The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-06-09
A POLYNESIAN GHOST,

many well-authenticated instances of their
displaying their truly wonderful acuteness
the following seems worthy of remark, par
ticular1y as it is connected with strange
and inexplicable circumstance that occurred
about the year 1910, and which may be
found on the records of the Supreme Court
@Sydenham.
A free settler, by name James Fisher,
who had long successfully cultivated.a grant
of land in a remote; district, and was we'll
known to be possessed of considerable
sum of money, had been for some time
missing at the nearest market town, whith-
or he had been in the habit of repairing
with cattle and produce for sale. An in
uiry was instituted by his acquaintance;
and his head servant or rather assistant on
the farm, convict, who had lived many
years with him in that situation, declared
that his master had left the colony for some
time on business, but that he expected him
to return in a few months. AS the man
was generally known as Fishers confden-
tial servant, his assertion was believed, al
though some expressed their surprise at the
settlers abrupt and clandestine departure
The months wonder, however soon subsid-
ed, and fisher was forgotten. Hisassistant,
meanwhile, managed the farm, bought and
ooAo, oAu oPoAS Anouoy A1oe1y' ~ 4ues-
toned, which was but rarely, he would ex-
press his surprise at the masters delay and
pretend to expect him daily. =.
A few months after he had first been
missed, neighboring settler, who was re-
turning late on Saturday night from the
market town, had occasion to pass within
half a mile of Fishers house. AS he was
riding by the fence which separated the
farm from the high road he distinctly saw
tho figure of man seated on the railing,
and at once recognized the form and feat
ures of his lost neighbor. He instantly
stopped and called to him Familiarity by
name; but the figure descended from the
railing and walked slowly across the field
towarl the farm house. The settler, hav-
ing lost sight of him in the gloom, proceed
ed on his journey, and on Lis arrival at
his plantation, informed his family and
neighbors that Fisher had returned. and
that he had seen and spoken to him.
The news spread from farm to farm; and
most of the neighboring settlers repaired
the next day to visit and welcome their old
friend. On inquiry, however, Fishers as
sistant declared that he had not arrived; ;
and affected to laugh at thu settlers story,
insinuating that he had probably drank
too freely at market. The neighbors were
not SO easily satisfied; their dormant sus-
picions were awakened by what they now
began to consider preternatural appari-
ton; and they applied to the magistrates
and strict investigation to be instituted
Several natives of well-known. sagacity
and fidelity are attached to tho Paramatta
police, as constables were of invaluable
service in tracing and pursuing bush-rnng-
ers, and other criminals who had abscon-
ded. One Of these, known by the name Of
Sam, was ordered to examine Fishers
house and farm, and to endeavor to find
traces of him in the bush. He set off, fol-
lowed by most of the settlers belonging to
the Nepean and other neighboring districts,
who had been collected by curiosity and in
tense interest. The farmer who had seen
the figure resembling Fisher, pointed out
the exact spot; and the black, having exam-
ined the railing. discovered dark, brown
stain on the split timber, which he scraped,
smelt, and at once declared to be "white
mans blood!" He then, without the least
hesitation, set off in full run. after the
manner Of a stranch bloodhound; toward
pond not far from the house.
A little dark brown scum was floating on
the surface: he scooped some off with his
hand-smelt- it-and cried out,
Vu(to IIdu 1dt I1aVlu8 Iileu the
field, backward and forward in different
directions, as if to recover the
scent, Sam led the chase to small coppice.
Hele he bored the earth in several places
with ramrod, sr Cling the point every
time, until he paused, pointed to the ground
and said, "White man here!" The spot
was speedily dug up; and q corpse, sworn
by the neighbors as that of Fisher, was dis
covered, with the skull fractured, and in
state Of rapid decomposition, evidently
many weeks buried.
The guilty assistant was Immediately ar
rested and tried at Sydney; on circumstan-
tial evidence only-strong enough, howev-
er, to convict him in sp te of his self pos
session and protestations of innocence. He
was sentenced to death; and previous to
his execution made an ample confession of
his guilt. He declared that he had muir
dered Fisher while sitting on the very rail
that the settler had pointed out about three
months before the appearance of that ex-
traordinary apparition; that he had in the
first place dragged the body to the point
where the black constable had discovered
traces of it; but that, after it had been
some days immersed there, his apprehen-
sion of detection had impelled him to re-
move it to the coppice, where he had buried
it by night, and alone. : E..