The spectral boat Water Witch is a ghost ship that is said to haunt the waters off the coast of North Carolina. This mysterious vessel is believed to have been a privateer ship that was active during the American Revolutionary War. Legend has it that the Water Witch was cursed by a vengeful witch who had been wronged by its crew. The Water Witch is said to appear on foggy nights, gliding silently through the water with its sails billowing in the wind. Despite its ethereal appearance, witnesses claim that the ship looks very real and solid, almost as if it were a living, breathing vessel. These sightings have been reported for centuries, with many sailors and fishermen claiming to have encountered the ship.
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A day or two later, boat remnants were found in the water by other ships a lifeboat and propeller were discovered and believed to be from the Water Witch. On April 26, 1866, Water Witch was bound down the lake with a load of iron ore when it was overtaken by a squall not far from the mouth of Otter Creek.
These sightings have been reported for centuries, with many sailors and fishermen claiming to have encountered the ship. One of the most chilling aspects of the Water Witch legend is the sound of ghostly laughter that is often heard when the ship is sighted. The laughter is said to be hauntingly eerie and can send shivers down the spines of those who hear it.
Spectral boat Water Witch
Lake Champlain was one of the earliest American waterways to enjoy the advantages of steam propulsion. The Steamer Vermont began service on the lake in 1809, just two years after Robert Fulton’s successful experiment with a steam-powered ship on the Hudson River. Vermont was followed by many more steamers belonging to various companies and individuals. By the early 1830s competition between steamers on the lake’s waters was growing fierce.
In 1832 a famous steamship captain on the lake, Jehaziel Sherman, completed yet another steamboat at Fort Cassin (near Vergennes, Vermont). The new steamer, named Water Witch, was 80 feet (24.38 m) in length and 17 feet (5.18 m) in beam. Sherman entered into direct competition with the leading steamboat company on the lake, the Champlain Transportation Company (CTC), running Water Witch just ahead of the CTC’s boats, undercutting their fares, and stealing the CTC’s passengers. All of this, apparently, was in a bid to force the CTC to make Sherman a director and to buy his boat from him. It worked: in 1835 the CTC paid Sherman $10,000 for Water Witch and made a permanent place for him on its board of directors.
The CTC already had plenty of steamers in service, and so the Water Witch’s engine and boiler were removed and the vessel was converted over to a merchant schooner. Water Witch plied the lake as a cargo vessel for the next thirty years.
On April 26, 1866, Water Witch was bound down the lake with a load of iron ore when it was overtaken by a squall not far from the mouth of Otter Creek. In a matter of seconds the schooner was blown over, the hold filled, and the vessel went to the bottom. The captain, his wife, and two of their children were rescued along with the crew by a passing sloop, but the captain’s infant daughter went down in the schooner’s after cabin.
The wreck of the Water Witch was discovered in 1977 by Canadian diver Derek Grout. A preliminary inspection of the wreck was carried out in 1990 by the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. The schooner was found to be nearly intact. The foremast had fallen to the starboard side, and the mainmast was missing, but hull, its equipment, and its cargo of iron ore were still complete.
We returned to the wreck in 1993 to resume our study of the steamer-turned-schooner’s design, construction, and appearance. The project was jointly sponsored by the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Texas A&M University, the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, the Lake Champlain Basin Program, and Mr. Ray H. Siegfried II. All dives were staged from Captain Fred Fayette’s research vessel Neptune.
Project co-director Dr. Kevin Crisman (left) and colleague Dr. Fred Hocker (right) prepare for a dive on Water Witch.
Project co-director Arthur Cohn descends on the wreck with his video camera.The wooden windlass in the bow of the Water Witch. Years of reeling in anchor chain have severely worn the wooden drums of the windlass.
The crosstrees at the top of the foremast lie in the mud off the starboard side of the wreck One of the stern cabin windows in the transom of the Water Witch.Plan and profile views of the Water Witch, reconstructed from measurements of the hull. The schooner had a very shallow draft, and probably drew no more than four feet of water even when fully laden with iron ore. The centerboard located between the two cargo hatches was added to the vessel when it was converted from a steamer. Despite Water Witch’s steamboat beginnings, its design closely resembles typical lake schooners and sloops of the early to mid nineteenth century.
Water Witch’s days as a steamer were over. Her machinery was removed and she was converted into a schooner. Little is known of her life as a work-a-day craft propelled by wind, but we know that it was long. In 1866, she began her thirty-fourth season. She was captained by Thomas Mock, who had on board his wife and three children. On April 26 the schooner met its end when it foundered in a gale while carrying a load of iron ore. The Mock’s infant, Roa, was in the cabin, and was lost.
Some believe that the laughter is the spirit of the witch, taunting the crew for their misdeeds. There have been numerous accounts of encounters with the Water Witch, with reports ranging from seeing the ship in the distance to actually being aboard the vessel. These encounters have left witnesses in a state of shock and disbelief, as they struggle to comprehend the reality of what they have experienced. While many dismiss the Water Witch as nothing more than a legend or myth, there are those who believe that there may be some truth to the stories. They point to the numerous testimonies from credible witnesses and argue that there must be something more to the spectral boat. Whether or not the Water Witch truly exists, its legend continues to captivate the imaginations of those who hear the tales. The mystery and intrigue surrounding this ghost ship make it a fascinating subject for exploration and speculation..
Reviews for "A Journey into the Unknown: The Spectral Boat Water Witch"
1. John - 2 stars - I really wanted to like "Spectral Boat Water Witch" but I found it to be incredibly boring and uninteresting. The plot felt disjointed and the characters lacked depth. Despite the intriguing concept of a water witch and a spectral boat, the execution fell flat. The writing style felt forced and heavy-handed, making it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I couldn't even finish "Spectral Boat Water Witch". The writing was convoluted and confusing, with long and unnecessary descriptions that only added to the lack of a coherent storyline. The characters were one-dimensional and it was hard to connect with any of them. It's a shame because the idea of a water witch sounded interesting, but the execution was a major letdown. I would strongly advise against picking up this book if you value your time and sanity.
3. Robert - 2 stars - "Spectral Boat Water Witch" had potential, but it failed to deliver. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I struggled to stay interested in the story. The dialogue felt stilted and unrealistic, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The author's attempts at creating tension and suspense fell flat, and I found myself bored throughout most of the book. The concept of a water witch and a spectral boat was intriguing, but unfortunately, the execution was lacking. I wouldn't recommend this book to others.