Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-06-14

ON q small inlet or bay which in the
season was the shelter for many small fish ng
boats, and frequently for still larger vessels.
The people had always lived there ard
never remained away from home longer than
was necessary to pursue their fishing business
and the marketing of their catches.
There was the little chapel, the store
in which was the post Office where
twice week when the weather per
mitted a mail was received by boat, the
cobblers shop and one smithy yes and the
school house. hard looking structure when
nine weeks during the year, the village
school was taught by the local master. Both
minister and school master fished as did the
others when they were not engaged in their
vocations and to tell the truth, they did as
much good in their associations with the
people as they did from pulpit and desk. 1t
was most isolated village and it possessed
all those characteristics incident to its loca
ton and people.
One day in the latter part of September
the writer was sitting in an old fish house,
on the bottom of half hogshead used in
curing the fish, conversing with an old salt
who was engaged in ''overhauling his tackle.
1t was dark stormy day and TO get better
| light the fisherman whom everybody called
Uncle Isaac was at work before the open
door. He was generally what boys call
Jolly" but on this particular day, he was
rather glum, and yet he kept up the CONVEX
saton. After while | asked, What are
you thinking about Uncle Isaaci" WALL
he began and hesitated Il am thinking of
what all the rest on EN- is thinking about !;
III tell yer. 1t is long story unless short
en- it, but I'll try. Lem me take yer back
forty years ago. Jack WEIGH, disappeared
and no one knew any thing about it. Its
forty year ago last night. Jack was about
the wharf all day, busy with his boat. new
one and beauty Wall. he was not seen
after shutdown that day. There beside the
boat was his brush and paint pot but not a
single thing else by which to trace him We
hunted the shore aud dragged the bottom for
him but could not find him, and finally gave
him up. A year from that night, some of
the bows were comm in from a fishin trip
when they saw small bright light out in the
bay about mile from yunder point. They
watched it and it finally moved and went
slowly toward the old wharf, the very place
where Jack built his boat. The boys
told us what they saw but we did not believe
EN-. Wall another year came round and
on the anniversary night we saw the same
light, more on us was watchin' this time. For
several years we saw that same light. Some
times it would go as swift as lightnin' and
sometimes tremendous slow, but it always
started somewhere near the old wharf and
went to the same place out there in the har-
Dor and then came back. l tell ye, we began
to think that Jack had been foully dealt with
and that he had been put overheard out there
where that ghost light went. Wall praps
twas ten year alter the night that Jack dis
appeared that Joe Hanson. Tom Wright and
John WEIGH got their awful fright. 1t was
ghost night and they were hurryin their boat
up the bay hopin' TO get made fast before the
light came out The weather had been nasty
all day and heavy fog had covered the sea
outside. Before they got half up the bay
that fog rolled in past EN-. 1t was so thick
that they couldn't see masthead nor much
more n the length O their deck. They pulled
in sail and went slower. This harbOr isn't
the easiest one to make in the fog. Joe went
for'ard as lookout, Tom sat at the wheel aud
and John was midships. The boys sailed
carefully along and bye n bye,Joe sighted the
buoy and they made for the old wharf They
pulled alon' side and made fast and were hxin
things for the night when, without the leas
warmth more'n buzzin sound an fash Al
bright as lightnin' that ghost light wen
through the air, through the rigging over
head and out ont the water. John slammed
the hatch down, and all three ran home q
fast as they could go. Joe was the only
courageous one, he finally stopped when VI
on the hill here and watched for the light to
return. Getting tired waitin' here he wen
down to the boat. He got almost tt
tho wharf when he saw the light comm
SLOWLY it moved through the ali
brighter than ever before, and came vi
tho wharf and Joe saw il 60 straight towsr'
Tom wrights house. Joe finished up I'M
work On the boat and came home. The folk
that night didu't sleep much, specially ate
Joe told his story. Lamps were burned II
pearly all the houses and many OF the womei
stayed up. When morning came, however
c,ovJ gathered about that wharf, and hum
round there some time. Joe told his stor.
and 80 did John. but when Tom vas iooke'
far he was not there. Some one went 10 III
bouse and his wife said that she DID h'
know where he was. Wall here was ano'he
mystery, and We set about clearln IL up
:. We hunted the woods, We followed the shore
srd iookei after every boat to see that it wa
not missin'; We sent word to all the 'o"
-,,,a M hut We couli rot find him. Tom
mar wife was terribly distracted with grle
and we thought she would have to be take
IN the mad-house. She raved conunuaii
about Tom, and about Jack WEIGH too say
inc some things that set us to thinkin. be
fore Jack disappeared, she and him wef
! purity thick, and the women folks had It th'
thew would marry. But no sooner had 1ac
been given up as lost than she and Tom wei
=. ,itbiek together as could y
peon,e wondered and thought
strange since Jack and Tom nev'
, not along very we'll. And, as was sayin
i things shs saM set people to thinkinN on