Newspaper Clipping of the Day

Via Newspapers.com

It occurred to me that this blog has been unaccountably light on “ghost ship” stories, so here’s a fine one from South Africa.  The “Lyttelton Times,” April 16, 1853:

Sir--Permit me to communicate to you the following account of a very singular phenomenon which was observed at Green Point on Tuesday last and which would seem to impart some degree of credibility to the popular legend of the "Flying Dutchman." 

About 2 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon as I was standing together with four other persons on the beach at Green Point, near the residence of Mr. Searight, our attention was attracted by the appearance of a large ship of an ancient shape with tall massive masts and snow white sails distinctly looming through a faint mist about half-a-mile from the shore. Her decks were crowded with people and so distinct and vivid was the appearance that one of us observing her through a telescope imagined he could recognise among those on board several familiar forms and faces.  She appeared to be tossing about much without making any great progress through the water and as with a strange mixture of curiosity and dread we stood looking at the singular apparition she suddenly vanished and was seen no more.

Upon subsequent inquiry we ascertained that three other persons besides ourselves witnessed the strange spectacle and were similarly struck with its singular appearance and unaccountable evanescence.  In the hope of eliciting some explanation of this mysterious phenomenon which I imagine--not being myself of a superstitious temperament--owes its origin to some property of light hitherto unexplained, although commonly referred to the effect of mirage, I have been induced to communicate to you the above particulars and trust you will not hesitate to give them publicity--OBSERVER.--Cape Town Mail.