National Museum Of Canada - Human History Branch
Canada department of Northern Affairs and National Resources

Dear Sister Marie St. Helen,

I think it is wonderful that you are making phantom ships the subject of your Ph.D. thesis, although it is the last subject I would have thought of for one of your calling. However l see you are associated with the Archives de Folklore, so that may explain it.

Many tales of phantom ships are told here as you know, but l have never seen one myself. But just before your letter came l received a copy of the Yarmouth Light with a story by George A. Maclnnis about a phantom ship called the Yarmouth. This was a 200 ton brig built in Yarmouth by Captain Randall MacDonal aged 23, a year after he arrived from Aberdeen with his bride, and he was her first skipper. Incidentally, l recall an old belief from Wallace, N.S. to the effect that it is bad luck for a builder to take a vessel on her maiden voyage. This vessel sailed for the West Indies and was never heard of again.

For the next 60 years she was seen coming up Yarmouth Harbour at the time she was due to return, as many citizens of the town and along the shore could testify. She was first seen by a watchman, and this I think from his story, must have been a year after she was expected back. He was going his nightly rounds when he saw a vessel «covered with canvas from truck to kelson, standing boldly into the harbour although it was blowing a living gale sufficient to swamp the craft with half the amount of canvas. On she came, plowing before the gale Iike a thing of life until she reached within a cable's length of the shore, when suddenly her mainsail was backed, her anchor dropped into the water with a splash, foIlowed by the rattling of the chain as it ran out through the hawse-hole. At the same instant her tacks and sheets were let go, her sails clewed up and furled, and she swung round with the current and was riding quietly at a single anchor.»

The watchman recognized her as the Yarmouth and ran shouting through the streets to announce her. But when the people arrived at the waterfront they were unable to arouse anybody on board. And when they went out in boats they heard Capt. MacDonald's voice telling them to keep off. The vessel was then covered wlth a thick black fog. In the morning no vessel was there. A few years later two men approached her, meaning to board her, and got close enough to see that her sides were covered with seaweed and barnacles but as they got within an oar's length, she faded away. After a few years, people stopped looking for her.

Mr. MacInnis may have other stories. You could reach him through The Yarmouth Light, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

l hope this may be of use, and l wish you every success with your fascinating assignment.

Sincerely yours,
Helen Creighton
April 2, 1960

Université de Moncton, Centre d'études acadiennes, Fonds Catherine-Jolicoeur, 63.022