorm, the missing ship was
seen sailing up the river. The inhabit-
| ants, taking their evening stroll, were
| overjoyed at her return, but the most
| observant of them noticed that there
was something uncanny about her, es.
pecially 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 last visit to her
port before resting for good on the
| ocean bed.
In the CHRONICLES of the. st. Law.
renee" by lie Maine, 1t is recorded that
| on certain day in the year phantom
ship is seen off Cap d'Espoir, In Gospe
bay. Lights are seen aboard her, and
| her decks are crowded with men. BY
/ the foot of the bowsprit man is con-
spicuously standing and facing toward
the shore, with lady clinging to his
arm Gradually the lights go out and
| the vessel sinks It Is said to be the
ghost of the flagship of feet which
was sent out TO reduce the French
forts, the vessel being lost with all
hands.
To come to British waters, there are
numerous instances related In local
| history Of the yisitations Of ghostly
vessels, the west of England, as might
be expected, being most prolific in
these records, says writer In the Lon
don Globe. Indeed, Cornwall boasts of
a goblin ship probably unique the
world over, as she not only sails the
water, but proceeds most unconcerned
a good distance inland.
This is the speeter ship of Porthcur'
no, and in Robert Hunts book on "Ro-
mances of the West of England" are re-
lated the experiences of local fnhab.
liant who witnessed one Of her esca-
pades. She is described as blacl;
square rugged single masted vessel,
sometimes towing small boat No
crew are ever seen; presumably they
are down below. The personal nara
tive goes on to say:
ION came the craft. II passed stead
lily through the breakers, glided UP
over the sands, steadily pursued Its
course on the dry land as If 1t had been
water On 1t went to Bodelan, where
St Lcyen formerly dwelt. 1t then
steered Its course to Chygwiden and
there vanished like smoke"