Year: 1878

An Old Sailors Ysrn to the New York Sun Re-


porter.


Tell me about the sailor on your ship
that swan across the Atlantic


The old sailor laughed. We'll, that
were lark he said, 'and as the poor
chap is dead and gone this many years,
don't mind spinin' the yarn. You see
Jack Carter and l shipped on wage
to Liverpool on the old bark Hyannis.
Jack he were never over fond of work,
though when it came for to blow he
would do his duty like q man. We
were three days out, going off slick as
you please, on an easy b0wlinc, with
all her muslin on, when towards sun.
set there came up squall from the
eastward Royals aud topgallants
were took in in hurry. and as it con-
tinued to breeze topsails were reefed.
Eight bells had struck and my watch
was below. and after Uverhauling my
dunnage for something dry, says to
Bill Jones, says |, where's Jack Car
ter amt seen him. Bill says, since
he were out on the topsail with me-
The matter was reported to the Captain,
and the ship was hove to. but it warn't
no good, for we we're miles from the
spot where the squall struck US. So it
was put down that Jack Carter had
lost the number of his mess.


Blessed if there amt some curious
noises about this ere craft, the second
mate said to the Captain a few. nights
after poor Jack had disappeared. It's
rats. said the Captain Rats don't
sing Hunt the Buffalo (Which was a
favorite song of Carter's). said the
second mate. Now, the ship were not
going over with heavy cargo, and q
good portion were American knick-
knacks in the way of eatables and
American wines they were trying to
introduce The Captain had two
friends aboard who were interested i'll
the cargo. There was a light bulk
head which shifted from the forward
part of the Captains cabin. so as the
main cargo deck could be got at.
They were living like fighting cocks
all the way over, and the way the
champagne suffered was caution.
One warm night | were spinin' a
yarn on the forechains with Bill Jones,
when | heard voice the image of
Jack Carter's singing chorus as if
he was awful lush, which he were once
and while. like all on US. How them
cabin chaps are a going it, said Bill
Jones. The mate came forward kind o
pale like, and says he: There's too
much noise forward It's all aft.
says l. Blessed if it amt Jack Car
ter's voice, said Bill Jones. The mate
he says nothing. but looks very queer,
and reports no noise forward. The
Captain comes forward with his chums,
and says he: There's some one drunk
in the folksel,' as Rolling Home in the
Morning. Boys was trolled out. He
made a dive below with handspike,
but not thing could he see. But We
had made up our minds shat the ship
was haunted. and made our plans TO
leave her the minute she reached
Liverpool docks. Every night now un-
til We sighted The Needle the internal
racket continued, and grew worse and
worse, so that the Captain. who was
bold man, was disturbed. aud as for his
guests they lost their appetltes


It's curious how all these stores
are going. with no one eatin' of en-
said the Captain one day. and evident
ly suspected the crew, where be was
wrong, as none of them had show TO
get below except through the Captains $
cabin.


I'VE was all mighty glad to take a
pilot, and in Liverpool docks the noise
ceased as suddenly as 1t began One
night Bill Jones and was takin' u
little stuff ashore for the Captain, and
little for ourselves, being few
pounds OF tobacco for friend. TO save
duties. We stopped into a tavern to
take a drop; and q tidy little place IT
was too. Blessed If there warn't Jack
Carter's ghost talking TO the land
lady as lively as cricket. We was
that cut up for momen. that We were
about 10 cut and run. bein' little con-
sclous-stricken on the tobacco snug
Gin business. Back your maintop
sail. aud take mp said the ghost
cheerilv; and sure enough II tnrued out
To he Jack Carter after all. How or
earth did you ever get here We asked,
,Swum.' said he, and he stuck TO It
The story soon spread, aud Jack for
days was the hero of Liverpool. Least
WAYS, until cargo had been commenced
to discharge. and then the whole thing
came out. IL seems rs how he never
tumbled overheard at all In tile squat,
but quietly slid down the halyards I"
the deck, and knowing of the passage
through the bulkhead. stewed himselt I
away for pleasant passage over. sich
a sight you never saw when the steve