AMERICAN SHIP EXPERIENCES CALAMITIES BLAMED ON SAILOR SUPERSTITION
Savannah, Georgia (JFK+50) On April 5, 1922, the Masuda arrived at port here in Savannah "with flag at half mast" and "a strange tale of the sea."
According to the Evening Star, two weeks before as the American ship departed Glasgow "two carrier pigeons* came aboard." One perched on the shoulder of young seaman named Edmund Sprueill. On Saturday morning, he had an attack of acute indigestion and died this next morning.
As the ship headed into port, the bos'un**, 56 year old John Olson, slipped and fell breaking a leg and two ribs.
At least one of these calamities could have easily been predicted according to an old sailor superstition which holds "that if a bird lights upon a vessel after it leaves port there is sure to be a death on the voyage."
*Carrier (homing) pigeons are bred for their ability to find the way home over extremely long distances.
**Bos'un, or boatswain, is a petty officer, deck boss, the most senior of the deck department & is responsible for components of a ship's hull
SOURCE
"Death Of Sailor At Sea Blamed By All Hands On Pigeons," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., Newspaper Archive, April 5, 1922, www.gastearsivi.com/
