Cradley Heath & Stourbridge Observer. — 1864-03-26 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

STRANGE STORY.  A strange story is told In connection with the report of the murder at sea on bu.rd of the hark Pontirt,, of Liverpool, ly deen %loyatos, a (:reek nailer, now In custody in Edinburgh. Wa do not know whether the partienlara we are abent to relate have come out In the Investigation, lint undoubtedly they have a etrong bearinu on the case, and make It probable that hut for the hallucination of one of the crew—not the Greek sailor—the murder would not have happened  It may be remembered that on the 13th of Ootisber last, five days after the Pontiac left Callao, jean Moyatos murdered one of his fellow-seamen, and stabbed another in snch a dangerous manner that his life was despaired of. Two nights before the fatal occurrence the mate of the Pustism was standing near the MAO atthe helim, no other person being on the quarterdeck at the time, when the latter in great terror called out, " What is that near the cabin door?" The mate replied that he saw nothing, and looked about to see if any one was near, bnt he failed to discover any person. The steersman then, much terrified, said the figure he saw was that of a strange-looking man of ghostly appearance, and almost immediately afterwards exclaimed, "There he is again, standing at the captain's window." The mate, though in view of the captain's • nindow, RAW no figure near it nor at any other part of the quarterdeck, though he looked round and round. Next day the report went from one to the other that a ghost was on heard. which filled some of the sailors with alarm, while othereniade a jest of it. Next night boy ( a stowaway) was so dreadfully alarmed in his bunk by something lie RAW or felt (We do not know which), that he cried Out 80 loudly as to waken all the seamen in beiL The boy was sure it was the ghost seen the previous night that had frightened him, and °there of more mature years were inclined to think #o too. Perhaps more than one-half of those es board believed that something supernatural was on board, and that some ealamity Was about to happen. But there were two on beard who I lid not believe the ghost stories, and these were the MAO WhO WWI murdered and his companion who was stabbed. The former joked with the boy about the ghost, and said he would have his knife well sharpened and ready for the ghost if it appeared the next night- Ile would give it a stab and "chuck "it overboard. The latter joined in the joke, saying he also would help "to us" for the ghost, and othere said they would have letters ready for the ghost to carry to their friends in the other world. Jean Moyatos overheard what was said as to stabbing and throwing overboard, and in consequence of his imperfect knowledge of the English language, and having previmmippripposed there was a combination against him, thought the threats were made against him, and therefore resolved to protect himself. A few hours after the jesting we have briefly explained took place, he tAbed the two men who PrinciPallv carried on the jest, with the fatal result known. The murder, as might be expected, filled (-rely one on hoard with horror, and the terror of the sailors who believed there was a ghost on board was overwhelming. At night, whether in bed or on watch on deck, they hail great dread, which was heightened by reports that strange noises were heard below. Not even at the end of the voyage had the fear been overcome, for after the ship was moored in the docks two of the crew, who had agreed to sleep on board, became PO frightened after their companions were paid off, that they refused to remain in the vessel at night.