The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1916-06-23
MYSTERY OF THE
GULF OF MEXICO
Legend of the Last Voyage
of a Pirate Ship.


Mexico during the early years of the
Spanish occupation of Central America
disappeared gradually, reappeared oc-
casionally and vanished, the last show
ing up during the early part of the nine
teenth century. One moonlight night
she sailed out of Puerto Cabello, in
Honduras, where she had been lying
at anchor during a storm. and made
for open waters.
What is that black hulk out there?"
said the man at the wheel to the cap
tain, land how does she find anchorage
in such deep water?'
"She's not anchored" said the cap
tain. "Shes lying to-"
mo. she's moving. Her yards are
squared toward us, but she has altered
her course. and l can see her sails
How can those few patches of canvas
move so large a vessel. wonder?'
"All the better for u.s." replied the
captain. "a hulk of merchantmen
with such rags will be easily over.
hauled. Head to the north"
Whether the merchantmen espied the
pirate and proposed to get away from
her or no, she turned and moved In
the same direction as the latter. Not
withStanding her meager show of can
vas, she did not seem to lose much
interval.
How does she keep that paceY' in
quired the captain of one of his prin-
cipal men who came up to ask about
the stranger.
shes a queer one" replied the 9TH.
er musingly
The captain called the crew on deck
and ordered them to prepare for action.
The guns were run out, ammunition
was brought up, and a reserve supply
of cutlasses was dumped at the foot
of the mainmast. Then the graphing
irons were fixed in place, and the crew
stood ready.
Presently 1t began to be apparent to
the pirates that they were gaining on
the vessel. Notwithstanding that she
was under the same sail as before. she
was scarcely moving. Then of sud-
den her sails were furled, but, wonder
full to relate, she resumed her former
speed. The captain. the wheelman and
half dozen of the crew who had come
up to ask questions about the singular
craft all looked at one another in as
That's no real shipr' exclaimed one.
with blanched cheeks. "She is a phan.
tom!'
shut up"' cried the captain. "She's
A Ship real ship, and we'll be aboard
Of her within an hour. The first man
who tai ks about phantom will feel
the edge of my cutlass!"
This Auieted the crew temporarily,
though several crossed themselves.
Pheir captain was no more enlightened
han themselves. though made of
Sterner stuff. The breeze freshened.
md 1t was apparent to the pirates that
With the difference of sail area they
must soon catch the stranger unless,
indeed, she were veritable phantom
at 2 o'clock In the morn
ng. when the moon had passed the
lorizon, the pirate was as far astern as
yer. The mysterious vessel moved on
ike jack-o'- lantern. and the pirates
began to believe that she was under
he protection OF dark mist that hung
,ver her. Several. times this mist dis
and the pursuers always no.
iced that at such times tile strangers
ace was either abated or she ceased
o move entirely. After one of these
hanges of gait the pirates found them
elves sailing half a mile behind her
md on parallel lines a quarter of a
nile apart.
Send a shot," said the captain.
The gunners got gun ready on the |
orecastle, but there seemed to be some
clay. The captain went forward and |
ound the men shivering beside the
I'm.
whats the matter?" he Numbered.
Maybe she's under the protection
f the blessed saints" whimpered one
t the men. 1T would be impious to
re. Look, there's something white in
be water amldships! She moves again.
anita Maria! The sea monsters are
caring her forwardw
Every man fell on his knees.
Suddenly the vessel. Notwithstanding
le direction of the wind, sheered
round and stood on a course that
'ould take her directly across the pi-
lte's bow. The captain still kept on
Is feet in the midst of his kneeling
len and watched her with open mouth
nd staring eyes. On went his vessel
nd on went the stranger, passing his
'urse an eighth of mile ahead. Pres.
ltly his fighting nature overcome his
and, selling an iron that
as heating in brazier. he applied It
the vent of the gun. The sailors
'vered their eyes with their hands as
lie gun doomed When they looked
rain the vessel had passed their
'urse, and at the moment there was a
lsh, and the light of Tophet Jared
rough square opening in her side.
airing on the figure of Satan, who
as thrusting a huge poker into the
ace from whence the light was emit.
d. Not only the crew. but the con.