SS Watertown Ghosts..?

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Posted: 16 years ago
#1
SS Watertown Ghosts


The case of the SS Watertown is a classic example of what many believe to be an authentic ghost photograph.

The story, as recounted by the eminent and long-time director of the American Psychical Institute, Dr. Hereward Carrington, and as detailed in the house magazine of the shipping company, told of the tanker, SS Watertown making its way through the Pacific Ocean in December 1924.

Seaman James Courtney and Michael Meehan were assigned to clean out a cargo tank. While doing this task they were overcome by gas fumes and died before help could reach them. Following the tradition of the sea, their bodies were committed to the ocean on December 4th.

The following day, just before dusk, the entire ship was in uproar when the heads of the two dead seamen were clearly seen on board ship and, later, in the sea. Thereafter the ghost faces were frequently seen. A snapshot was taken and the camera, with film intact and untouched inside, was handed to Captain Keith Tracy for safekeeping.

On reaching port in New Orleans the Captain handed the camera over to officials of the Cities Services Company and they sent it directly to their New York office, where the film was developed and printed by a commercial photographer, and there were the heads of Courtney and Meehan, exactly as they had been seen on board ship!

After some time the faces appeared less often. After that, the crew changed, and there were no sightings of the faces. Although the photo was taken in 1924, it was not published till 1934, in the company magazine. At that time, an investigation into the events was begun, but the crew was dispersed, and the first mate and the captain that had taken the photo had died. To top it off, the company had lost the original photo.

Source: http://www.ghostresearch.org/ghostpics/watertown.html



Some people believe this was an optical effect, and the faces are suggestion. Maybe - but how could the same effect recur day after day, and be seen by so many witnesses?
That's what makes this photo so intriguing.

What do u guys think...????

Love,
Gracella

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Posted: 15 years ago
#2
Thanks for posting, Gracella. I haven't heard of this one before!

I think we have to rely on witness accounts here. It's unlikely that the everyone on board would lie or hallucinate. Sailors are tough characters, they don't freak out easily. Yes, they are superstitious (back in those days at least) but I don't see why the whole crew would make up such a story.

As for the photo, it's intriguing but we cannot be sure... it's sad that the original was lost.
Edited by stingray - 15 years ago

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