Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-02-02

Ellis island is haunted There is no
doubt about it, for the watchmen who
guard Uncle Sans immigrant station on
the historic little island say they have seen
sights ven to few mortals to see, and
have heard means and cries and shouts
which never came from lips of man. More
than this, one man there knows what it is
to incur he displeasure of the disembodied.
He was Irowling around the ghost well at
the forb dden hour when heavy spade
welded by ghostly arms descended on his
head and knocked him senseless. a great
bruise on the back of his head is still there
to confound the incredulOus.
At midnight shadowy forms, clad in long
capes and three cornered hats, walk abroad,
and, arm in arm, make the circuit of the
island. The ghosts are said to be those of
the pirates hanged years ago on the 'pi-
rates tree" in the shadow of the ancient
governor house. This house is still stand
ing. 1t has defied the ravages of time, and
its oaker beams and white ash shingles
are as sound as they were the day they
were taken to the island by the villagers
of "Neu Torke," who turned out in force
to erect the building.
Southeast of the old house stands the
apirates' tree" In summer its leaves rus
Gle against the shingled side of the house,
and in winter the branches of one gaunt
limb-the very one upon which the pirates
were halged-beats mournful tattoo
against the low caves as if sounding the
long roll" for the souls of the departed
buccaneers.
STRANGE SOUNDS
A few feet from the tree is an artesian
well. 1t vas sunk at the expense of the
nj hnt No fnnnI ~
after Dor ng nearly thousand feet the
project and well were abandoned. Nothing
but a deep, black hole, four feet in diane
ter and eighty feet deep, now remains to
mark the spot Four men lost their lives
in that well by being caught in quicksand,
and their bodies were never recovered. The
branches of the pirates tree extend over
the mouth of the well, and the ghosts of
the pirates make it their headquarters at
midnight, and at that time it is said the
branches of the tree are nightly agitated
and blow upward, as if great draft is
sued from the depth. of the big hole.
Despite the most searching investigation
the residents on the island cannot account
for the strange sounds and sights in any
other way than that ghosts are abroad
A feeling of terror has seized upon the
government employees who are forced to
remain night after night on the island. At
times when the spirits become unusually
festive, doors known to have been securely
locked were violently slammed, and win
dows known to have been fasten, : were
raised and lowered.
Lights have been mysteriously ex-
tinguished, and mighty gusts of wind have
come down the chimneys. This latter
strange proceeding is said to be due to the
that the Vol I'm oh
take special delight in rushing down the
chimneys
After the ferryboat J. II. Brinckerhof
makes its last trip the island becomes
lonely spot indeed. Business ceases, and
as the setting suns rays become DINNER
and DINNER and the shades of night en-
velop the little isle, feeling of desolation
pervades the place.
GHosTLY BUCCANEERS.
Those on the island say that just before
midnight the wraiths begin to appear, and
they are out in full force when the clock in
Trinity tower begins to toll IL. Sepulchral
tones are heard issuing from the direction
of the well. Suddenly a dozen shadowy
forms dressed in long capes, high top boots
and three cornered hats leap up from the
darkness OF the well and dance frantcally
about the edge. Then the branches of the
pirates tree" shake violently, the tree
rocks from side to side and grooming is
heard.
The spirits of two buccaneers are seen
bent over the ground beneath the tree 60
ing through the motions of digging. At
times the hanging of the pirates is re-
hearsed Two of their number are drag
ged forth from the shadows of the old
gunner's house and hanged from the fatal
hr-ar, ph N~hnr, ha chimes bright lt
the ghosts seldom venture from the black
pit.
On Wedn ssday night Waterman Sprague
was missed and it was thought he had
fallen into the ghosts well. The watch
men and Treasurer Manning armed them
selves and sailed forth to find the belated
Waterman. They came across him lying
near the doctors quarters, partially
stunned. When he recovered he said he
heard noises that froZe his blood, and be
fore he could run he was felled by II spade,
which lay near where he had fallen.
Sprague's head was swollen, but it was not
cut. While they were leading Sprague
away Treasurer Manning saw something
uncanny and yelled, Ghosts" There was
stampede and poor Sprague was left
Struggling behind He hid himself in a
trunk and remained there until morning.
HISTORY OF THE ISLAND.
| The very next night Waterman jain
and two of his assistants set out to unravel
| the mystery. They lay in wait near the
well until midnight. At that hour they
were almost petrilied when they saw the
I forms of two men clad in the costumes
| pirates affect hanging by the neck from
the pirates tree. When they recovered
| from their fright the brave watchmen
scurried for their quarters as fast as thar
| legs could carry them, and have not ven
tured out nj night since.
One hund red years ago Ellis island was
known as Oyster island. Shortly after the
war of 1912 Captain Morgan, IN old sea
dog, turned pirate and commsted many
outrages in the bay and on the coast. He
was captured after fierce struggle, and,
with four of his piratical crew, was hanged
| to the pirates tree.
| Nearly forty years later the notorious
buccaneer, Captain Gibbs, whose deeds OF
! lawlessness stirred up the entire commu-
nifty, was hanged on the same tree, in the
presence of 1000 peopie.-New York Ad-
vertiser.