Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-09-17
For the Ellsworth American.
The Spectre of Pirate Rock.


Near the northern eX remitv of Swans
Island may be seen lone island called
Pirate Rock. 1t is nearly circular 10 shape
and Is made up Of huge boulders and caves
and its bold, precipitous cliffs have firmly
dehed the angry waves which have beaten
upon its shores for thousands of years
In the early part Of the seventeenth cen
tury this island was the subject of man,
strange aud weird rumors by few fisher.
men who had settled Swans Island on ac
count Of Is nearness to the h>hiug grounds
number of these fishermen, returning in
their boats on wild, windy nights, had be,
held strange sights. One of them declared
he had seen an Old man with his " hite hair
streaming in the wind, wildly swinging
his hands about, aud anon, raisin. then
10 Heaven, as in suppliCation or prayer
another had seen similar sights and had
heard angry voices; while Others had seer
strange lights, which always shone the
bl highest before storm.
few Of the boldest inside visits 10 the
haunted island in the day time. but there
were 10 signs of human or supernatural
hsbltation visible. The more sceptica
SAID that these sights and sounds were on.
ly the bending and swaying of the few
stunted trees that grew among the rock.
and the dashng of the waves. which al.
ways moan before storm. But this
very reasonable explanation did not quiet
the fears of the more superstitious. for
had they not seen and heard for them
selves!
A few years rolled on and less was
thought about the spectre. Yet the unru.
ly lad was Instantly subdued by the threat
Of leaving him on Pirate Rock for the
night. a threat which many of the bDldest
parents would not have dared To carry
out Boatmen would hurry little to reach
the hsrbor before night settled down, vet
they would have been ashamed to own,
even to themselves, that they felt timid to
pass Pirate Rock after night-fall.
One night late in October, two Usher
men, Timothy Freeze aud David Benson.
We're returning from their travis They
had had good days fishing which
delayed them later than usual The sky
was overcast, and the bay smooth. except
an nccaSiopal rava ,yonld r,U In fro,, ,I A
ocean to remind them of the coming storm
They had almost reached the little shelter
Ell harbor when Tim exclaimed See
Dave, there it is-there's the light, Cau't
you see it!' Tim WAS very much excited
as ne pointed in the direction of the light
Dave gave one startled look and exclaimed
IN be blowed if there isn't the devil him
self, for there could be plainly seen blue
light shining from among the rocks OF
that haunted island. Let US find out what
that is said Dave with sudden determine
tion. an land and settle this mystery if !
am blowed to blazes" Tim tried TO dis
suade him from such reckless undertak.
Ing, reminding him of the coming storm
the anxious friends waiting their return
and that the light he saw was only the
phosphorescent waves. But David was
determined to land. SO they slowly pad
died their boat toward the shore They
were both brave men who had faced calm.
ly hundreds of dangers upon the deep; We,
they trembled with fear as they approach
ed that unholy light, which, instead OF
vanishing, constantly grew brighter a.
they neared the shore The boats kee
grated against the rocks, and they climbed
up the rough bank following the blue ligh
as their guide. At last they came to al
opening, an aperture between two rock
which looked like the entrance to a cave
They crept forward and peered in Th
light daZzled their sight for a few min
utes, but when they had become accustom
ed to it, their eyes fell upon a seen
such as these humble fishermen had neye
before witnessed.
The interior of the cave was one of lux
ury. The walls were hung with damas
tapestry. Rich Persian rugs concealed tn
floor, while from above was suspended
lamp whose rays had guided the isherme
to the cave. In one corner of the cav
was a table which was piled with swords
shields and other implements of warfare
In the other corner, on shelf of rock
was piled silver of every conceivable shap
dishes of solid silver and gold whic
might have adorned the table Of king
As soon as they recovered from their SUI
prise, the two men entered. As the
crossed the threshold, they were suddenl
startled by an agonizing voice screamin
almost into their ears: ''Back, you ds
mons, back, say, into the ocean. Can
you let me die aloDe:' Dave raised tn
tapestry in the direction from which tn
sound came, and there, crouched In tn
farthermost corner, was the form of a
aged man. His long, white, unkemr
hair hung to his shoulders, and his pale
shrunken face and wild expression shove
at once that he was maniac. He ha
been reclining upon a couch when intruC
ed upon by the fishermen. His truste
sword lay by his side. He was evidentl
dying. sense of great relief came oye
his face as he found his visitors were Ii,
ing men, and not the sea-drenched form
which he so justly feared. The tsherme
took in the situation at glance. The
saw that the old man had but few hour
to live. The old wretch stretched fort
his hand to grasp that of the honest fisher
MANS "Oh, how glad am to speak ono
more to living man. For years my onl
company has been dead men who come t
visit me every night They laugh an
scof and point with their fieshless finger
at me. l can see their CLASSY eyes in ever
darkened corner until have grown mad
Every night seems an eternity to me.
"Who are you, and how came you here? !?
asked Dave.
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