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Petkum, Germany 1920/30

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エムデン by 碳酸 [Twitter/X] ※Illustration shared with permission from the artist. If you like this artwork please support the artist by visiting the source.

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The Ghost Ship of Emden

Today we venture into the realm of myths and legends from East Frisia.

Once upon a time, when the River Ems still flowed beneath the city walls of Emden, the town was a bustling place full of ships and merchants of all kinds, offering their wares from all over the world. But one night, this idyll was disrupted by a violent storm from the north-west. And yet families were out in the glow of numerous lanterns to welcome their loved ones, the merchant sailors, and escort them into the warm embrace of home. But the Windsbraut knew no mercy. She raged, causing the waves to rise and fall, and tore at the sails and the ship itself. She drowned out the voices of the crew, all 40 of Emden’s sons.

Ships on a Stormy Sea, Raden Saleh, 1840 (x)

Faced with this great distress, everyone on shore shouted, asking where the boat was that was supposed to come to their aid. But the harbour master, who controlled the harbour entrance and held the keys to the boathouse, refused. He believed that Captain Elfert Giesberts had deserved his fate and that he would not sacrifice the precious boat for such a man, even though his own son was on board. He hated the captain deeply.

By the time he was finally forced to hand over the key, it was already far too late. The ship, with all hands on board, had sunk into the maelstrom of the towering waves, and the Windsbraut laughed mockingly over the city walls.

And even now, whenever a storm approaches from the north-west, the waves crash against the dyke, the air groans and moans, and the winds howl and wail, one can see, in the pitch-black midnight, a ghost ship rushing towards one in a bluish glimmer of light. You can hear the clatter of the ropes, the clanking of the chains, the captain’s shouts and the blood-curdling, bone-shaking cries of fear and death from the dying. One should say a prayer for those poor souls, so that they may find a little peace and not take you with them.

#naval history #ghostship story #emden #germany #19th century #sailing ship #age of sail