The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-02-20
Record of the ''FIying Dutchman"
Other Haunted Vessels.
Ascertained That There Was Sea
man Of Repute Named Vandes.
decken, Who Sailed From
Holland to the East Many
Years Ago.


II would be surprising il among salY-
ormen and fisherfolk, whose supersti
ton is proverbial, a large amount of
legendary narrative connected wRSh
their calling did not exist. A little
research proves that this is SO and
that the sea possesses it's quota OF
uncanniness, but which, with one not
able exception, is seldom heard Of
This of course Is the famous Fly
ing Dutchman" or phantom ship Of
Vanderdecken. How the story orig
mated is doubtful, but IL has been as
certained 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 10
weather the headland. Others state
that this punishment was meted oWt
to him in retribution for terrible
murder he committed before ccn1
mencing his fateful voyage.
Whatever the cause of this ancient
gentleman's monotonous wandering
may be, 1t is probably in connection
with him, says the London Globe. that
the most authentic and cold-blooded
record of any phantom exists either
afioat or ashore, for 1t is stated that
in the log of H. M. S. Bacchante, while
on voyage round the world with the
little princes in 1881. there appears
on July II the entry: Flying Dutch
man crossed our bows" The log book
of one of the then largest of her Maj
esty's warships is certainly the last
place to expect to find that which Ia
generally associated with the hysterf
cal of either sex. ~,
In the Chronicles of the st. Law
renee" by lie Maine 1t Is recorded that
on a certain day in the year phan
tom ship is seen off Cap dEshoiF in
Gaspe Bay. Lights are seen aboard
of her and her decks are crowded with
men, BY the foot of the bowsprie
man is conspicuously standing and
facing toward the shore with 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 re-
duce the French forts, the vessel. be-
ing lost with all hands. There. is also
related among the lumbermen Of the
same great river of an antique caravei
which sails up the Cadolia Falls.
where no other vessel dare or could
follow. -
To come to our native waters, there
are numerous instances related in TO
cal history of the visitations Of ghost
ly vessels, the west OF England, as
might be expected, being most prolific
In these records. Indeed, CORNWALL
boasts of a goblin ship probably
unique the world over, as she not only
sails the water but proceeds most
unconcerned by some good distance
inland.
This is the specter ship of PortiI-
curno, and in Robert Hunts book is
related the experience of local In
| habitant who witnessed one OF her
escapades. She is described as a black
square rugged single masted vessel.
sometimes towing q small boat. No
crew is ever seen; presumably they
are down below.
The personal narrative says: On
came the craft. 1t passed steadily
! through the breakers, glideo on over
/ the sands, steadily pursued its coarse
on the dry land as If 1t had been wa
! ter. On 1t went to Bodelan, where ST.
Leven formerly dwelt. 1t then steered
it's course to Chygwiden, and there
vanished like smoke"
Bottrell also tells that in another
Cornish bay during an incoming Fog
the noise of falling spars, guns firing
and SO forth is heard as II an action
were in progress.
Mary instances can be given of how
ships themselves are said to- be haunt
ed. especially when murder has &C
CURED on board And of the West
Indies grewsome stories are told OF
the restless spirits. of the ancient pi-
rates, who presumably are too wicked
to leave this sphere, but visit their
old quarters and provide any uRfCr-
tunate shipwrecked seaman with a
fund of horrors" which he eventually
relates to a gaping audience of broth
! er salts.