With a cargo consisting of three hundred immigrants the Dutch ship Palatine sailed out from Amsterdam in 1752, heading for America. After a terrible and stormy voyage the ship met its horrible destiny around Christmas outside Block Island at the mouth of Long Island Sound.

According to a story it was wreckers who, with misleading torches tricked the ship up on the cliffs, plundered it and put it on fire. The passengers were brought to land, but while the fire consumed

Palatine a scream made the plunderers to stop with their business. Through flames and smoke they saw a lonely woman crawl over the burning deck whitout a chance to save herself.

Around Christmas a year later and during the following years inhabitants on Block Island said to have seen the burning ship returning. Year 1869 an old man, by the name Benjamin Corydon who had lived on the mainland across the island, assured he had seen the burning ship at eight or nine occasions.

"All the sails were set and the flames were high."

He also said her visits ended when the last one of the wreckers died, but maybe he said that to early, because it's been reported to have been seen as late as year 1969.