The SS Watertown Ghost Faces
After two sailors died in an accident aboard an oil tanker, their faces began appearing in the water alongside the ship - and a crew member's camera captured them.
In December 1924, two sailors, James Courtney and Michael Meehan, died in an accident aboard the oil tanker SS Watertown. They were buried at sea in the Pacific Ocean. The next day, crew members reported seeing their faces appearing in the waves alongside the ship. For several days, these faces followed the vessel. A crew member photographed them, and the developed image revealed two ghostly faces in the water - the faces of the deceased men. The SS Watertown case subsequently became one of the most photographed hauntings in history.
The Accident
December 1924
The SS Watertown was an oil tanker that was sailing from the Pacific coast to the Panama Canal, carrying a crew of experienced sailors. It was a routine voyage when the accident occurred.
The Deaths
Two seamen, James Courtney and Michael Meehan, tragically died as a result of being overcome by gas fumes while cleaning a cargo tank. Both men perished in the accident.
Burial at Sea
As was customary at the time, the bodies of the two seamen were carefully wrapped, weighted for sinking, and a service was held before they were buried in the Pacific Ocean. The ship continued its voyage after this solemn event.
The Apparitions
The First Sighting
The day following the burial, crew members on deck noticed something in the water. They observed faces appearing in the waves, identified as those of Courtney and Meehan, and they followed the ship as it sailed.
What They Saw
The faces appeared in the water off the side of the ship, seemed to follow the vessel, were clearly identifiable as the dead men, and typically lasted for about ten seconds before reappearing repeatedly.
Crew Reaction
The sailors were understandably terrified and reported the sightings to the captain, who came to observe and also saw the faces. The entire crew became aware of the unsettling phenomenon.
Duration
The faces appeared for several days throughout the voyage until the ship reached port, and multiple crew members witnessed them consistently, always the same two faces.
The Photograph
Taking the Picture
Before reaching port, a crew member had a camera and the captain ordered photographs taken. The camera was secured, and the next time the faces appeared, photographs were taken.
The Development
The captain took the camera to be developed commercially, ensuring there was no tampering, and waited for the results.
The Image
One photograph showed two faces in the water beside the ship’s hull, recognizable as Courtney and Meehan, and appeared eerie and unmistakable. Other frames showed nothing unusual.
Investigation
The Camera
The equipment was a standard camera of the era, showing no unusual characteristics. The film was fresh, and the development was normal.
Chain of Custody
The captain meticulously ensured the camera wasn’t tampered with, the development was conducted by a professional, and he himself collected the prints, maintaining a robust chain of evidence.
Expert Analysis
The Burns Detective Agency examined the photograph and found no evidence of double exposure or tampering, unable to explain the image definitively.
The Image in Question
What It Shows
The famous photograph displays two faces in water alongside a ship, the faces are side by side, and appear to be looking up. They match descriptions of the dead men, and the water around them seems normal.
Verification
Those who knew the men identified the faces as Courtney and Meehan, the resemblance was convincing, and multiple crew members confirmed this identification, consistent with the descriptions.
Aftermath
On Later Voyages
When the SS Watertown sailed again with a different crew, no faces appeared, and the haunting did not continue; it was specific to that voyage.
The Crew
The witnesses maintained their accounts, were regarded as credible, had nothing to gain from fabrication, and several later gave interviews.
The Photograph’s Fate
The original photograph was preserved and has been reproduced many times, remaining in existence as one of the most significant ghost photographs.
Analysis
What Makes This Case Notable
Several factors contributed to the case’s notoriety: multiple witnesses over multiple days, a chain of custody for the photograph, professional development, independent expert analysis, and credible witnesses with nothing to gain.
The Problem of Water
Skeptics note that water can create patterns, and the human brain can find faces (pareidolia). The photograph is grainy, and expectation can influence perception.
The Defense
Supporters countered that multiple witnesses saw faces before any photographs were taken, and they identified specific individuals. The photograph matched their descriptions.
Theories
Genuine Ghost Phenomenon
The Theory: The spirits of Courtney and Meehan appeared, followed their ship, were captured on film, and represent a rare documented haunting.
Support: Witness testimony, the photograph, the identification, and the duration of the appearances.
Pareidolia
The Theory: The crew expected to see faces, and the brain found patterns in the water, leading to the perceived apparitions.
Problems: The identification was specific, multiple witnesses observed them, and the photograph shows distinct faces.
Hoax
The Theory: The crew fabricated the story and the photograph for publicity or entertainment, with no ghosts involved.
Problems: The Burns Agency analysis, multiple witnesses, chain of custody, and a lack of a clear motive.
Double Exposure or Artifact
The Theory: A camera malfunction resulted in a double exposure or a film artifact, rather than a supernatural phenomenon.
Problems: Only one frame showed faces, the faces matched the dead men, professional analysis found no artifact, and would need to match witness descriptions.
Legacy
Famous Ghost Photo
The SS Watertown photo is included in most ghost photo collections, has been analyzed repeatedly, remains unexplained, and is considered significant evidence.
In Literature
The case appears in ghost investigation books, maritime history discussions, photographic evidence analyses, and haunting compilations.
The Question
Two men died aboard a ship. They were buried at sea. The next day, their faces appeared in the water. The crew saw them. The captain saw them. They photographed them. The photograph showed exactly what the witnesses described: two faces in the waves, following their ship. James Courtney. Michael Meehan. Dead and buried in the Pacific Ocean. But somehow, visible to those they left behind. Was it their spirits, following their ship? Their way of saying goodbye? Or their way of protesting their sudden deaths? Or was it just waves and light and grief – the crew seeing what they needed to see, the camera capturing random patterns? The Burns Detective Agency couldn’t explain the photograph. Neither can we, a century later. The SS Watertown continued sailing. The faces never appeared again. Whatever was following the ship that December, it was satisfied or simply gone. But the photograph remains. Two faces in the water. Following a ship that carried their bodies to the deep. The SS Watertown Ghost Faces. One of the most credible ghost photographs ever taken. And still, after all these years, unexplained.
Sources
- Wikipedia search: “The SS Watertown Ghost Faces”
- Society for Psychical Research — SPR proceedings, peer-reviewed psychical research since 1882