Jun 25, 2006

The Flying Dutchman

There are many versions of this legendary tale. Most of them, however, start with a voyage around the Cape of Good Hope - an area which would challenge even the most skillful mariner.

Captain Van der Decken was making just such a journey - in a powerful storm to boot. The Captain was also roaring drunk at the time. The passengers and crew feared for their lives, but the Captain was determined to continue on his course at all costs. The crew mutinied. The Captain shot their leader and threw his body overboard.

Suddenly, an unknown entity appeared on the deck of the ship. The figure spoke to the Captain and reprimanded him for his actions regarding the mutineers. The Captain's response was to shoot at the stranger. When the stranger spoke again, it was to inform the Captain that he would be cursed - He would be doomed to sail the seven seas forever, with a ghostly corpse crew. Anything he tried to eat would be like hot iron and all drink would be bitter.

Van der Decken's response was that the entity should do his worst; he didn't care.

The curse also effects those mariners who come into contact with the ghostly vessel: Food will rot; they will encounter sudden storms; some unfortunate ships will spring a leak and sink with all hands lost.

This week's article will discuss sightings of the Flying Dutchman and other phantom ships.