Fun Fridays- All Aboard, Humans and Ghosts Welcome!- by Karen Michelle Nutt

I’ve been asked how I come up with some of my ideas for my stories. Old towns, buildings and even ships draw me in to explore. I love learning about the history, the legends and if there is a ghost story to be told, I’m all ears. My tale ‘The Spirit of Love’ (Featured in the Second Time Around Anthology) was inspired by my tour aboard the Queen Mary. For Fun Friday, I would love for you to join me aboard the Queen Mary.

The Queen Mary was bigger, faster and mightier than the Titanic.  She was constructed at the John Brown shipyard in Clyde, Scotland and made her maiden voyage on May 27, 1936.

At one time, the Ocean liner hosted elaborate parties where royalty, world leaders and top entertainment figures enjoyed fine wine and seven course meals.

From 1940-1946, she was transformed into a carrier ship aiding forces during World War II.  She is said to have carried over 760 thousand military personnel.  She was painted a drab-gray to keep her hidden in the misty waters, giving her the nickname “The Gray Ghost.”

There are what psychics call ‘hot spots’ and vortexes throughout the ship.  The first class swimming pool and the dressing rooms being one of the most active of the paranormal sightings.  It is believed a woman was attacked in the pool’s dressing room. Numerous psychics feel there is a negative energy that still lingers.  It has been reported a little girl’s laughter can be heard on occasion and a forlorn girl clutching a teddy bear has appeared to guests and staff.  They believe she may have drowned.  At times, they have heard splashing and have seen wet footprints leading to the changing rooms.  Another sighting is of a woman and a child dressed in 1940’s clothing standing near the gate leading to the pool. (Do you notice the light energy strands int he picture on the right? Some believe this is a spirit. We had a quite a few pictures like this. What do you think?)

One spirit said to haunt the Queen Mary on D Deck or door #13 in shaft alley is John Pedder. He was a fireman/cleaner in the number 3 Boiler Room in 1966.  For some reason on a routine drill, the eighteen year old tried to squeeze through the watertight door that closes in less than six seconds.  Some speculated that he was trying to play “Chicken” and unfortunately, it became a deadly game where he lost his life

I held the rods in the Engine Room where staff and tour guides have reported strange clanging sounds and balls of light move slowly across the walls. Others have seen a mysterious black-bearded man wearing coveralls ride the escalator as if he was on his way to do a job.  Erika Frost asked if the spirits wished to speak with us.  The rods uncannily moved.  It wasn’t a slow movement, but fast and to the left as if someone came by and pushed it.  It continued to do this each time she would ask a question.

Erika Frost is a Psychic Paranormal Investigator

On G Deck where the morgue was thought to be located, there have been reports of lights flickering, doors slamming, and numerous sightings in this area. John Pedder (crushed by door #13 during a watertight drill)l is sometimes spotted wearing the blue coveralls in which he died. Another was William Stark, who accidentally drank poison that the ship’s captain was keeping in an old gin bottle.

The cabin, B-340 (B deck) is supposedly one of the most haunted cabins on the ship.  The cabin is supposed to be haunted by a purser who was murdered. The hotel no longer lets guest stay in the cabin.

In the Boson’s Locker you can hear strange noises.  During World II, the Queen Mary was being pursued and to avoid being an easy target, they used the zigzagging technique.  Unfortunately, her escort ship, a British cruiser H.M.S. Curacao moved in the wrong direction and the Queen Mary sliced her in two.  They were not allowed to stop for survivors and over 300 hundred men drowned.  We were told there was a television crew who left their audio recorder running overnight in the exact location where the two ships collided.  The next day they played back the tape and sounds of pounding could be heard.  Others who have been down here claimed to have heard voices and cries for help. When we were down in the once damaged area, we heard strange groaning noises and tapping.

In the third class playroom, which is now a used as a storage room, a baby’s cry has been heard.  It is believed to be Leigh Travers Smith, an infant boy who died shortly after his birth.

This concludes our Ghost tour of the Queen Mary.

The psychic Mable Fortescue-Harrison predicted that the Queen Mary would know its greatest fame when she no longer sailed.  It seems her prediction came true.  The ship is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is permanently docked in Long Beach, California.  It contains the Hotel Queen Mary with 365 restored original First Class staterooms.  It has a maritime museum and has had numerous exhibits with the artifacts from the Titanic, the legendary Marilyn Monroe’s personal possessions, and “Treasures of the Last Czar.”   It hosts the Scottish Highland Games every February, Art Deco Festivals, The annual Halloween Terrorfest, and the Annual Long Beach Holiday Tree-Lighting Ceremony.

The Queen Mary is a fascinating old ship with a rich history.  As any old structure with dim lighting, it can feel creepy and make noises make you jump.  So whether you are a skeptic or a firm believer in the paranormal, you’ll enjoy the different tours that are offered aboard the Queen Mary.

Thank you for joining me today. I hope to see you next month for the next virtual ghost walk.

About the Author: Karen Michelle Nutt resides in California with her husband, three fascinating children, and houseful of demanding pets. Jack, her Chihuahua/Yorkshire terrier is her writing buddy and sits long hours with her at the computer.

Her new passion is creating book covers for Western Trail Blazers and Rebecca J. Vickery Publishing. In her spare time, she reviews books for PNR-Paranormal Romance Reviews.

Whether your reading fancy is paranormal, historical or time travel, all her stories capture the rich array of emotions that accompany the most fabulous human phenomena—falling in love.

Visit the author at: http://www.kmnbooks.com

Stop by her blog for Monday interviews, chats and contests at:
http://kmnbooks.blogspot.com