The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FOLK TALE

THE PEOPLE ON SEAL ISLAND IN GUYSBORO, NOVA SCOTIA HAVE MANY
INTERESTING STORIES TO TELL ABOUT THE SEA. ONE STORY ORIGINATED IN
A DUTCH SETTLEMENT ON THIS ISLAND. A SHIP WAS GOING FROM
THIS ISLAND TO THE WEST INDIES. WHEN THE BOAT WAS SAILING AND THE
WIND WAS HIGH ONE NIGHT A STRANGE THING HAPPENED. THE COOK WAS IN
THE GALLEY CUTTING UP WOOD; HE MOVED TO THE FRONT OF THE SHIP FOR A
MOMENT AND AS HE REACHED THE FRONT, HE FELL OVERBOARD AND WAS
DROWNED. NOW, WHENEVER A SHIP PASSES BY THE SPOT WHERE THE DEATH
OCCURED, IF THE WIND IS THE SAME AS IT WAS THAT NIGHT, THE COOK'S
GHOST WILL BE SEEN ABOARD YOUR SHIP AND THE DROWNING WILL BE ACTED
OUT AGAIN.

Submitter comment: MR. MANTHORNE HEARD THIS TALE FROM HIS GRANDFATHER IN GUYSBORO,
NOVA SCOTIA 50 YEARS AGO. HIS GRANDFATHER FIRST HEARD THE TALE
AROUND 1865.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 01-12-1964