The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1913-01-28
MEETING A GHOST
Old Tom Came Face to Face With
1t Between Decks.
SCARED THE SAILOR STIFF.


Yell There Mas a 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, boy of thirteen. was max
in. 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 seouse
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 We're piled against
the forward bulkhead next the forecas
tie
When he awoke it was dark. but
light streaming through some anger
holes in the bulkhead 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
4 cussing the manner in which he had
/ been swept overheard He heard old
I Tom say. We'll. I'm sorry l hit him.
i but the cub scalt every spear of hair
out of my head"
He had another long sleep. When he
7 awoke he heard the crew waShin.
( down decks and realized that he was
perfectly we'll and very hungry. He
found a barrel of apples in the lower
hold. filed his pocket and shirt bosom
4 climbed back into his nest. ate apples
| and went to sleep again
The next day old Tom was sent be
low to cut 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 bulgins
eyes" says Mr. Whidden. 'he gazet
at me a moment. then dropping ropt
and knife and emitting a series o.
{ blood curdling yells he dashed for th'
, BOBBY hatch and disappeared on deck
: Every one was aroused l heard thu
second mate ask. What's broke loos'
with you? and all old Tom eoult
calculate was. I've seen himi I've seel
himr
Seen whoT yelled Mr.. Fabens,
: "'Oh, the boys ghosti the boy
= ghosts Old Tom was nearly brighten
ed out of his wits.
MIR Fabens,' said the captain. sc
a lantern. take that fellow below an
see what scared him.
so Mr.. Fabens descended the ladde
with half the crew at his back an
old Tom bringing up the rear. As the
came forward the mate called GU
, Where's your ghost? | don't see an
ghostr
Until now l had lain quiet but fee
e step ont of the coil Tom gave anotht
F. veil and broke for the hatch iadde
followed by half the men.
a MIR Fabens came up. reached eve
= lifted me out by the collar and marl
> ed me on deck. where | was at onC
! surrounded by officers and crew
Captain King stepped forward az
said, Well. boy where have You be-
> for the last forty-eight hoursg
Z Between decks. sir. | sheepish
: answered
= What have you been doing 3
tween decks?
= sleeping. sir
4 what sleeping two days al
nights?
mot all the time. sir. replied.
b Had anything to eatY
Il "'Apples.' | yentured
4 "Where did you get the applesr
II "'Out of the hold. sir. got the he;
- out of a barrel
"'Oh. you did! Do you know you
been broaching cargor and the
D thinking the farce had gone t
enough. for all hands were on {
6 broad grin. he said. sternly:
Now go for'ard. boy. and II y
A cut any more capers like that. you
. get a ropes ending you'll rememb
u all your life.' Then. to Mr.. FabeI
4 he added. Keep him up In his d.
watch below for week and give b
plenty of work
THAT ended his lecture, and / W
glad it was over and that 1 had {
70 capped so easily. Going forward wi
ID the men, | was pleased to see tn
bore me no III telling. not even To
"A although he might have been excus
IL he had done So"
- Incorporating.