Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-01-06
DOMESTICK NEWS,

LIVING GHosT. A circumstance rather
out of the ordinary channel of events took
place upon this Island few nights since,
which, for the heroism of those concerned,
as well as for the entertainment of our read
ers generally, twill be proper to relate.
Two Of our citiz ems, noted for undaunted
resolution and liberal share of humour and
wit, happening to meet each other few
evenings ago at Sciasconset, concerted a
plan something like the following THAT
at the flood of the tide, which was to be
about midnight, they would repair to the
shore where the brig Packet was wrecked /;
and perhaps be so fortunate as to find a bolt
of duck, bale of diaper, or something which
might reward them for the loss of sleep and
rest. This concerted scheme, very differ
emily from what they had reason to suspect,
was overheard by a third person, who soon
communicated it to fourth and of course
the two latter gentleman, (being up to a
thing or two) took their turn to carry on
little scheming. They agreed to 90 to the
shore about half an hour in advance of the
two duck and diaper spectators. Accord
lngly they went; and one, by the name of
10 Stout, warmly clad, and wrapped snugly
in pea Jacket, was stretched out ON the
beach just above the washing of the surf
and the other, concealed partly by wild
grass and partly by little eminence few
rods from the shore, waited the issue. They
had not been in readiness many minutes, be-
fore the two knights of valour, with bludg-
cons in their hands, were seen approaching
with firm strides, anxiously watching the
waves roll in and recede, the whole scene
being rendered sublime and solemn by the
palelight of the moon. Thus plodding the
coast, one, who had got ahead of his comrade,
sung out" halfoo, shipmate p 'halloo!"
replied the other. Don't you see," said the
first, something near the surf yonder !?
that's a bolt of duck" With palpitating
hearts they FASTENED forward, but as they
approached the supposed prize, an indiscrib-
able horrour seized upon them, when the
moon beams revealed the semblance of a
fellow creature! But true courage is seldom
overcome; especially when a prospect of
gam stimulates to action. After moment
of silent CONSERVATION, our two heroes very
naturally concluded that the object before
them was one of the unfortunate men lost
when the Packet was wrecked. andhumane-
y determined to roll the body up the beach,
that the rising tide should not wash it away,
ard then pursue their search for goods.
They first touched the body with their long
sticks, then summoned up that kind of resolu-
ton which is required tolay hands on a dead
man, washed on shore at the dead of night,
and commenced rolling him up the sandy
beach. 10 Stout was lying face down, with
his legs, arms and body, as stiff and notion
less as if they had been in the cold embrace
of death for weeks. The two duck hunters
had not rolled the supposed corpse over more
than three times, when 10 fetched solemn,
loud, sepulchral groan, which might have
frightened hyena froma corpse; where
npon our chevaliers started for Sciasconset
with velocity surprising that of the zebra,
tempest Of sand flying for rods behind their
heels; and 10 fearing theterrour might prove
fatal, vociferated with the voice ola Stentor.
I'm 10 Stout But with such astonishing
Iswiftness had tie afrighted couple fled,
that even the voice flo did not reach SCR
ascOnset till some seconds after the trern-