The daily Alaskan., 1913-02-08
MEETING A GHOST
Old Tom Came Face to Face With
 It Between Decks.
SCARED THE SAILOR STIFF.

Then When Ne Got Wind Enough Co
 YsH There was Lively Time
 Aboard the old Sailing Vessel TiUl e
 Mate Ended the Mystery.
 or course there Is no reason why ghosts should not be found on ship board as often as elsewhere. AS a matter of fact, Jack, who Is always superstitious, sees his full share of apparltions This amusing story, told by the ghost himself, is found In Cap tain John D. Whidden's ocean Life In the old Sailing Days"
 whiddeu, a boy Of thirteen, was mak- ing his arst voyage. The ship was hardly clear ot land when a heavy storm set in. whldden was feeling wretched and In carrying breakfast to the torecastle upset pan of hot scouse on the head of "old Tom" at the foot or the cumpunlouway stairs The calling he had for this did not make him feel any better An hour or two later, when the men were sent aIoft, the boy slip ped down the booby hatch and was soon fast asleep among some rope, can vas and uakum that were piled against tbe forward bulkhead next the tOrecas- tie.
 When he awoke it was dark, but light streaming through some auger holes iu the bulkhead and the sound or voices brought him Co his senses. He was surprised to hear the crew talking about him. as if he were dead, and dis cussinr the manner in which he had been swept overheard He heard old Tom say. Well. I'm sorry | hit him, but the cub scaIt every spear of hair out Of my head"
 He had another long sleep When he awoke he heard the crew washing down devks and realized that be was perfectly well and very hungry. He found a barrel Of apples in the lower hold. filled bis pocket and shirt bosom, climbed back into his nest, ate apples and went Co sleep again
 The next day old Tom was sent be- low to cut piece of rope from the coils among which whiddcn was hid Ing While he was saving at the rope, the boy. disturbed by the noise, peeped out of the coll Of hawser tn which he lay and met Toms glance.
 "wIth whitened face and bulglug eyes" says Mir. Whld6en, "he gazed at me a moment, then dropping rope and knife and emitting a series of blood curdlinC yells he dashed for the booby hatch and disappeared on deck. Every one was aroused. I heard the second mate ask. Whats broke loose with youT and all old Tom could eIaculate was. I've seen him! I've seen hlmT
 Co Seen wnoT yelled Mir. Fabens
 "'Oh, the boys ghostl the boys ghostT old Tom was nearly frighten- ed out of his wits.
 "Mr. Fabens,' said the captain, get a lantern, take that fellow below and see what scared hlm'
 "So Mir. Fabens descended the ladder with half the crew at hls hack, and old Tom bringing up the rear. As they came forward the mate called out Where's your ghostl I don't see any ghostT
 Until now had lain quiet, but feel ing that | was discovered rose up to stpp out Of the coil. Tom gave another yell and broke for the hatch ladder, followed by half the men.
 'Nir Fsbens came up, reached over, lifted me out by tho collar and march cd me on deck. where was at once surrounded by officers and crew.
 Captain King stepped forward and said. Well, boy, where have you been for the last torty-elght hoursr
 Between decks, slr,' sheepishly answered.
 "'whut have you been doing be- tween decksT
 Sleeping, slr'
 "'what. sleeping two days and nightsT
 "'Not an the time. sir,' replied
 "'Had anything to eatT
 "'Apples | ventured
 "Where did you get the applesT
 "'Out Of the hold. sir. [ got Che head out of a barrel
 "'Oh, you didl Do you know you've been preaching cargoT and then, thinking the farce bad gone far enough. for all hands were on the broad grin, he said, sternly:
 "Now go for'ard. boy, and f you cut any more capers like that youn get a ropes ending you'll remember all your life Then, to Mir Fabsus he added, Keep him up in bis day watch below for a week and give him plenty of work
 srTbpf pnded hIg lpCture and I was