The morning call., 1893-03-22
A BEACH GHOST.
The Sand Hills Hide a
Chinese Fugitive.
SAFE FROM HIGHBINDERS.
He Lives in a Hole in the Sand, and
Says the Cinnamon Want
to Kill Him.
SAFE FROM HIGHBINDERs.
The ocean beach has another mystery.

The ocean beach has another mystery.
1t is not an iron chest filled with fabulous
wealth that was once the accumulated
treasure of bold buccaneers. butit is real
live ChiDaman who seems to ttose who
have seen him to be more of ghost than
anything else.
The few people who get out on the beach
as The gray mists OF morning are disappear
ing have for the past four or five weeks seen
this mysterious individual Sinking off
among the sand hills.
For awhile nothing was thought of 1t, but
as the curious Celestial was to be seen
almost every morning. and always Just be-
fore break Of day, some intere st began to be
attached 10 the ghost, as he was called.
An attempt was made one morning by
one Of the attaches OF the Ocean View Hotel
to follow hin, but the tracks of the heelless
shoes wound about the sand dunes in such
an almleSs manner, seeming 10 lead 10
nowhere, that il was given up.
The man of mystery seemed to suspect
that his tracks were being followed. He
wound in and out among the hills, crossing
and TCcrossing his footsteps ana taking the
pIecaution to always keep in the valleys
lest he should be seen on the tops Of the
sand heaps.
No one was able to get within speaking
distance of the ghost before it would be lost
among the hills, and the mystery deepened.
Who was the ChinamaD, and what was
his business?
That was the Quastion CALL reporter
started out Yesterday to answer.
About half mile south Of the bend in
the Park and Ocean Railroads track, where
It reaches the beach, impressions OF a China
mans shoe were found in the sand and the
hunt commenced. The trail as 1t wound
about the sand dunes was followed. Inland
1t went for about half mile when it CON-
menced to circle TO the south: After
detOur of about mile the original trail was
met and then all traces of the ghost seemed
TO end.
On a closer scrutiny of the footprints
those of the first path seemed larger from
that point on, and they were again fol-
lowed uD. Some of hem clearly bore evi-
dence of having the foot placed twice 10 the
same spot. These double footprints were
followed for about hundred yards 10 where
they passed thick cluster of shTubbery
growing close beside one Of the sandhills.
The bushes looked as though they had been
bent closer together, and peering under
them small piece OF Chinese mating was
found This was pulled out and pair Of
shoes came in view.
What you want?" came a voice, as the
owner Of the shoes began to back out Of the
hole.
"Highbinder want shoot me-" said the
mysterious ChingmRn as he stood up.
Me live here till they stop shoot, then
me 20 back Chinatown.
"Catchee plenty chow chow on beach
nighttime, stay here daytime"
This explained the object Of the visit to
the beach at daybreRk. DEAD birds aud fish
are washed up and left high and dry at low
tide. Vegetables and fruits of all kinds.
thrown overheard from passing ves-
sells. find their way TO the shore in a few
hours and on these the Chinaman lived,
ana lived well for a Chinsman.
The hole in which this mystery OF the
beach lived was novel in construction. A
tunnel had been scooped out of the side of
8 pile Of sand. The walls and roof were
brac-d with pieces of driItwood to prevent
It's caying in. and a few boards spread on
the bottom served both for floor and a bed
Over the opening its builder had bent the
brushes to act as a screen and keep his hid
ing place from detection.
In this hole the highlander fugitive had
lived ever since the war broke cut in China
town.