Ellsworth American., 1871-11-09
A True Story.
III MARVIN wILpEs


1t is related of Zscholkks, the phi
losopher, statesman and author, that
he possessed, according SO his own and
contemporary history, the mysterious
power of divination. or what he term
ed his inward sight often enabling
him 10 look backward, and read the
histories of individuals whom be, for
the first time, met, and to detail the
mlnutcst circumstances of their former
lives, which seemed to pass before his
interior vision like succession of pan
oramc pictures La lIarpc's pos
thumous memoirs contain similar cx-
traordinarv revelations. looking for
ward instead of backward. Miss
lIosmcr, the celebrated sculptrcss,
and many others furnish incontrovcrti-
bic testimony of the existence of that
faculty in many individuals.
Those who are familiar with the life
Of our martyred president Lincoln, will
recall the story of his experience, thrice
repeated, and confided t. his wife;
'ow lie saw the double reflection OF
nself in the mirror, the pale Sc m
Glance side by side with the true rcilec-
ton, but pailid, ghastly. and bearing
the look Of the dead or dying. This
event happening just before his untime-
ly death might be taken Is precursor
of his fate.
These are some of the umerous in
stances that might be adduced in
support Of the theory Of ghost-seeing,
and it is rarely now that a thorough
dlsbelievcr in ghosts is 10 be found
the tendency OF the age is rather to
strengthen the belief in the supernat
ural, than 10 do away with it alto.eth-
err Scarce an old house, that has
stood for three score years in any lone
Is locality, but il has its accredited
phantom, or has not the reputation, at
some time or other, of having been the
scene of ghostly visitation.
1t happens nearly always that such
occurrences are supposed to be fore
runners OF some strange untoward
c.rut .--onc dire calamity; rs in the
ease of Lincoln ut least such expert
cnccs are usually thought to hold Il
special significance for the witness, or
refer 10 something in the past history OF
the locality.
once heard another true tale as
| believe it 10 be, from the lips of an
aged gentlcman-a story that certain
~ contains nothing Of the mysterious,
that renders the relation Of such man
ifestations so fascinating to most minds
possessing any love Of the marvellous,
and this was especially interesting,
from the fact that no after experience
ever afforded any explanation. He
who communicated these facts to me
had often been called upon to relate
this story. and though far advanced i'll
years, possessed memory remarkable
for its clearness. \ man of varied cx-
periance, always profoundly Interested
in scientific subjects, 4 deep thinker,
and quite sceptical withal with regard
10 the supernatural. He was the last
person to be looked upon As liable to
Authorizations. This occurrence took
place when he was IN the prime of life
actively engaged in occupations far re-
moved from anything visionary.
The attitude ofthe old man, his head
white with the SHOWS of four-score win
tiers the lighting up of the eyes that
though dim with age, kindled with in
ward fire, bright with the memories of
a once vigorous manhood, the thorough
conviction Of the reality of the occur
renee that animated him while relat-
ing the story, vividly impressed the
minds of his hearers and lent convin-
cling proof that to whatever cause
might be attributed the fact of the
spectral appearance, the credibility of
the narrator was unquestionablc. 1t is
impossible to repeat the tale As it was
told to me- given as it was with cir |
cumstantial accuracy, in a style pecul- !
lar to the veteran himself; clear con
else and straightforward.
The Island of Mt. Desert, lying off |
the coast Of Maine, has already be- !
come famous as the resort of artists,
tourists and health and pleasure-seek.
ers during the hot months Of summer
Its still shut bays and windy cap9s'
NAV be looked upon as the haunts of |
'beckoning shapes since for nearly
decade of centuries it has, from time
to time, been visited by voyagers from
the remote shores ofthe old world and
since its earliest discovery it has af-
forded a resting place to the tempest
tossed mariner. Al the entrance to
one of the numerous harbors, that in-
dent its rocky borders, lies Cranberry
island, low evergreen edged island,
then inhabited by few fishermen.
At that time Col. F.. the
Of the story, was in charge of
q company that garrisoned one of the
forts. 1t was during the
war Of 1912, when British cruisers
the whole coast of Maine,
from Portsmouth to Passmaquoddy.
He had been cruising among the is
lands with small party of his men as
coast guard, in small sloop, ON the
watch for the enemy that might be
lurking in that vicinity.
They had been out all night-tbe
men were fatigued with watching, and
hungry, and their supplies becoming
it was proposed to land on
one Of the nearest islands. as the dawn
was near, and get milk. eggs, or any
thing edible the island afforded.
The horizon was just streaked with
the signs Of approaching day-the
wind that breezed up but slightly dur
ing the night had now died away and
the sea was smooth and placid, only
breaking upon the rocky beach in long,
lazy rolls. No signs Of human life
roro rnovinU unnn 600 or ohoro NJ |