The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-02-06
MEETING A GHOST
Old Tom Came Face to Face With
It Between Decks.
SCARED THE SAILOR STIFF.

Then When He Got Wind Enough to
YeII There Was Lively Time
Aboard the Old Sailing Vessel Till .
Mate Ended the Mystery.
OF course there is no reason why
ghosts should not be found on ship
board as often as elsewhere. As a
matter Of fact, Jack, who is always
superstitious, sees his full share OF
apparitions. This amusing story, told
by the ghost himself, Is found in Cap
tain John D. Whidden's ocean Life In
the Old Sailing Days."
Whidden, a boy Of thirteen, was max
ing his first voyage The ship was
hardly clear of land when a heavy
storm set in. Whidden was feeling
wretched and in carrying breakfast to
the forecastle upset a pan Of hot scouse
on the head Of "old Tom" at the foot OF
the companionway stairs. The cutting
he had for this did not make him feel
any better. An hour or two later, when
the men were sent aloft, the boy slip
ped down the BOBBY hatch and was
soon fast asleep among some rope, can
vas and oakum that were piled against
the forward bulkhead next the forecas-
| tie.
When he awoke it was dark, but
light streaming through some anger
holes in the bulEhead and the sound Of
voices brought him to his senses. He
was surprised to hear the crew talking
about him, as if he were dead, and dis
cussing the manner in which he had
been swept overheard. He heard old
Tom say, ''Well, I'm sorry l hit him,
but the cub scalt every spear of hair
out of my head"
He had another long sleep. When he
awoke he heard the crew washing
| down decks and realized that he was
perfectly well and very hungry. He
found barrel of apples in the lower
hold, filled his pocket and shirt bosom.
climbed back into his nest, ate apples
and went to sleep again.
The next day old Tom was sent be-
low to cut a piece of rope from the
coils among which Whidden was hid
ing. While he was saving at the rope,
the boy, disturbed by the noise, peeped
out of the coil Of hawser in which he
, lay and met TOMS glance.
"With whitened face and bullying
eyes, says Mr.. Whidden, ''he gazed
at ME moment, then dropping rope
and knife and emitting series OF
blood curdling yells he dashed for the
| BOBBY hatch and disappeared on deck.
Every one was aroused. heard the
second mate ask, Whats broke loose
with your and all old Tom could
calculate was, I've seen him! I've seen
him! .
"'Seen who? yelled Mr.. Fabens.
"'Oh, the boys ghost! the boys
ghostv Old Tom was nearly brighten.
ed out Of his wits.
| "'Mr. Fabens,' said the captain, get
| lantern, take that fellow below and
! see what scared him.
$50 Mr.. Fabens descended the ladder
with half the crew at his back, and
old Tom bringing up the rear As they
came forward the mate called out.
Where's your ghost? don't see any
| ghost" ~
Until now l had lain quiet, but feel
ing that I was discovered rose up to
| step out of the COIL Tom gave another
yell and broke for the hatch ladder,
followed by half the men.
"AIr. Fabens came up, reached over.
lifted me out by the collar and march.
! ed me on deck, where was Mt once
| surrounded by officers and crew.
Captain King stepped forward and
said, We'll, boy, where have you been
for the last forty-eight hours?'
"'Between decks, SIR sheepishly
| answered.
"'What have you been doing be-
tween decks?
"'Sleeping, sir
"'What. sleeping two days and
nights?'
"'Not all the time, SIR replied.
"'Had anything to eat?'
"'Apples,' I ventured.
| w Dclc ulu JOu 6CI lHC apPiSS'
"'Out of the hold, sir. I got the head
out Of a Darrell
"'Oh, you did! Do you know you've
been broaching cargo?' and then.
thinking the farce had gone far
enough, for all hands We're on the
broad grin, he said, sternly:
"'Now 60 for'ard, boy, and If you
| cut any more capers like that, you'll
get ropes ending you'll remember
Ill your life Then, to Mr.. Fabens,
he added. Keep him up in his day
watch below for a week and give him
plenty Of work
"That ended his lecture, and I was
glad It was over and that / had es-
capped so easily. Going forward with
the men, l was pleased to see they
bore me no i'll telling, not even Tom,
although he might have been excused
II he had done so.'