The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-08-26
OCEAN SPECTERS.
Phantom Craft That Are Said to
Haunt the High Seas.
A CURIOUS ENGLISH RECORD.
The Log of the Warship Bacchante
Under Date of July II, 1881, Bears
the Entry, "FIying Dutohmsn Cross
ed Our Bows"-The Goblin Ship.


the Entry, "FIyins Dutohmsn Cross
ed Our Bows"-The Goblin Ship.
There are numerous legends and sto-
eies 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.
pr phantom ship of Vanderdecken.
How the story originated is doubtful
but it 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 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 a 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 blooded record of any phantom ex-
lists either afloat or ashore, for 1t is
stated that in the log of II. NJ. S. Bac-
chante while on a voyage round the
world with the little princes in 1881
I there appears on July II 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, 1917, a 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 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 We're 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
renee" by lie Maine, it 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 a 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. 1t is said to be the
ghost of the flagship of a fleet which
was sent out to reduce the Frencl
forts, the vessel being lost with al
hands.
To come to British waters, there are
numerous instances related in loca
history of the visitations of ghostly
vessels, the west of England, as Nigh
be expected, being most prolific il
these records, says a writer in the, Lon
don Globe. Indeed, Cornwall boasts o
goblin ship probably unique th
world over, as she not only sails th'
water, but proceeds most unconcernet
a good distance inland.
, This is the specter ship of Porthcur
, no, and in Robert Hunts book on Gro
mances of the West of England" are re
lated the experiences Of a local inhah
itant who witnessed one of her esca
pades. She is described as a blacl
, square rigged single masted vessel
, sometimes towing a small boat. n
crew are ever seen; presumably the
! are down below. The personal nara
! tive goes on to say:
"On came the craft. 1t passed stead
, lily through the breakers, glided u
. over the sands, steadily pursued it
: course on the dry land as If it had bee
water. On it went to Bodelan, wher
n st. Leven formerly dwelt. 1t the
' steered its course to Chygwiden an
|. there vanished like smoke"