Skipper James Norman was a veteran seaman having captained more that a dozen ships across the Atlantic, as well as to South America and around Cape Horn. In earlier years he had been First Mate on boats travelling as far as Australia and New Zealand. Nearing retirement, he had spent the last two years close to his home port of St. John’s Newfoundland, and tonight, The Marie was less than twelve hours steam from the narrows of that city. Ready to retire for the night he was chatting with the wheelsman and making sure they were on course. Entering his cabin about five minutes later, he was shocked to see a young man sitting by his table, apparently writing something on the note pad the captain always kept nearby. The Skipper knew he was not a member of the crew, what was he doing on his ship and more importantly, how had he got there? Recovering Captain Norman started to speak, but stopped in mid-sentence, THERE WAS NO ONE THERE. He glanced around the cabin, but there was no sign of the man, he had vanished into thin air. Captain Norman sat down, was he losing his mind? He was certain that the man had been there, but who would believe him? Suddenly he remembered that the man had been writing on his note pad and with trembling hands he reached for it. Scrawled across the paper in handwriting he could not recognize were the words Steer Northwest.

Captain Norman was never sure how long he had sat in a stupor staring at the words, but he figured it must have been five to ten minutes, perhaps longer. What was happening to him? What was he to do? All his years at sea had not prepared him for anything like this. Was he going insane? He looked once again at the words scribbled on the notepad, at least the message was still there but who had written it and why? The old seaman had heard stories of apparitions seen on board ships before, but had put such sightings down to fatigue, or fear on the part of those not use to sudden and often violent storms. Once again the face of the man flashed before him and a feeling of urgency swept over the old captain as if the fate of many depended on his decision. That the wheelsman would change direction at his order he had no doubt, but what explanation could he give if all this was shown to be the delusions of an old man who once too often had “gone down to the sea in ships“? As he made his way to the deck, his mind told him that he was crazy, but his “gut” feeling had won the day, if this ended his career, so be it. The wheelsman was surprised to see the captain, thinking he had retired for the night, but as he started to speak, the old man interrupted, “We’re changing course” he said, “steer north west”. Without explanation, the captain turned and walked away. Momentarily stunned, he stared after the captain, than true to his training proceeded to follow orders. In a few moments, the ship had swung around and The Marie, with a very confused crew was steaming full speed in a north westerly direction and away from the very port they had so eagerly awaited.