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| Photo by Olia Nayda |
For at least the last 200 years a ship has been seen in the Northumberland Strait that separates Prince Edward Island from New Brunswick. It's a beautiful schooner with 3 or 4 masts of pure white sails which become fully engulfed in flames. This ship is said to be seen before the northeast wind and is a warning for an upcoming storm.
There are a number of legends and ghost stories surrounding this ghost ship. It's said that the crew has been seen climbing the masts before the ship completely sinks or vanishes. According to legend in 1900 the ship was seen and a group of sailors boarded a small sailboat in Charlottetown Harbour and tried to save the people on the ship. Only for the ship and crew to vanish before they got to it.
It's unknown what ship the ghost ship is, but there are several theories. One is that it is the John Craig Light that shipwrecked off Shippigan Island. Another is the Colbum that was lost during a storm in 1838. The Isabella is another contestant as a ship that was lost in 1868 and was last seen by a light housekeeper at Amet Island on its way to South America. Some theorize that it is a pirate ship or pleasure craft set ablaze by a drunken brawl.
There are three natural causes of the sightings of this ghost ship.
The first is St. Elmo's fire, which is a weather phenomenon. which is when a burst of electricity is discharged from pointed objects when the atmosphere becomes heavily charged. Which can serve as a warning for lightning and is seen as a good omen for sailors. (click the link above for a better explanation).
It's possible that it's a form of fata morgana mirage caused by when warm air settles atop a distinct band of cool air and rays of light are bent as they pass through different temperatures. This makes things seem like they are floating, flipped upside down, flying, or being seen in great detail at a distance. (click link above for better explanation)The third is more simple. It's possible that people seeing the ship is the brain trying to place or make sense of something there. If it's a foggy, or stormy night lights and such might make a trick of the eye.
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