Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-10-26
MISCELLANY Y.
A LEGEND OF CAPE MAY.
BY JOSEPH II. CHANDLER.

A few days since, was leaning against
q fence, in the rear Of the bowling alley,
and looking off upon the ocean, and around
upon the beautiful shores, and distant line
of the opposite Cape, just family discerna-
bic in the mist, was accosted by an old
man, withthe customary salutatons, which
| cheerfully exchanged. He was a native
Of this country, and had grown old IN the
ways Of his people. questioned him as
TO the wonders o. the place, but found that
he had nothing Of the kind to relate.
Are there no legends, connected with
places along the shore %
"None", said he, " that know Of"
But you have a haunted house on the
main land"
"Yes," said the old man smilingly,
"there was a ghost or two there"
"Well, how came they there, and what
became Of the visitors should like to
go 10 the house with you and have you tell
me about those spirits in their own circle"
Why, as to that, there are more haunt
ed places than one in the neighbortpod.-
The strip of ground on which yonder bowl
ing-allcy was built, was once haunted; and
there are many now alive who saw the
ghost walk among the graves, then nume-
rous and visible in that place."
Was that burying ground -
"Yes: tho dead bodies Of persons cast
ashore from wrecks on this beach, were
taken thither and buried"
"Did you ever see the ghost Of which
you speak %
81 saw it once standing within twenty
feet of this place."
would be productive, as il was long since
had heard Of a real ghost; and, from the
appearance Of the old man, he was not like
ly to Jest in such matters.
The bell then rang for the table, and |
was called away to attend upon my female
companions. twas not until the next eve
ming that saw the old man again. He was
leaning against rough fence, and looked
occasionally out upon the ocean, and then
at this site Of the old burying ground.
Immediately drew his attention to the
subject of our former conversation. He
hestatcd for some time to comply with my
me TO persons who recoIlected the appara-
ton. But preferred his edition. and, af-
fer saying it might spoil some in,eresting
illusions, resting his arms upon the fence,
and collecting his thoughts as if to fix on
some date, he thus commenced:
THE OLD MANS GHOST STORY.
alt was in the winter Of Is, and in
the midst of one Of the severest storms of
the season, tina, brig, coming from Bos-
ton, struck upon the shoals Of this beach.
Nothing but a miracle could have saved
tho lifo of single human being on board,
and that miracle, believe, was fTot inter
posed in the behalf Of single one, of eth
CIR crew or passengers. Several bodies
wore shortly afterwards found on shore !;
they were supposed to belong TO the Bos-
ton brig. Leaning on one Of the bodies,
which was apparently better dressed than
the others, was large dog nearly as stiff
with ice as his human companions, but he
was not dead. The bodies were taken to
a building, and left in the clothing in which
they were found, while the dog, with some
aid, followed me TO my house. A collar on
his neck bore the name of 4. Dupoint.-
The animal returned with me the next
morning, and recognized Immediately the
body upon which he was leaning when first
discovered. This led to the belief that he
was fondling on his former master-a be-
lief strengthened by the discovery Of a
small medal hanging 10 the neck Of the
deceased, upon which the name OF a. Du-
point was scratched or cut with pen-knile.
The medal was half of some foreign silver
coin. lremovcd it from the neck, and aided
in giving burial TO the dead stranger. The
medal hung up in my parlor. We sub
seQuently learned that the vessel, when she
left Boston, had one passenger. Notice of
the wreck, and the name upon the dogs
collar, and the medal, was given in the pa
pers, think. at that time /; but we heard
nor6ing, as there was no property to give
sdnctity to the dead. People | End, do not
snquire so closely after sick or dead rela-
tives, if the sufferers have not their pains
increased by disposuble, or hereditary pro-
perty. Such a possession | find, creates
strong sympathies.
As the dog brought no name with him,
we gave him that Of bis master and Du-
point came to be an inmate of my family.
though he never forgot the place in which
his master was buried. Thither he repaired