SUPERSTITION AT SEA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 302, 22 December 1933, Page 8

SUPERSTITION AT SEA

STRANGE CHINESE FEARS. DEATH ON A TANKER. A strange story of sea superstition lies behind the landing of a sick Chinese quartermaster from the tanker Plume, when she arrived iu Sydney lately from San Francisco. Eight months ago a Chinese deck hand died on board. He was dressed in his best clothes by other members of the crew, but reluctance was shown in sowing canvas around the body. At last two quartermasters did the job and th© body was buried after a service conducted by the captain. The Chinese believed that the body of the dead man would follow tho vessel and consequently never moved about at night without, a torch. When the tanker left San Francisco on the present voyage a seagull left with tho vessel. Each night it would sleep aboard, and during the day stayed on tho deck, where it was thrown morsels of food. Even the dog belonging to th© chief officer, whoso main delight was to catch birds, never managed to frighten it away. The crew became worried when the bird still remained. Some thought, like th© mariners of old, that the bird was tho spirit of their dead companion. Ono day off Honolulu the bird left and was not. seen again. But the crew still said, “Bird too long on ship. No good.” Tho next day one of tho quartci masters who had assisted in sewing the canvas around the body suffered a stroke and remained unconscious for several days.' Advice for treatment was received by radio, and at Sydney he was landed and examined. He was then allowed to return to hi* ship.