The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-07-01
SPECTRAL PIRATES.
Scenes Of More Than Fifty Yea Ago
ke-enacted.

ne enacted.
Ellis Island, the Government IMMIGRANT Land, !
ing, is Said 10 be Haunted by the Ghosts
Of Former Criminals Of the Sea Who We're
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 in
cur the displeasure OF the disembodied
He was prowling around the ghost
well 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, 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 "pirates'
tree" in the shadow of the ancient
governors house. This house is still
standing. 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 to the island
by the villagers of ''Neu Yorke," 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
ofthe 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 if sounding the "long rolf
tor the souls of the departed buccan-
eers.
STRANGE SOUNDS.
A few feet from the tree is an artes.
ian well. 1t was sunk at the expense
of the government, but no water was
found, and after boring nearly thou
sand feet the project and well were
abandoned. Nothing but deep
black hole, four feet in diameter ant
eighty feet deep, now remains to mark
the spot. Four men lost their live:
in that we'll by being caught in quick
sand, and their bodies were never re
covered. The branches of the pirates
tree extend over the mouth of the well
and the ghosts of the pirates make i
their headquarters at midnight, anC
at that time it is said the branches o
the tree are nightly agltated ant
blow upward, as ifa great draft issue(
from the depth of the big hole.
Despite the most searching investi
CATION the residents on the island can
not account for the strange sounds
and sights in any other way than tha
ghosts are abroad. A feeling of terro
has seized upon the government EN-
ployees who are forced to remain
night after night on the island A
times when the spirits become unusu
ally festive, doors known to have beer
securely locked were violently slam
meG, and windows known to hav
been fastened were raised and lower
ed,
Lights have been mysteriously eS
tipguished, and mighty gusts Of WIN
have come down the chimneys.' Thi
latter strange proceedings is said t
be due to the fact that the more ver
turesome ghosts take special deligh
in rushing down the chimneys.
After the ferryboat J. H. Brincker
hoff makes its last trip the island be
} comes lonely spot indeed. Bushes
ceases, and as the setting suns ray
become DINNER and DINNER and tn
: shades of night envelop the little isle
a feeling of desolation pervades tn
place.
| GHOSTLY BUCCANEERS.
Those on the island say that ju:
before midnight the wraiths begin t
appear, and they are out in full fore