The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-03-15
OCEAN SPECTERS.
Phantom Craft That Are Said to
Haunt the High Seas.
A CURIOUS ENGLISH RECORD.

The Log of the Warship 6acchants
Under Date of July II, 1891, Bears
the Entry, "Flyins Dutchman Cross
ed Our Rows"-The Goblin Ship.
There are numerous legends and sto-
des OF ghostly vessels that roam the
briny deep, and many hard headed
mariners. free from the common SUI
perstition of the ordinary saiIorman,
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 1t 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 melted 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 afioat or ashore, for Ii is
stated that in the log of II. NJ. S. Bac-
chante while on a voyage round the
world with the little princes in 1891
there appears on July II the entry,
Flying Dutchman crossed our bows"
The log book of one of the then largest
Of her majestys warships is certainly
the very last place to expect TO find
T that which is generally associated with
Z the hysterical of either sex.
: During January, 1647, a vessel left
| New Haven, Conn, on her maiden voy-
} age, but was never again heard of. In
p the following June, just before the
. hour of sunset and after a severe
I thunderstorm. the missing ship was
q seen sailing up the river. The inhabit-
ants. taking their evening stroll, were
4 overjoyed at her return, but the most
:. observant Of them noticed that there
was something uncanny about her, es-
q pecially in that she appeared to be
2 sailing up against the wind.
Y Then. to the CONSERVATION OF all, she
h gradually faded away before their eyes
/ and entireley disappeared. We may bt
< assured that there were not wanting
IL those who maintained that the vesse
in spirit had paid a last visit to hel
a port before resting for good on the
e ocean bed.
V In the chronicles Of the St Law
Ie renee" by lie Maine. it is recorded tina
- on a certain day in the year n phantom
10 ship is seen off Cap d'Espoir, in GOsp,
le bay. Lights are seen aboard her. anC
a her decks are crowded with men. b!
lie the foot of the bowsprit a man is con
spicuously standing and facing TOWARD
the shore, with a lady clinging to hi
@ arm. Gradually the lights go out an,
y the vessel sinks. 1t is said to be tn
ghost of the flagship of a feet whicl
." was sent out to reduce the Frencl
forts, the vessel being lost with al
III hands.
It To come to British waters, there ar
l. numerous instances related in loca
~ history of the visitatiOns of ghOstl
vessels. the west of England, as Nigh
20 be expected. being most prolific +
u these records, says 4 writer in the LoI
IS don Globe Indeed, Cornwall boasts G
of a goblin ship probably unique tn
world over. as she not only sails tn
water. but proceeds most uncOncerne
a good distance inland.
This is the specter ship Of POrthcu
no, and in Robert Hunts book on "R,
mances of the West of England" are r
lated the experiences of local inhal
liant who witnessed one of her eSCi
pades. She is described as a blaC
square rugged single masted vesse
sometimes towing a small boat
crew are ever seen; presumably the
are down below. The personal narr
tive goes on to say:
ION came the craft. 1t passed stea
fly through the breakers. glided L
over the sands. steadily pursued /
course on the dry land as if it had bee
water On it went to Bodelan. whe
St Leven formerly dwelt- 1t tn,
=, steered its course to Chygwiden al
there vanished like smoke"
I An Awful Blow.
M YES" said SlitherS "Nlickley w