The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1913-01-16
MEETING A GHOST
Old Tom Came Face to Face With
It Between Decks.
SCARED THE SAILOR STIFF.
Then When He Got Wind Enough to
Yell There Was Livsiy Time
Aboard the Old Sailing Vessel Till a
Mate Ended the Mystery.

MAKE Enceo khe mystSFy.
OF 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
superstitous. sees his fEil share of
apparitions. This amusing story. told
by the ghost himself. is found IN Cap
tain John D. Whidden's Ocean Life In
the Old Sailing Days
Whidden. Il boy OF thirteen. was max
ing his tirst voyage. The ship was
hardly clear OF land when Il heavy
storm set in. Whidden was feeling
wretched and in carrying breakfast to
the forecastle upset Il pan Of hot scouse
on the head of "od Tom at the foot Of
the companonway stairs The cutting
lie had for this did not make him feel
any better An hour or two later, when
the men were sent aloft. the boy slip
ped down the BOBBY hatch and was
soon fast asleep among some rope. can
vas and oakum that were piled against
the forward bulkhead next the forecas
tie.
When he awoke it was dark. but
light streaming through some auger
holes in the bulkhead and the sound Of
voices brought him to his senses. He
was surprised to hear the crew talking
about him, rs If he were dead. and dis
cussing the manner in which he had
been swept overheard. He heard old
Tom say. well. I'm sorry | hit him.
bnt the cub scalt every spear Of hair
out Of my head"
He had another long sleep. When he
awoke he, heard the crew washing
down decks and realized that he was
perfectly well and very hungry. He
found barrel Of apples in the lower
hold. filed his pocket and shirt bosom,
climbed back into his nest, ate apples
and went to sleep again.
The next day old Tom was sent be-
low to cut piece Of rope from the
coils among which Whidden was hid
ing While he was saving at the rope,
the boy. disturbed by the noise. peeped
out of the coil of hawser in which he
lay and met Toms glance.
with whitened face and bullying
eyes," says Mr. Whidden. "he sazed
at me a moment. then dropping rope
and knife and emitting a series Of
blood curdlinG yells he dashed for the
BOBBY hatch and disappeared on deck.
Every one was aroused. | heard the
second mate ask. What's broke loose
with your and all old Tom could
calculate was. I've seen him! I've seen
hint
"'Seen who?' yelled Mr.. Fabens.
"'Oh. the boys ghost! the boys
ghost" Old Tom was nearly frighten-
ed out Of his wits.
MIR Fabens.' said the captain. get
Il anterK>'fake that fellow below and
see what scared him
so MIR Fabens descended the ladder
with half the crew at his back, and
old Tom bringing up the rear AS they
came forward the mate called out.
Where's your ghost? don't see any
ghost"
"Cntii now had lain quiet. but feel
Ing that | was discovered | rose up to
step outef the coil Tom gave another
yell and broke for the hatch ladder,
followed by half the men. &,
MT. Fabens came up. reached over.
lifted me out by the collar and march
I'd 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 forty-eight hours"
"'Betweeu decks. sir | sheepishly
answered
What have you been doing be-
tween decks"
"'Sleeping, sir
"'What. sleeping two days and
nights?
"'Not all the time, sir, replied.
"'Had anything to eat?'
APPLES | yentured.
Where did you get the apples?
"'Out OF the hold, sir. | got the mead
ont of Il barrel
"Oh. you did. DO you know You've
been broaching cargoy and then,
thinking the farce had gone far
enough. for all hands were on the
broad grin. he said. sternly:
Now so for'ard. boy, and If you
cnt any more capers like that yon'n
get ropes ending you'll remember
all your life Then, to Mr.. Fabens
he added Keep him mp in his day
watch below for n week and give him
plenty of work
That ended his lecture. and was
glad it was over and that | had es.
capped SO easily, Going forward with
the men. was pleased to see they
bore me no III Telling. not even Tom.
although lie might have been excused
II he had done SO"
sAs