Southern Argus., 1842-09-06

.heT GEM anu lDelr pefi-lne brltlsn
Isles their gobline, el(s and fairies
Yankeeland has had her wizards and
wi,ches-in short every part Of the earth
has boasted something supernatural
nor is our good State Of Mississippi
much behind the rest Of the world.
There is now, if faith can be placed
in the declarations of mama phenome-
non, in the South Easternmost county
Of this State, which presents a myste-
ry pnzzling to The most ingenious
heads.
Some years ago we read an account
Of this affair in Besancon's Register,
PIP. l5l, 152; and the recollection of
it has been revived by a statement, in
a late number ofthe N. o. Picayune,
that very recently the editor himself
had been a witness 10 the mysterious
and unaccountable phenomenon.
To enable those of the readers to
whom this matter may we aIlude to,
we now give some particulars
On the eastern shore Of the Bay OF
Pascagoula. near its entrance into the
Gulf Of Mexico, in Jackson county
Miss. there is frequently heard mos;
singular music.-It is only during the
summer months, and at night usually
soon after sunset, and in the most Sc
rene weather, that this extraordinary
concert is held. The Register thus
describes iI:-"lt is said to be truly me-
lodious, resembling several instru-
ments in the concert, the most perfect
harmony seems TO exist in its varied
cadence though no peculiar notes or
Instruments are inflated. The sound
appears TO have no peculiar or limited
bounds, bot seems 10 be transitory,-
sometimes appears to be in the water,
and, Immediately changing its position
seems to be transferred to the atmos-
phere; approaching and receding atm
tervals: sometimes dying away for
some minutes, and then suddenly re-
viving with increased energy, The
length Of time that this music contin-
ues is various and Irregular; some
times but momentary. again it will
continue for hours, - and, lingering,
leave the ear so slowly that it will long
dwell in fancy. Were it not support
ed by the evidence Of undoubted tes-
timony, it would be difficult to give
credit 10 such a seeming phantas.
But that such music is heard there, is
beyond doubt"
We have never yet conversed with
any person who confessed to having
heard these sounds; and, seriously as
the above statements are put forth, in
the pages, too, of historical work, we
must say that this music, as it appears
on paper always'had qgizzical sound
TO our ear.-lt seemed as if the writer
meant to poke fun at his readers.
The account so recently given in
the Picayune bears the appearence OF
sober earnestness. but, without know
ing whether the writer is really serions
or "puIling wool over ,he eyes" Of the
public, we enotice his staIesmen;s.
1t seems thata party, Of whom the
writer in the Picayune was one, were
on the bay in a sail boat a week or two
since, in front ofMrs. McRea's on the
west side of the bay, near its mouth
Abont daylight this uneartlly music
strnck up; and, after apparently rising
slowly from The water Immediately un-
der the boat, circling about in the all
for some time, it finally appeared to
separate and fly of in different direc-
tons until The last cadence died away
in the distance. AT first, the sound.
were like the drone ofa bag pipe--ther
like the hunming Of bee in a small
and confined room--and finally, losin,
themselves in the distance, they foa
cd off like the wild strains ofan H,olial
harp.
The authorities we have cite,
above both concur in saying that thi
music is a terror to the weak and th
superstitious in that neighborhoot
In their minds, the cause Of the mel
archoly sounds is satisfactorily Iaccoun
ted for by referring to the sad fate O
the Biloxi Indians, who perished at G
near that spot. According TO tradi
ton, still eAtant among the old Frenc
settlers on the bay, and obtained b
them for the Aborigines who live
there when the beach was first settle
by the French, the Biluxies, man
centuries ago, were at war with a MOI
powerful tribe. After many deIea
they were driven to the sea-shore, G
the east side Of Pascagoula, near j
mouth, where they built lortiGcatio
The ruins are not visible. 1t wi
bailt it seems, principally Of s1a-shel
Several feet below the surface, thel
have been found fragments Of a pec'
liar kind Of earthenwaFe, fire Goa
and human bones, some Of which wei
of gigantic dimensions. In this rorti
cation according to the tradition. Il
iIl-(ated Blluxies Sere besieged for
long time. 1T length, their suppl
being exhausted, and hope having k
them they marched into the bay.