The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-04-23
ELLIS ISLAND GHOSTS.
THE GOVERNMENT IMMIGRANT
LANDING HAUNTED.
Scenes OF More Than FIFTY Years Ago
Re-enacted Spirits of Pirates
Who We're Hanged There
Hold High Carnival.

no uoupO duOut ~ lOT tuc WdtCnmou
who guard Uncle Sans immigrant
station on the historic little island say
they have seen sights given to few
mortals to see. and have heard moans
and cries and shouts which never came
from lips OF man. More than this
one man there knows what 1t is to in.
cur the displeasure OF the disemb bodied.
He was prowling around the ghost
we'll at the forbidden hour. when a
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 con-
found the incredulous
At midnight shadowy forms clad in
long capes and three. cornered hats
walk abroad. arm In arm. making the
circuit OF the island. The ghosts are
said to be those OF the pirates hanged
years ago on the pirates tree" in
the shadow Of the ancient governors
house. The house is still standing
states the New York Advertiser. 1t
has defied the ravaPes OF time and
the oaken beams and white ash
shingles are as sound as they were
the day they were taken to the island
by the villagers OF .Neu York" who
turned out in force to erect the build
ing.
Southeast of the old house stands
the pirates tree In summer its
leaves rustic against the shingled
side of the house, and in winter the
branches OF one gaunt limb-the very
one upon which the pirates were
hanged-beats a mournful tattoo
against the low caves. as II sounding
the long roll" for the souls OF the
departed buccaneers.
A few feet from the tree is an ar
tesian well. 1t was sunk at the ex-
pense OF the government. but no water
was found. and after boring nearly
]. 600 feet the project and we'll was
abandoned. Nothing but deep
black hole. fourteen feet in diameter
and eighty feet deep now remains to
mark the spot. Four men lost their
lives in that we'll by being caught in
quicksand: and their bodies were
never recovered. The branches of
the pirates tree extend over the
mouth of the we'll. and the ghosts of
the pirates make it their headquar-
ters at midnight, and at that time it
is said. the branches of the tree are
nightly agitated aud blow upward.
as II great draft issued from the
depth Of the big hole.
Despite the most searching investi-
CATION the residents on the island
can not accountfor the strange sounds
and sights in any other way than that
ghosts are abroad. A feeling OF ter
ror has seized upon the government
employees who are forced to remain
night after night on the island. At
times when the spirits become unusu-
ally festive. doors known to have been
securely locked were violently slam
med. and windows known to have
been fastened were raised and low
cred.
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 fact that the more venture
some ghosts take special delight in
rushing down the chimneys.
After the ferry boat j. II. Brincker.
hoff makes its last trip the island be-
comes lonely spot indeed. Business
ceases and as the setting suns rays
become DINNER and DINNER and the
shades OF night envelop the little isle.
feeling OF desolation pervades the
place.
Those on the island say that Just be-
fore midnight the wraiths begin to ap-
pear. 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 dozen shadowy forms
dressed in long capes high top boots
and three cornered hats leap up from
the darkness OF the well and dance
frantically about the edge. Then the
branches of the pirates tree" shake
violently. the tree rocks from side to
side and groanlng Is heard. ~ II
The spirits OF two buccaneers are
seen bent over the ground beneathathe
tree going through the motions Of Dig
ging. At times the hanging Of the
pirates is rehearsed. Two OF their
number are dragged forth from the
shadows of the old gunner's house and
hanged from the fatal branch. When
the moon shines brightly the ghosts
seldom venture from the black pit
One night Waterman Sprague was
missed. and 1t was thought he had
fallen into the ghosts we'll The
Waterman and Treasurer Manning
armed themselves and sailed forth to
find the belated watchman. They
came across him lying near the doc
tors quarters partially stunned.
When he recovered he said he heard
noises that froze his blood. and .boforo
he could run he was felled by 4 spade
which lay near where he had fallen.
Sprague's head was swollen. but iit
was not cut While they were Lead
ing Sprague away Treasurer Manning
saw something uncanny and yelled.
Ghosts" There was stampede and
poor Sprague was left struggling be-
hind. He hid himself In trunk and
remained there until morning. Isl
The very mcknight Watchman jain
and two OF his assistants set out 10 IN !