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Seamans ghost

James Bottrell, one of the St Just family of that name, after having served many years aboard a privateer when he was a young man in Bonaparte's time, settled in Zennor about 1820. Shortly after he left sea, he was much troubled with a drowned shipmate's ghost.

Towards the morning part of a stormy winter's night, he was aroused by three loud raps on his chamber window; and on raising his head, he saw standing by his bedside the apparition of one John Jones, who had been his favourite comrade - looking pale and sad and, apparently, dripping wet. In a few minutes it disappeared, with the misty light which surrounded it. Next day James tried to persuade himself that the vision might be merely a troubled dream, but the apparition continued to come on each succeeding night, stopping longer than at first. There was also much noise and disturbance in and around his dwelling, by day as well as by night.

Over a week or so the ghost, casting an angry look at the man, followed him about in broad daylight, so that James became weary of his life. His friends advised him to speak to the ghost and have confidence, as they had always been good friends; they told him that a spirit would never speak until spoken to; and they believed that his shipmate merely wanted him to do something that the ghost was unable to perform. Moreover they warned him that there was danger when a spirit was angered by delay in speaking to it.

At length James plucked up courage and one day, being at work in a field when his old mate's ghost stood by him - as usual looking sad and angry by turns - he spoke and said, Tell me John Jones, what shall I do to give thee rest?' The spirit replied, 'It is well thou hast spoken, for I should have been the death of thee if thou hadst much longer refused to speak! What grieved and vexed me most was to see that thou seemedst to fear thy old comrade, who always liked thee best of all his shipmates.'

'I no longer fear thee, Jack,' replied James, 'and wish I could grasp that hand of thine as in days gone by.' Indeed, he now felt no more dread of his seamate's ghost than if he were still a living man. The spirit, looking pleased, said, 'Now I see thee art like thyself again, staunch and true to thy comrade in life and death. Listen and learn why I am come to seek thy aid. The other stormy night, a few minutes before I appeared at thy bedside, I was on board a good ship in the Bay of Biscay, with a strong gale and a rolling sea. In clewing up a topsail, the ship gave a lurch: I lost my hold, fell overboard and was drowned before anybody noticed my mishap. When sinking, I thought of thee. Now much of my prize-money is in a chest, left in Plymouth at a public house well known to thee - the one we used most to frequent when everything was in common between us. My son, I want thee to go thither; take my chest to another house; pay what I owe to various people in Plymouth, and keep what remains for thyself. I'll meet thee there and direct thee how to act.'

Jim having promised to do all that was required, Jack's ghost looked happy, and a moment after said, 'I wish thee well, mate, till we meet again,' and disappeared. Early next morning, James took a strong young horse and rode away to Plymouth. It was after candle-lighting of the second night when he arrived there, and put up at an inn - a short distance from the one where the chest was left.

Whilst he lay awake, thinking how he should proceed on the morrow, Jones appeared by his bedside and, as if knowing what passed in the man's mind, said, 'Don't 'e think, my son, that the landlady will make any difficulty about taking away the chest, for she don't know, d'ye see, that it contains valuables, nor that I shipped aboard an Indiaman and got drowned a few weeks ago. But she remembers how - not long since - we wore each other's clothes and shared each other's rhino [slang, money], just as brothers should. Tell her I'm in town, and will see her before I leave. Tomorrow, bring here the chest and I'll direct 'e how to deal with my creditors; and now, good night mate,' Saying this he vanished.

The landlady was very glad to see James, and more so to have the sailor's chest taken out of her way; told him to give her love to Captain Jones (as she called him) and to say she hoped he wouldn't fail to call before he left port. The chest being opened, there was nothing to be seen in it but the seaman's best clothing; for all the money was concealed in secret drawers of the skibbet, and under a false bottom. The ghost accompanied James - though invisible to others - all the time until the business was settled. Then it left him - without saying goodbye, however.

James went over to Dock [now called Devonport]. Whilst he was there admiring the shipping, on turning around he saw Jones close beside him. If he had been visible to other people they would have taken him for an able seaman in his prime, for he appeared rigged out in bran new sailor's garb, and looked hale and hearty as when alive. 'I've just passed by the old inn,' said he, 'showed myself as I now appear, and kissed my hand to our old hostess, who was at her work near an open window; but before she could reach her door to welcome home the man she used to admire, lo! I'm here. So you see it's convenient to be a ghost!'

James didn't think so however; and they walked on in silence till they came to a fine ship ready to sail on a long voyage. Then the spirit stopped, and looking sorrowfully in the man's face said, 'My dear Jim, I will now bid thee farewell. I'm off to sea again, for, with an occasional trip to the Green, I know no way of passing the time that better suits me. Thou wilt never more see me whilst thou art alive, but if thou thinkest of me at the hour of thy death we shall meet, as soon as the breath leaves thy body. 'My poor clay lies deep in the Bay of Biscay, and when thine is laid in Zennor churchyard we will rove the seas together. A true-hearted tar has nothing to fear, and now my son, adieu.' A moment after, James saw him glide aboard the ship, and in the twinkling of an eye he vanished.

James returned to the inn feeling very wisht, and his sadness continued till he came in sight of Zennor Hills. Then he felt in pretty good heart; and well he might, for hadn't he brought home a bundle of capital clothes that he found in his comrade's chest, and many more pounds in his pocket than when he left Zennor? But the horse was never fit for anything again, from having been ridden to and from Plymouth in less than a week. Sailors say that ships are often haunted with drowned seamen's ghosts, and they believe that such vessels are seldom wrecked, for the friendly spirits give warning of approaching tempests, and tokens of other dangers to their craft. Lady Luvibond | S.S. Watertown |