White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-03-29
BUOYS Ill BE BUOYS
OR MAY BE GHOSTS
Strange Adventure on Staten
Island Ferry.

New York.-Buoys will be buoys
until they mistake their vocation in
life and become pugil!sts or ghosts,
depending on the point Of view.
The trip on the Staten island ferry
boat where men are men and ferry
boats merely transportation problems
Is long and interesting.
So interesting that the captain who
was still young and susceptible paid
more attention to two pretty girls
walking along the saloon deck than
he did to the steering Of the boat. He
unconsciously steered the vessel to-
ward the shore.
Along the shore, or rather some lit
tie distance out, the government au-
thorities have placed nice large white
buoys. These buoys mark the line in
side which is safe anchorage. That
is, it Is safe If there is no ferryboat
with susceptible captain steering.
Down In the Cabin.
The boat drew nearer and nearer
to the line of buoys and finally hit
one of them glancing blow suffi-
GENTLY hard to knock the buoy on it's
side.
Now 1t is necessary to go below to
the cabin. The passenger list was
small. 1t consisted of one man, who
was dejectedly seated on the side of
the boat nearest to the shore. This
passenger had been celebrating some
thing or other. He imagined he was
at sea. He lurched every now and
then as the boat rolled and every once
in while he picked himself off the
floor and replaced himself on the seat
He muttered to himself continuously
"Dirty weather." or "It's a wild night
at sea-
He had just picked himself up for
the sixth time when the ferryboat,
unknown to the captain, had strlck
the buoy. AS the boat veered Off, the
buoy, which was long and high.
swung back and on the rebound
smashed straight through the window
of the ferryboat and then MS rapidly
heeled over the other way.
The buoy was painted white and 1t
selected the window under which the
passenger was sitting for the one to
be broken, and then to make the Job
complete 1t tapped the passenger on
the head and disappeared as quickly
as 1t had arrived. The passenger saw
nothing but ghostly white object
hitting him when he was not expect
ing t and then going away before he
thought of Its conduct. He was an
noyed and not little frightened
If the shattered glass hadn't been
there as visible evidence he would
have concluded that 1t was all
dream.
Besides, he had bump on the side
of the head and he went on deck to
demonstrate gently With the captain
or anyone else he could find. He found
the mate.
"What the hi do you mean" he
said, busting that window over my
head ana then hitting me withou,
telling me first?'
Mate Is Worried.
The mate began to get worried
He didn't know anything about the
buoy and he didn't know how to
handle case of delirum tremens.
He did the best he could He per.
suaded the passenger to show him
where the window had been broken.
They went below.
"Why," he said, you're liable tn
get into trouble for that. II anyon.
finds out that you broke that window
you'll have to pay for 1t and maybe
60 to Jail for causing wilful damage"
But" protested the passenger. II
didn't break the window Some one
broke II from the outside and hit me
over the head"
"They couldn't break II from the
ouside,' replied the mate, "there 10
no deck outside he window You 20
to sleep again and get Off the boat
when she docks before the captain
finds about this"
The passenger looked out OF the
window and sure enough there was
no deck. He seemed mystIfied Then
he walked over 70 the other side or
the bout sat down and as he fell
asleep again he murmured, "Then II
was ghost. thought It was at first
but what did he want to hit me for.
He amt friend of mine"