The Young Teazer

Mahone Bay
from Will R Bird, 1950 "This is Nova Scotia" p 180- 189"
The biggest story is about an American privateer, the Young Teazer, which entered the Bay during the war of 1812-1814, pursued by a British man -of - war. An English deserter was serving on the American vessel, and to his dismay daw that capture was inevitable. he began to think of what would happen when his identity was made known and, desperate with fear, ran below and hurled a torch into a barrel of gunpowder. the explosion resulting blew the vessel to fragments and all the crew was killed. Next year, on that date, June 27th, people of Mahone Bay were startled to see an apparition sailing into the same water where the Young Teazer had been destroyed. As it came nearer they recognized it as the privateer, and then it vanished in a huge puff of flame and smoke. The story spread through the country, and on the next anniversary many more were on hand, watching for "the fire ship." Sure enough, it appeared again, and it is legend to this day that many persons now living have witnessed the appearance of the ghost ship, and have seen it disappear in flame."