The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-05-29
SPECTER SHIPS ON HIGH SEAS.
The Flying Dutchman Not the Only
Sailor Doomed to Wander.

1t would be surprising if among the
sailormen and fisherfolk, whose su-
perstition is proverbial, a large
amount Of legendary narrative con-
nected with their calling did not e1-
ist. A little research proves that this
is so, and that the sea possesses It's
quota of uncanniness, but which, with
one notable exception, is seldom
heard of. This, Of course, is the
famous Flying Dutchman," or
phantom ship of Venderdecken.
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 by way of 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 COM
mencing his fateful voyage.
Whatever the cause of this ancient
gentleman's monotonous wanderings
may be, it is probably in connection
with him, says the London Globe, that
the most authentic and cold-blooded
record of any phantom exists either
afoat or ashore, for it is stated that
in the log of Her Majesty's ship Bac-
chante, while on voyage around the
world with the little Princess in 1881,
there appears on July II the entry:
Flying Dutchman crossed our bows. y
The logbook of one of the then largest
of her majestys warships is certainly
the very last place to expect to find
that which is generally associated
with the hysterical of either sex.
In the "Chronicles of St. Law
renee" by LIE Maine, it is recorded
that on a certain day in the year a
phantom ship is seen off Cape
d'Espoir in Gaspe Bay. Lights are
seen aboard of her, and her decks
are crowded with men. By the foot
of the bowsprit a man is conspicu-
ously standing and facing toward the
shore, with lady clinging to his
arms. Gradually the lights go out and
the vessel sinks. 1t is said to be the
ghost of the flagship of fleet which
was sent out to reduce the French
forts, the vessel being lost with all
hands. There is also related among
the lum bermen of the same great
river the tale of an antique caravel
which sails up the Cadolla Falls,
where no other vessel dare or could
go.
To come to English 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 prolif-
ic 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 unconcernedly some good dis
tsnce inland.
This is the specter ship of the
Porthcurno, and in Robert Hunts
book is related the experience OF a
local inhabitant who witnessed one
of her escapades. She is described
as a black, square rugged, single
masted vessel, sometimes towing a
small boat. No crew is ever seen;
presumably they are down below.
The personal narrative says: ION
came the craft. 1t passed steadily
through the breakers, glided on over
the sands, steadily pursuingits course
on the dry land as if it had been wa
ter. On it went to Bodelan, where
st. Leven formerly dwelt. 1t then
steered its course to Chygwiden, and
there vanished like smoke
Bottrell also tells us that in anoth-
er 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. Many in
stances can be given of how ships
themselves are said to be haunted,
especially when murder has oc-
Cured on board And of the west
Indies grewsome stories are told OF
the restless spirits of the ancient pl-
rates, who presumably are too wicked
to leave this sphere, but visit their
old quarters and provide any unfor-
tunate shipwrecked seamen with a
fund of horrors" which he eVentu-
ally relates to a gaping audience OF