Post by Brian on Oct 18, 2021 6:43:15 GMT -6
The first sighting of the San Marita was in 1632. She was reported seen by a merchant ship called Amista. The captain of the Amista had recorded this in the ship's log.
Sunday October 30th
We sighted a ship that appeared to be a derelict off the port bow this morning. All attempts to hail the ship failed. The first mate had the cabin boy wake me. We pulled along side the ship while continuing our hails. When we received no reply a small party led by first mate Harris boarded her. The name painted on the side of the vessel was San Marita.
Her sails were gone with only tatters left upon the masts. A quick tour of the ship showed that no one was on board. Harris reported that the Captain's log was still in the captain's quarters. The last entry showing for it was Sunday Oct 30 1558 2am. I had to make Mr. Harris repeat himself for I could not believe what he had told me. I ordered Mr. Harris to pass over the log book while ordering him to stay aboard the San Marita. We took the derelict in tow intending to bring her into port at Halseburg.
At 4am a fog rolled in so thick that we could not see the San Marita. It lasted for only fifteen minutes. Just as the fog was lifting the tow line went slack. When the fog moved off we could see nothing but clear water all around. The ship with my crew members had vanished. We searched for two hours but could find no trace of the ship. I went to my cabin where I had left the log book Mr Harris had passed over to me from the San Marita. It was not where I had left it on my bedside table. I ordered a complete search of the ship believing that someone in the crew had taken the log book but our search failed to turn up the book.
The next sighting of the San Marita was some time later. This time it was a ship called The Masquerade. The Masquerade's captain recorded his adventures with the San Marita in the ship's log.
Saturday October 30 1779 5:26 am
The ship we'd taken in tow four hours ago, the San Marita has vanished. The men I'd sent aboard to tend to her while we were towing her have gone as well. There was no fog nor was there any storm. One moment the ship was there, the next it was gone. We cannot spare any time to look for her. Our supplies are running too low because of the delay we had evading the enemy ships for the past tenday. I thought at first they may have been responsible but I cannot see how that would be possible. We would have seen them approach us the weather is so clear.
The log book that I was looking at less than 30 minutes ago on the bridge is not there now. No one who was on bridge duty has left for any reason. We cannot understand how the book vanished right under our noses. We shall request a search ship be sent out when we reach port.
Several other sightings of the San Marita have been reported over the years. Each time the result was the same. The ship had been taken in tow and then it had been lost either with or without the fog. I was reading the accounts of those events over the years. Here I was in the same waters hoping to see that mysterious ship.
This was my fourth trip out here in October. One thing I had noted is that always the ship appeared between midnight and sunrise the day before Hallowe'en. The night is cold here at this time of year, especially when the sun is not shining.
The sea is calm enough, the skies are all clear. There is nothing over the water to obstruct my view. If the San Marita appears I'll have a good view of it.
I have no intention of trying to board or take in two the old ship. It doesn't seem likely I would ever get her to shore anyway if all these previous accounts are true. Even if I wanted to though I couldn't manage it. The WaterMark is too small to tow a large ship like that and I'm the only one aboard.
Looking at my watch I see it's 3am. Time for another check in. I might be alone out here but I've told the coast guard where I'll be and have promised to check in with them every 30 minutes. If I don't check in they'll send a ship out to find me.
Ducking into the covered bridge I lift the microphone to make the call when I feel something bump the side of The WaterMark. There's windows in here with shades drawn. I raise the shade and look out through the glass. There's an old ship there with the letters San Marita almost glowing.
Excitedly I key the microphone to make my check in but wouldn't you just know it, the radio's dead. I could've sworn I put new batteries in just before leaving port. It's ok though. I've got what I came for. Taking my camera in hand I snap several pictures of the ship. The coast guard will be along any minute since I can't check in with them so I have to work fast before they get here.
Now I've done everything I need to do except record all this in my log book. I'd better start writing while all this is fresh in my mind. I'm so tempted to board her but I have seen that over the years too many people who have boarded her have gone missing when the ship vanishes again. There was a brief period of contact with those who didn't make the crossing though. Maybe I can take a quick peek. It won't take long. Maybe I can be the one who brings back the San Marita's log book. My name will be famous! I'm going to record this and then if she's still there I'm going to make a fast boarding if I can find a way to climb aboard.
Friday October 30 2003 5:29am
I made it back from the San Marita with her log book. I've tried to start my engine on The WaterMark but it won't turn over. I expected the coast guard to show up an hour ago or more. The tides should be taking me into shore but that damned San Marita keeps bumping The WaterMark driving me further out to sea. I have not been able to get the radio to work. I have tried everything I can think of to get the engine to start but it's been a fruitless exercise. I've put on my life preserver seeing this as my only hope. I'm going to go into the water and try to swim to shore before I get any further from the shore line. I know it's a long swim and the water is cold but I don't care to meet the same fate that others have at the hands of the San Marita. If I do not make it maybe someday someone will see my log book and know what happened to me.
Wednesday October 30 2057
We sighted the infamous San Marita while crossing the waters this evening. There was a smaller ship along side her that appeared to have the name The WaterMark. Following the directives set down by the coastal enforcement agency we have tried to avoid any contact with either ship. We were running at full power making headway towards port and getting away from those cursed ships when suddenly our engines cut out. I ordered all hands to abandon ship. I have stayed to try and raise anyone on the radio for assistance but though I can hear incoming messages apparently none of mine are getting out. The last boat is being lowered and all the crew are on their way. I'm throwing this log book down to first mate Lewis in the last boat once I finish this entry. I recommend that this route be closed to all water traffic permanently. I know this will be the last voyage I make. Farewell to all who knew me.
Captain Mark Marita.
Message ends.
Brian Paul Sullivan © 2007
Sunday October 30th
We sighted a ship that appeared to be a derelict off the port bow this morning. All attempts to hail the ship failed. The first mate had the cabin boy wake me. We pulled along side the ship while continuing our hails. When we received no reply a small party led by first mate Harris boarded her. The name painted on the side of the vessel was San Marita.
Her sails were gone with only tatters left upon the masts. A quick tour of the ship showed that no one was on board. Harris reported that the Captain's log was still in the captain's quarters. The last entry showing for it was Sunday Oct 30 1558 2am. I had to make Mr. Harris repeat himself for I could not believe what he had told me. I ordered Mr. Harris to pass over the log book while ordering him to stay aboard the San Marita. We took the derelict in tow intending to bring her into port at Halseburg.
At 4am a fog rolled in so thick that we could not see the San Marita. It lasted for only fifteen minutes. Just as the fog was lifting the tow line went slack. When the fog moved off we could see nothing but clear water all around. The ship with my crew members had vanished. We searched for two hours but could find no trace of the ship. I went to my cabin where I had left the log book Mr Harris had passed over to me from the San Marita. It was not where I had left it on my bedside table. I ordered a complete search of the ship believing that someone in the crew had taken the log book but our search failed to turn up the book.
The next sighting of the San Marita was some time later. This time it was a ship called The Masquerade. The Masquerade's captain recorded his adventures with the San Marita in the ship's log.
Saturday October 30 1779 5:26 am
The ship we'd taken in tow four hours ago, the San Marita has vanished. The men I'd sent aboard to tend to her while we were towing her have gone as well. There was no fog nor was there any storm. One moment the ship was there, the next it was gone. We cannot spare any time to look for her. Our supplies are running too low because of the delay we had evading the enemy ships for the past tenday. I thought at first they may have been responsible but I cannot see how that would be possible. We would have seen them approach us the weather is so clear.
The log book that I was looking at less than 30 minutes ago on the bridge is not there now. No one who was on bridge duty has left for any reason. We cannot understand how the book vanished right under our noses. We shall request a search ship be sent out when we reach port.
Several other sightings of the San Marita have been reported over the years. Each time the result was the same. The ship had been taken in tow and then it had been lost either with or without the fog. I was reading the accounts of those events over the years. Here I was in the same waters hoping to see that mysterious ship.
This was my fourth trip out here in October. One thing I had noted is that always the ship appeared between midnight and sunrise the day before Hallowe'en. The night is cold here at this time of year, especially when the sun is not shining.
The sea is calm enough, the skies are all clear. There is nothing over the water to obstruct my view. If the San Marita appears I'll have a good view of it.
I have no intention of trying to board or take in two the old ship. It doesn't seem likely I would ever get her to shore anyway if all these previous accounts are true. Even if I wanted to though I couldn't manage it. The WaterMark is too small to tow a large ship like that and I'm the only one aboard.
Looking at my watch I see it's 3am. Time for another check in. I might be alone out here but I've told the coast guard where I'll be and have promised to check in with them every 30 minutes. If I don't check in they'll send a ship out to find me.
Ducking into the covered bridge I lift the microphone to make the call when I feel something bump the side of The WaterMark. There's windows in here with shades drawn. I raise the shade and look out through the glass. There's an old ship there with the letters San Marita almost glowing.
Excitedly I key the microphone to make my check in but wouldn't you just know it, the radio's dead. I could've sworn I put new batteries in just before leaving port. It's ok though. I've got what I came for. Taking my camera in hand I snap several pictures of the ship. The coast guard will be along any minute since I can't check in with them so I have to work fast before they get here.
Now I've done everything I need to do except record all this in my log book. I'd better start writing while all this is fresh in my mind. I'm so tempted to board her but I have seen that over the years too many people who have boarded her have gone missing when the ship vanishes again. There was a brief period of contact with those who didn't make the crossing though. Maybe I can take a quick peek. It won't take long. Maybe I can be the one who brings back the San Marita's log book. My name will be famous! I'm going to record this and then if she's still there I'm going to make a fast boarding if I can find a way to climb aboard.
Friday October 30 2003 5:29am
I made it back from the San Marita with her log book. I've tried to start my engine on The WaterMark but it won't turn over. I expected the coast guard to show up an hour ago or more. The tides should be taking me into shore but that damned San Marita keeps bumping The WaterMark driving me further out to sea. I have not been able to get the radio to work. I have tried everything I can think of to get the engine to start but it's been a fruitless exercise. I've put on my life preserver seeing this as my only hope. I'm going to go into the water and try to swim to shore before I get any further from the shore line. I know it's a long swim and the water is cold but I don't care to meet the same fate that others have at the hands of the San Marita. If I do not make it maybe someday someone will see my log book and know what happened to me.
Wednesday October 30 2057
We sighted the infamous San Marita while crossing the waters this evening. There was a smaller ship along side her that appeared to have the name The WaterMark. Following the directives set down by the coastal enforcement agency we have tried to avoid any contact with either ship. We were running at full power making headway towards port and getting away from those cursed ships when suddenly our engines cut out. I ordered all hands to abandon ship. I have stayed to try and raise anyone on the radio for assistance but though I can hear incoming messages apparently none of mine are getting out. The last boat is being lowered and all the crew are on their way. I'm throwing this log book down to first mate Lewis in the last boat once I finish this entry. I recommend that this route be closed to all water traffic permanently. I know this will be the last voyage I make. Farewell to all who knew me.
Captain Mark Marita.
Message ends.
Brian Paul Sullivan © 2007