Comments for The Denbigh: Page 1

The facts are it was May 23 and 24 1865 when it was burned and sunk. And after reading and researching this ship - yes it is what I saw no doubt about it. After all the research about that fateful night. It happened exactly like I saw it and ended at daylight like I saw it. During the research it's been recorded it's a nuecence to fisheremen - those weren't my words. I'm trying to give you facts as I learn them as well. I apologize to you if I'm rude. It was actually a british merchant ship outfitted to be a blockade runner. It was running cotton to Havanna. I never really studied the civil war much. And honestly I didn't realize there were sea battles in the civil war. In school I just made my grades - didn't really care to study it much. After my experience - I wanted to know what I was seeing so I did research the area extensively. I did see two ships. I haven't figured the other one out yet. Bolivar has lots of history. It was a rollover place for slavery too. And before the fort was built it was inhabbited by a tribe of indians that were canabals. European ships would wash ashore and they would capture them and eat them. This was in the 1500's. I'm still researching the area. I just thought it was really neat what I saw. Most of it. The murdered women I saw was not. It's like they were lost wandering around the beach. There's a serial killer here in that area that has killed women for 30 years. Those images I'd like not to see. I'm just sharing the one that I thought people would be interested in. Most of the time I can block images. This time I didn't. I want to go back again and I will. Now that I know what I am seeing. It will all make more sense to me. I don't mean to be rude to anyone. It was truly the most memorable ghostly experience I've ever had or haunting/psychic imprint.
Belenda

Belendajones, actually "we people are not arguing among ourselves"--rather, we are attempting to gather facts, clarify discrepancies in your account, and obtain answers to our questions in a polite and civil fashion so we can comment on your story appropriately.

Yes, the top of the Denbigh's iron paddle wheel protrudes above the water, but only at low tide--otherwise it would have deteriorated by now and underwater archaeology would not be required.

The Denbigh is in very shallow water so it is not a "nuecence" to either navigation or fisherman--rather, it is a valuable artifact to our past. I would think someone as sensitive to the past as yourself--who witnessed this scene, who dove on the site, and who took time to see the artifacts--would appreciate that fact.

Just because the water is shallow does not mean the site is close to shore as you claim. Shoals and bars lurk miles off shore. The Denbigh inadverently struck a sand bar for that very reason--because the bar was in an unexpected place as the blockade runner attempted to slip into the Bay unobserved. As you know, Galveston Bay is very shallow and no pilot would attempt to skirt that shore and risk the bars. The Denbigh--like most blockade runners during the War was very swift so it did not have to rely on skirting the shore. The typical strategy for blockade runners was to drift with the tide and if spotted--and only when spotted by the Federal vessels--then it would excellerate because their steam boilers and paddle wheels could respond faster and propel the ship faster than the Federal vessels--even from a dead stop. Otherwise, there would be no monetary reward for taking the risk. So, blockade runners relied on their superior speed and did not take unnecessary risks like navigating the bars. Considering this, I find the claim that "They put a plank from the ship to dry land for everyone to come ashore" provided by bellatrix_08 to be unfeasible. That would require one long pank cut from the tallest tree ever. The account of the action provided by FRAWIN makes no mention of this.

As others have suggested, could you have observed the fiery destruction of a vessel other than the Denbeigh?

Put it this way. I didn't have any prior knowledge of the history of this Penisula. It was during the lunar eqlipse. Everything just came alive. I've had a really hard time identifying these events. I had to do extensive research. This was such a flux of a haunting or pyschic imprint one or the other. I'm not quite sure of everything yet. But it was truly amazing.
Belenda

I wrote my daughter after I came home. Before I researched. I apologize for the wrong dates. After further research it is what I saw. There were many images. I didn't quite understand everything at the time I wrote to her. 1867 was probably the date of one of the other occurances at the time. You can believe or not that is your choice. I just thought it was amazing. If anyone else wants to check it out - that's all. Not trying to get involved in the discrepencies.
Belenda

Hello Belendajones. You made a statement that we were putting words in your story. Here is where I got my words, inserted is a portion of a email sent from you to your daughter:

-So when I got home I looked up shipwrecks and I think I found what I saw. The Denbigh - a registered British merchant ship - she was outfitted to be a steam blockade runner. Captured by the U.S. And lost at Galveston Feb. 21. 1867. By the outfits and clothes they were wearing this ship fits. I had to tell somebody besides Joe. He laughs at me. What I saw was the beach was crouded with women and children with the big dresses and the hooded capes. Some with Arab atire and some with Vietnamese hats. Like immigrants. I saw the captain. The ships was burned and run aground. They put a plank from the ship to dry land for everyone to come ashore.---

This is where I got the passengers and the 1867 date. So if anyone is adding to your story --it's not us.

FRAWIN

One more thing - those pictures of the excuvation. That's Galveston Island in the background not Bolivar.
Belenda

To Kecoughtan, My boyfriend and I camp there a lot and go wade fishing when the tide is low you can see it sticking out of the water. It's a nuecence to fisherman. I've seen it but didn't know what it was until now. So it's not as far off the Bolivar Penisula as you think. Have you been there? When we rent the beach house you can see it at night sticking out of the water. You're going by pictures? Pictures are deceiving. They have dive trips to see it and artifacts at the museum in Galveston. How much more do you want to know? And no nobody was on the ship when it burned and sank. I never said there was. And no it didn't sail after 1865 in was sunk. You people are arguing among yourselves and somehow putting these words in my story. I know what I saw and after extensive research and seeing pictures of paintings of the Denbigh - that is the ship I seen run aground and burned. Just trying to reply to everyone.
Belenda

I didn't give any history of the Denbigh here. I just said my research fit. I had to go home and sort it all out and research everything I saw. You can argue among yourselves. I seen 2 ships that night. The Denbigh was only one. But you all do humor me.
Belenda

Oh yeah and by the way Bolivar was also a place for slave trading and pirating - there's a lot there to see if you can see!
Belenda

I had several experiences that night. The Denbigh was only one. I seen a woman and child sitting on a log looking out to sea. Research found she was left behind when the fort disbanned and waited 8 months for her husbands return from fighting in the civil war in Goliad and had another child who was the first anglo saxon born on Texas soil in Port Bolivar. He never returned. On the other side of the observation deck I seen 50's model cars and trucks - I haven't found out what they were as of yet. 4 trucks and 3 cars. I seen one of the murdered women that was found on the beach wandering aimlessly about the beach. The only reason I shared the Denbigh story is a lot of civil war hauntings are reported I just thought I'd report mine. That was just the main event of my evening and experiences
Belenda

The name Denbigh sounded familiar to me, but I initially dismissed it because that was the name of a near by community when I lived in Virginia; however, I should have trusted that little voice. The wreck of the Denbigh is currently being excavated by underwater archaeologists from Texas A&M--one of the world's premier underwater archaeology programs. If anyone would like to read about the detailed history of the vessel, see recovered artifacts, or look at reconstructions then go to: http://nautarch.tamu.edu/projects/denbigh/. If you do, take note of the photographs of the crew on the water surface. Shore is not visible in most of the photographs---and when it is, it is distant.

By the way, FRAWIN, great job on your detective work in the archives!

Hello bellatrix_08. I am not saying your mother didn't experience something, I wasn't there so I truthfully can not say. What I am saying is it was not The Denbigh she saw. The Denbigh never carried passengers. It was not captured by the Union-IT WAS SUNK. It did not sail in 1867 - it was sunk in 1865. I am inserting the dispatch that was sent by the Union Captain B.F. Sands to Admiral Thatcher

U.S. S. FORT JACKSON, Off Galveston, Tex., May 24,1865. Acting Rear-Admiral H. K. THATCHER Commanding West Gulf Squadron, Mobile Bay. Admiral: I have the satisfaction to report the destruction of the famous blockade runner Denbigh, side-wheel steamer, iron, 162 tons. She was discovered from this vessel at early daylight this morning aground on Bird Key Spit, near Bolivar Point. I sent the Cornubia and Princess Royal to open fire upon her, and boats were sent from Kennebec and Seminole to board and destroy her, which was effectually done by 7 a. M. A boat from the Seminole, in charge of Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Mundy, although the farther off, was the first to board and. Apply the torch, and she was soon enveloped in flames, the crew having escaped to the shore when thev saw they were discovered. Papers were found on board showing she the Denbigh, from Havana, 18th instant. She is now a wreck and has made her last vovage. I regret to report that Luke Robins, seaman, of the Seminole, was instantly killed by the accidental discharge of his own gun while leaving the wreck: I have the honor to be, very respectfully, etc., your obedient servant, B. F. SANDS, Captain, Commanding Third Division West Gulf Squadron.
Source: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. 22.

She may have experienced something but her visions don't match up to historical fact. Take Care.

FRAWIN 😊

I DO have more questions, but I feel that, as they are in the discrepancies between her story posted here and in the account in her e-mail, it would be better if SHE answer them.
Thank you, again.

Thank you, bellatrix_08, for coming to your mothers defence. I can appreciate that, as my daughter has done the same for me on occasion.
Unfortunately, the e-mail that you made public knowledge, now has me questioning a bit more.
When I posted MY comment, I was under the assumption that this was a psychic experience. I was under the impression from both your mothers previous comment on another story, and in the telling of this story, that perhaps your mother was a seer. In the comment to the other story she admitted that she had positive responses from communication boards... Thus the assumption that she was an active psychic.
But you have shed new light on it, and from MY standpoint, I would now have to revert to the first comment saying that it was an all night residual haunting. That ALSO brings up more questions, as it would appear that those more knowledgeable than I in this matter have risen in their fields and gave the history of that particular ship.
I read that she was in the process of researching ships to see if this was indeed the name of said vessel. Has she completed the research? Is there another possibility?
I would much rather ask these questions of her, as you did not see this all first hand, as she did. But now that more questions have popped up, I can not help myself.
Thank you.

Well everyone, BelendaJones is my mother and I got an actual account of the story first-hand from her in an e-mail. Does anyone want the real scoop on what she saw? Well, here is what she wrote me:

Hi Babe,
I had a really weird experience this weekend. For the first time in my life I actually seen ghosts - visibly seen them. And a ghost ship run aground in Bolivar. The faces were just shadows but I could see color of clothing and shoes. They would walk up to me as if trying to tell me something but as soon as Joe would come near me they would vanish. I did see a few of faces on some. It scared the heck out of me. Weird Weird experience. I've had ghosts in most of the houses we lived in but I never seen any of them. I couldn't sleep until daylight. They would walk up to the pathfinder and look in the windows. Then vanish. So when I got home I looked up shipwrecks and I think I found what I saw. The Denbigh - a registered British merchant ship - she was outfitted to be a steam blockade runner. Captured by the U.S. And lost at Galveston Feb. 21. 1867. By the outfits and clothes they were wearing this ship fits. I had to tell somebody besides Joe. He laughs at me. What I saw was the beach was crouded with women and children with the big dresses and the hooded capes. Some with Arab atire and some with Vietnamese hats. Like immigrants. I saw the captain. The ships was burned and run aground. They put a plank from the ship to dry land for everyone to come ashore. I've never visibly seen a spirit until now. I always believed in them. Well that was my expierence this weekend. Even though I was scared I was so intrigued. I'm not going to tell anyone - they will think I'm crazy. It was weird because as they approached me the feet would vanish first then the body upward from the feet to the head. As if they were all trying to comunicate with me. They would reach out with one hand to me. I couldn't sleep at all. I don't why it scared me so much but it did. Everytime I touched Joe they would disapear. So I wouldn't let him out of my sight. He don't believe in stuff like this but I do and more so now than ever.
I had to tell someone.
love u
mom
I saw everything as plain as day in detail with color. I'm going to do more research on shipwrecks but so far the one I found fits.

It does seem like a very short, limited depiction of something that sounds like it would have been absolutely amazing. I also agree on the "My boyfriend didn't get any" line. Not suitable for such a site, let alone such a topic. Unless, of course, your boy friend is a ghost- then it would have SOME bearing on the story. I don't like to say that people are not correct in their stories, that they are fabricated- but I do find this one quite fishy. Though I do not mean any ill feelings. 😁

Well...
I see FRAWIN, KimSouthO, essiej, Mustang, Ohiowatha, Rhodes68...
I learned a lot from this story. Thank you all. I enjoy impromptu history lessons.
Well done.

Excuse me again, "just about everyone" was rather innacurate. I meant to say you,Kim, essiej, Mustang and Ohiowatha.

Hi Frawin. You, along with just about everyone on this site, were quite 🤔 from the very beginning. It's true Mustang, some things are better left unsaid but after Ohio's very well targeted objections I began to feel a bit ticklish. 😊

Well FRAWIN! I try to refrain from certain subjects, however, I do and say what I feel as long as it is not TOO mean or vulgar! 😊

SHELBY

Well it seems that I wasn't the only one that was a little skeptical. Ohiowatha has voiced the same suspicions I had and I see that rhodes have added the historical facts. I guess that Kim is the smartest and she's not talking 😊.

FRAWIN 😊 😁

Excuse me but since Ohio started this I can hardly restrain myself 😊.Belenda, you said the whole vision was taking place at the shore but I'm afraid you must have confused the historic events, as it must have been another battle you were watching. The problem is that the Denbigh got stuck on a sandbar about a quarter mile off the Bolivar coast and slowly sank after it was set on fire by one of the blockading ships. We're talking about 3 1/2 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. Nobody stole any of the cargo as the cargo disappeared and was never found. There was only one death and that was of a seaman from the Seminole who accidentally shot himself. The Denbigh's crew fled when the boats sent to board and destroy it were seen from a distance. So who did you witness burning to their deaths? Oh, I stop here... 😊

The other thing that is suspicious about this to me is that southern blockade-runners were not employed by the Confederate Navy and did not wear uniforms. As often as not, they were actually Northerners just trying to make a buck off of the war and were smuggling goods from the North itself into the South for incredible fees. Beyond that, a lot of blockade-runners were British merchants.

If an officer addressed me, I would give every detail of that encounter: which side he came up on, what he did, how long he was there, how he appeared, how he disappeared, etc. Bald and "there" just seems too non chalant for such an incredible encounter.

And ladies in Victorian clothing? Sorry, but there is no way in the world there were ladies working blockade-running vessels in the Civil War. This would have been considered "man's work" and it would shame any husband to have his wife hauling goods off of ships in the night. You also fail to mention where you saw these women or what they were doing. It was a big stretch to let women work at all back then, let alone to do hard manual labor in dangerous conditions in a storm under the eye and cannon of the Union Navy.

And further explanation will be readily accepted. Thank you.

Very, very interesting story. An encounter that plays-out all night long would seem to merit more than a paragraph though. If this happened to me, I'd not only be very excited to tell the story, but my story would be absolutely rife with examples and details. If this happened to me, I'd want to explain it to the hilt, to impart every bit of it because it would be, well, only the most incredible thing by far that I or anyone I know had ever experienced.

But that's just me.

Hello Belendajones! I, like Kim, have a problem with this story. Sorry but no cigar! This is MY opinion and MY opinion only. That I am entitled to! As for you saying, "needless to say my boyfriend didn't get any that night!" Even though this is a young adult to adult sight, I believe you could have left that OUT! I found it unclassy, no taste and it had nothing REALLY to do with the paranormal or such! Speaking of that is somewhat personal. Atleast to me, and I can only assume that you are NOT that mature when speaking in that manner. Excuse me if I hurt your feelings or other but this had to be said. Since I have been on this site, I have NEVER heard anyone even remotely speak in those terms.

SHELBY

I was always told that the owl was the sign of death. I'm sorry, I do not know anything about this Denbigh, was it a pirate ship or something? They were unloading a burned ship onto a pirate ship, but then the pirate ship sank? I'm not trying to be dumb or anything, but could you explain that for me? Cause by the sound of your story, you saw the life of the crew, and not their death.

hmmmmmm, sorry, I have some problems with this one. I refrain from further comment.

God Bless!

Fantastic. I'd love to hear some other stories about your experiences with talking boards, UFO's and your communications with the spirit world.

Did your boyfriend also witness the Denbigh, or was it just you?

FRAWIN, no need to apologize, you may be right, I was just offering my interpretation. I did have doubts too as it almost turned into a Pirates of the Carribean adventure 😉 But if you check her profile she just seems sincere.

My apologies to you and belendajones, I stand corrected. I was under the assumption that she witnessed an all night residual haunting. I again offer my apologies.

FRAWIN

FRAWIN, I would think this was more of a psychic or clairvoyant experience rather than an actual scene being played by ghosts. I also hesitated when I read it but belendajones seems credible.

Hmmmmm..."The images were coming so fast it was overwhelming - truly awesome. The images lasted all night until dawn..." Now this is what I would call a paranormal experience.

FRAWIN 🤔