Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-03-30
OCEAN SPECTERS.
Phantom Craft That Are Said tl
 Haunt the High Seas.
A CURIOUS ENGLISH RECORD.

ne Log or the Warsnip oaccnante
 Under Date of July il, 1881, Bears
 the Entry, "FIying Outchman Cross
 cd Our Bows"-The Goblin Ship.
 There are numerous legends and sto ries 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 mariMme career en- tOuntered what was undoubtedly a phantom ship.
 Best known of those mysterious craft that haunt the high seas is. of course, the famous Flying Dntchman. or phantom ship of Vanderdecken. How the story originated is doubtful. but it has been ascertained that there was q 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. meetin" with contrary winds off the cape. he swore q terrible oath, in consequence 
 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 n terrible murder he committed before commenr ing his fateful voyage.
 Whatever the cause of this ancient ,'., may be. it is probably in connection with him that the most authentic and cold blooded record of any phantom OK ists either afioat or ashore, for it i~ stated that in the log of II. NJ. g. Bac. chante while on voyage round the world with the little princes in 1881 there appears on July II the entry. l Plying Dutchman crossed our bows. ' | The log book of one of the then largest of her majesty's warships is certaini, thei very, last place to expect to fint that which is generally associated witt the hysterical of either sex.
 During January. 1647, vessel lief New Haven, Conn.,, on her maiden voy age, but was never again heard of. IL, 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 m sailing up against the wind. Then, to the consternation 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 he. port before resting for good on the ocean bed.
 In the "Chronicles of the St. Law rence," by Le Maine, it is recorded that on a certain day in the year phantom ship is seen off Cap q 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 a 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 fleet 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 visitations 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 good distance inland.
 This is the specter ship of Porthcur no. and in Robert Hunts book on "Ro mances of the West of England" are re lated the experiences of a local inhab itant who witnessed one of her esca pades. She is described as black square rigged single masted vessel sometimes towing small boat. Nc crew are ever seen; presumably they are down below. The personal narra i tive goes on to say:
 "On came the craft. It passed stead fly through the breakers, glided ul over the sands. steadily pursued its course on the dry land as if it had beer water On it went to Bodelan. where St. Leven formerly dwelt. It ther steered it's course to Chygwiden and there vanished like smoke"