The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-03-11
OCEAN sPEcTERs.
Phantom Craft That Are Said to
Haunt the High Seas.
A CURIOUS ENGLISH RECORD.

The Log ~ the wsrship Bseehsnts
Under Oats Of July II, 1881, Bears
the Entry, "Fiyins Dutehmsn cross.
cd Our eows"-Ths Goblin ship.
There are numerous legends and sto.
1es of ghostly vessels that roam the
briny deep. nnd many hard headed
mariners. free from the common su.
perstitiou Of the ordinary sailorman.
stoutly maintain that they have ut
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 il. Of
course. the famous Flying Dutchman.
or phantom ship of vanderdecken.
How the story originated il doubtful,
but 1t has been ascertnined that there
was q seaman Of repute who many
years ago sailed from Holland to the
east Win the Cape OF Good Hope. but
was never ngain heard Of.
Some authorities say that. meeting
with contrary winds or the cape. he
swore terrible oath. in consequence
Of which the divine wrath decreed
TINT 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 I'm retribution for terrible
murder he committed before commenc-
ing his fateful voyage
Whatever the cause OF this ancient
gentleman's monotonous wandering
may be. It is probably in connection
with him that the most authentic and
cold bl0Oded record of any phantom ex-
lists either aaoat or ashore, for 1t IL
stated that In the log Of II. NJ. 8. Bac-
chante while on voyage round the
world with the little princes In 1881
there appears on July II the entry,
"E!ying Dutchman crossed our bows"
The log book Of one Of the then largest
Of her majesty's warshlps is certainly
the very last place to expect to find
that which Is generally associated with
the hysterical of either sex.
During January. 1647. 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 a severe
thunderstorm. the missing ship was
seen smiling 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 consterna ton 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 n Inst visit to her
port before resting for good on the
ocean bed.
In the "Chronicles of tho St Law.
renee" by lie Maine. 1t is recorded that
on certain day In the year phantom
ship il seen or Cap dEspoir, In Gospe
bay. Lights are seen aboard her. and
her decks are crowded with men. BY
the foot Of the, bowsprit man IL con-
spicuonsly standing and facing toward
the shore. with a lady clinging to his
arm. Gradually the lights go out and
the vessel sinks. II Is said to be the
ghost Of the flagship of n feet which
was sent out to reduce the French
forts, the vessel being lost with all
hands.
10 come to British waters. there are
numerous instances related In local
history of the visitations Of ghostly
vessels. the west Of England. as might
be expected, being most prolific In
these records. says a writer In the Lon
don Globe. Indeed. Cornwall boasts of
goblin ship probably unique the
world over. as she not only sails the
water. but proceeds most unconcerned
q good distance inland.
This 10 the specter ship OF Porthcur.
no, and In Robert Hunts book on "Ro.
mances of the West OF England" are 70.
lated the experiences Of local inhab'
itant who witnessed one Of her esca.
pades. She Is described as black
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 ur
over the sands, steadily pursued IT.
course ON the dry land ~ II II had been
water. On Il went to B0delan. wheT,
st. Leven formerly dwelt II then
stsered its course to Chygwiden and
there vanished like smoke"
An Awful Blew.
"Yes." said Slithers. mickey wa