Evening star., 1915-02-21
Phantom Ships.

iME the many legends of phantom
w ships. none is more widely told
than that of the Flying Dutchman, "
or phantom ship of vanderdecken How
the story originated no one knows, but
it has been ascertained that there was
seaman of repute who many years
via the Cape of Good Hope, but was
never heard of again.
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 until the crack
of doom in endeavoring to weather the
headland. Others state that this pun
ishment was meted out to him in retri-
button for terrible murder he COM
rnitted before commencing his fateful
voyage.
Whatever the cause of this ancient
mariners monotonous wanderings may
be, it is probably in connection with
him that the most authentic and cold
blooded record of any phantom exists,
either af1oat or ashore, for it is stated
that in the log of the British ship Bac-
world in 1881, there appears July II
the entry: Flying Dutchman crossed
our bows" The logbook of one of the
then largest of her majesty's naval
vessels, for such the Bacchante was, Is
certainly the last place to expect to
find a record of a phantom ship.
In the Chronicles of the st. Law
renee" by LIE Maine. 1t is recorded that
on certain day in the year phan-
tom ship is seen off Cape dEspoir in
Gaspe bay. Lights are seen aboard of
her and her decks are crowded with
men. BY the foot of the bowsprit
man is conspicuously standing and fac
ing the shore. with woman clinging
to his arm. 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
ali hands. There is also related among
the lumbermen Of the same great river
the tale of an antique caravel which
sails up the Cadolia Falls, where no
other vessel dare or could follow.
On the west coast of England there
are told many stories of the visitations
of ghostly vessels. Cornwall boasts of
a goblin ship probably unique the
world over, as she not only sails the
water. but proceeds most unconcern-
edly some distance inland.
This is the specter ship of Porthcuno,
and Robert Hunt relates the experience
of local man who claimed to nave
witnessed one of her escapades. She
is described as a black square-rlgged,
single-masted vessel. sometimes tow
ing a small boat. No crew is ever
seen-presumably it is down below.
referred to is as follows: "On came
the craft 1t passed steadily through
the breakers, glided over the sands.
steadily pursued its course on the dry
land as if 1t had been water. On it
went to Bodelan. where st. Leven for
merly dwelt. 1t then steered Its course
to Chygwiden, and there vanished like
smoke"
Bottrell also tells us that in another
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 instances can be given of how
shins themselves are said to be haunt
ed, especially when a murder has oc-
Cured on board: and of the West In
dies gruesome stories are told of the
restless spirits of the ancient pirates,
who presumably are too wicked to
leave this sphere. but visit their old
quarters and provide any unfortunate
shipwrecked seaman with fund of
horrors" which he eventually relates
to a gaping audience of brother salts.