jack the _lantern_

• Format: Manuscript
• Language: English
• Subjects: English language > Dialects > Newfoundland and Labrador; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/elrcdne/id/37947

jack 1 n Mysterious light named Jack the Lantern: [PT]JW I remember when I was about 10-12 years old hearing both my parents telling me of _"Jack the Lantern"_. This was a mysterious light that came up Trinity Bay, entered Chapel Arm and supposedly went to shore near the town of Chapel Arm, Trinity Bay. I was dubious about the existence of such a light, until I finally saw it. It looked to be like a [reverse] lantern light moving across the water about a mile away. It moved to fast to be on an ordinary motor boat, and there were no outboard boats or any that fast in my town at that time. My father explained that it was _thought to be_ _the "spirit" of a ship that had sunk_ about two miles offshore in a heavy gale taking all the crew with it. The appearance of the light then, used to signify to the local residents that a gale of wind would soon strike, (usually northerly wind in the fall of the year). Amazingly, their belief always was true. There would be a tremendous windstorm within a day or two. I have not heard of this Jack the Lantern since about 10 years ago, but I know of other stories surrounding it. Yes DICT CEN. [reverse] 60 Used I and Sup Not Used 3 Withdrawn bully1, jack-blunt, jack-easy, jack's alive, jack-boat, jack curlew, curlew, jack fisherman, jack-jump-up-and-kiss-me, jack root, blood root Checked by Jordyn Hughes on The 20 Aug 2015 _Nfld._ FOLKLORE SURVEY, reverse side of card at J_12975, [check] beside 'collected by'