Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1896-02-21

which DR.. Joseph H. Senner, the Unit
ed States Commissioner of Immigra-
ton, and so many others risked their
lives untibshe was taken Off. The hoo
doc stone is an opal, now in the posses
sion of j. J. Hampton, one OF the Ellis
Island officers, says New York Journal.
Mr.. Hampton said that while the
stone was his property, he would not
keep it in his possession for any con-
sideration. He vows that bad luck at
taches to 1t and disaster follows it. Con-
sequently he keeps it in phial care
fully corked and wrapped UP in dark
cloth, as it is claimed the light has an
effect On the opaline brilliancy Of the
stone, and the more brilliant it is the
greater the danger following it. The
opal was innocently worn on board the
Shackamaxon during all the recent dis
asters to that boat. Engineer Delaney
was wearing the scarfpin containing
the hoodoo opal on board the "Shack"
when the last smash-up occurred. De-
laney had purchased the pin from
Hampton at a reasonable prize, know
ing Of its history of attendant danger,
but when he got nearly killed in that
accident nothing would induce him, he
said. to keep the stone.
Eugene GILES, of No. 600 West Forty
seventh street, who is the chief electri-
clan on Ellis Island, and who says he
had formerly no superstition what
ever, next purchased the pin, with the
understanding that he should keep 1t
week on trial, and if nothing Of evil be-
fell him in that time he was to pay for
it. The first day he wore 1t he fell from
an electric light pole on the island and
was severely injured. He attributed
his mishap to the opal, and immediate
ly returned the pin to Hampton, saying
he would not have it as gift.
Hampton, who was mate Of the
steamer Mattewan last summer, says he
found the scarfpin on board the Matte
wan, and on the very day he found it
the steamer which was plying to and
from Glen Island, ran into coal dock
at pier Z. Hoboken, and was badly dam
aged. Several people were thrown from
their feet and some from seats, and a
panic followed among the passengers,
and two women tainted. Some days
after, on August of last year." said
Hampton, "the boiler of the Mattewan
blew up because of bolt giving way,
and the steamer had to be laid up.
was wearing the fatal opal all this time
without dreaming of Its influence. Soon
after I put it away, and did not wear
1t again for some months. A few weeks
ago was wearing the pin, and saw one
of the immigrants In danger, and I
saved him from falling overheard. He
misunderstood my kindly intentions
and services, and we got into fight,
in which he nearly kicked my face of. :"
Hampton will bear the marks Of the
immigrants kicks as long as he lives.
He recited many other instances Of the
fatal influences and the i'll luck attend
ing the OPAL, and concluded long list
by saying that he was wearing the pin,
and while holding the wheel of the
Shackamaxon the wheel slipped and
threw him across the wheelhouse and
nearly killed him. He says that is the
last time he will wear the unlucky
Jewel.
Captain Butler of the Shackamaxon
had heard so much about the hoodoo
opal that he asked to see 1t, and handled
it freely. He says that on that same
evening something went wrong with his
daughters piano while she was playing
for him, and the instrument, which cost
$375, has since been practically useless.