The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-04-01
OCEAN SPECTERS.
Phantom Graft That Are Said to
Haunt the High Seas.
A CURIOUS ENGLISH RECORD.

The Log Of the WarshIp 6aeehants
Under Date of July II, 1881, Bears
the Entry, "FlyIng Dutohman Cross
cd Our Bows"-The Goblin ship.
There are numerous legends and sto-
ries of ghostly vessels that roam the
brtny deep, and many hard headed
mariners, free from the common SUI
perst1tion 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.
or 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 a 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 commence
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 afoat or ashore, for 1t is
stated that in the log of u. NJ. s. BAG
chante while on a voyage round the
world with the little princes in 1881
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, 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 aftes 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 were not wanting
those who maintained that the vessel
In spirit had paid 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 a 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 feet 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
a 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 local inhab-
liant who witnessed one Of her esca-
pades She is described as a 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 1t passed stead
ny through the breakers, glided up
ever the sands, steadily pursued its
course on the dry land as If it had been
water. On it went to Bodelan. where
st. Leven formerly dwelt It then
steered its course to Chygwiden and
there vanished like smoke"