How much terrible, destructive power does the curse of a dying person contain? Can the hatred caused by the awareness of the impending execution of his own send a powerful energy charge against the executioners? This is precisely the question that arises in connection with the report of an incident that occurred in 1707 on one of the British ships. These were the dying words of a sailor who was about to be hauled on the yarn of the flagship frigate "Association" under the command of a native of Hastings (England) Sir Admiral Claudsley Shovel (Cloudesley Shovell).
A terrible prophecy was spoken when in 1707 the flagship, along with other ships of the fleet, returned from Gibraltar. Even though the weather was good, a big disaster was approaching. One of the sailors even earlier begged the officer to change the course of the frigate, warning him that a shipwreck could occur.
But the officer turned a deaf ear to this warning, and the sailor went to tell his story to the entire crew, who listened to him with great interest, since the guy was known as a clairvoyant. The sailor continued to insist on a change in course, because the lives of all people on board were at risk.
Admiral Sir Claudsley Shovel, accidentally hearing such requests, gave the order to hang the sailor so that he would not disturb the crew with his tales of a possible disaster.
And they hanged him.
In the sunlight of an August day, the team waited in silence until the unfortunate man was sent on his last journey. The body was pulled out of the loop and sewn into an old sail, with a heavy weight screwed to its legs so that it would not float; then they put it on a board and pushed it overboard. The wrapped corpse hit the water with a subtle splash.
And immediately a strong wind blew, "lambs" appeared on the waves.
Much to the crew's dismay, the corpse did not drown despite the weight on its legs. Somehow, the old sail turned around, and the body followed the ship, and the wave then covered it, then threw it back to the surface.
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There could not be a more terrible omen of death looming over them! Some whispered curses, some - prayers, and some were completely numb with fear.
Wreck of the ship "Association". 18th century engraving
The frigate Association struck Gilston Rock near the Isles of Scilly (a small archipelago 45 km southwest of Cornwall) and sank almost immediately; 800 people, including Sir Clodsley himself, were killed.
But that is not all. Further, three more ships of the fleet crashed into the same rock, so that the total number of dead exceeded 2000.
The battered body of the admiral washed ashore. It lay on the sand blazing from the sun until the Isles of Scilly buried it. Was it punishment that grass never grew on his grave? Everything around was overgrown, and there was not a single blade of grass on the grave itself.
Later, the admiral's body was exhumed and sent to Westminster Abbey, but the piece of land where it rested before always remains empty.
