Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-03-22

ny INC Nhohts OF FORMER criminals OF
the Sea Who Were Hanged There.
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 given 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 the displeasure of the disembodied.
He was providing around the ghost well at
the forbidden hour when a heavy spade
welded by ghostly arms descended on his
head and knocked him scnsclcss. A great
bruise on the back of his head is still there
TO confound the iucredulous.
At midnight shadowy forms, clad in long
capes and three conered 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 "p-
rates tree" in the shadow Of the ancient
governors house. This house is still stand
ing. 1t has defed the ravages Of time, and
its oaken beams and white ash shingles
are as sound as they were the day they
were taken 10 the island by the villagers
Of 'Neu Yorke," who turned out in force
TO erect the building.
Southeast of the old house stands the
pirates tree" In summer its leaves rus
tie against the shingled side Of the house.
and in winter the branches OF one gaunt
lmb-the very one upon which the pirates
were hanged-beats "a mournful tattoo
against the low caves as if sounding the
"long rolf for the souls Of the departed
buccaneers.
STRANGE SOUNDS.
A few feet from the tree is an artesian
well 10 was sunk at the expense Of the
government, but no water was found, and
after boring nearly a 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 il their headquarters at
midnight, and at that time 10 is said the
branches Of the tree are nightly agitatcd
and blow upward, as if q 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 ia amy
other way than that ghosts ere 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 fastened were
raised and lowered.
Lights have been my toriously ex-
D
come down the chimucy-. latter
strange proceeding is said TO Doe '.a % the
fact that the more veuturcsOmn ghosts
take special delight IN rushing down the
Chimuays
After the ferryboat j. II BrinckerhoG
makes it's last trip the island becomes "a
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, a feeling Of desolation
pervades the place
GH0srLY BUCCANEERS.
Those on the island say that just before
midnight the wraths begin TO appear, and
they are out in full force when the dock in
Trinity tower begins to toll ~. Sepuchral
tones are heard issuing from the direction
Of the we'll Suddenly a dozen shadowy
forms dressed in long capes, high top boots
and three cOrnercd 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 groaning il
heard.
The spirits Of two buccaneers are seen
bent over the ground beneath the tree go
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
branch. When the moon shines brightly
the ghosts seldom venture from the black
pit.
On Wednesday night Waterman Sprague
was missed and 10 was thought he had
fallen into the ghosts well. The watch
men and Treasurer Manning armed them
selves and sailed forth to find the belsted
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 be was felled by spade,
which lay near where he had fallen.
Sprague's head was swollen, but 1t was not
cut. While they were leading Sprague
away Treasurer Manning saw something
uncanny ana gelleu, huOnS7' hH'iN " =.
a stampede and poor Sprague was left
struggling behind He hid himself in a
trunk and remained there until morning
HISTORY or THE ISLAND.
The very next night Waterman jain
and two Of his assistants set out 10 unravel
the mystery. They lay in wait near the
well until midnight At that hour they
were almost petri1ed when they saw the
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 their
legs could carry them, and have not ven
tured out at night since.
One hundred years ago Ellis island was
known as Oyster island. Shortly after the
war Of 1912 Captain Morgan, an old sea
dog, turned pirate and committed many
outraqes in the bay and on the coast. He