The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-05-16
PIRATE TOM JOHNSON.
a Long Island Legend or mn Ola Buc.
cancer.
(New York Tinles.)

(New York Times)
In those early days when plrating
was trade in which men OF standing
IN the community engaged, either openly
or covertly. there We're some queer and
startling happenings along he south
coast OF Long Island. More than cen
tury ago the legend OF Brick House
Creek was an heirloom In the vicinity
of Babylon. 1t had come down from
generation to generation in company
Win the story Of Deacon Trihulation
Smiths conquest OF Tackapuusha, the
Marsapeague Sachcm.
! was In South Jerusalem that Thos
Johnson, more Familiarity known rs ''old
Colonel Tom" built The first brick
called MattowacE THIS brick house
stood on the best farm on the island,
ana In subsequent years il came to be
regarded with feeling Of awe by the
| Dutch residents Of that region. "Od
Co.onel Tom was a man Of unquets ION
ape pres !ige In the community. He
| enjoyed the respect anu homage of
| his neighhors. because he insisted upon
| IT. IN the picturesque cove 1T the mout h
| OF liick House Creek lay staunch
| clipper built schooner, carrying n six
FOUNDER, magazine Of ammunition and
q rack of cutlusses. This clipper built
schooner made occasional trips to the
! ocean, and liz rcurn was invariably
| Followed by neShbolly festivities In
| honor OF "Old Colonel Toms proves
| and increasing prosperity. On such oc-
casiontS the hardy crew OF the little
schooner would bring out their cutlasses
| and scour Oft certain dark spots with
more Or less oStentation.
/ There were honest and piouS people
| on The island OF MattOwacs in those
| days but none were disposed to criti-
Csc the doings Of his neighbor, cspe-
| ciasly the doings of such a neighhor rs
| odd Colonel Tom The trade of ..Natcr
me! chant was regarded by popular
sentiment as leniently as infractions OF
the excise law are now In Smiths
| history OF New York may he found this
| paragraph:
1T is certain that the pirltes were
supplied with provisions by The people.
or Long Island. who, for many years
| afterwards, were so infatuated with the
notion that members Of that guild buried
great quantities OF money along the
coast. that there Is scarcely a point OF
| land on the island without the marks Of
their 'aurl sacrl flames Some credulous
people have ruined themselves by these
researches and they propaga;ed a thou
| sand idle fables. current to this day
! among our country farmers"
The same historian is authority for
the statement that many worthy gen
tlcmen' OF that early period inves. ed
much property In divers craft. !. e.,
br!EatircS and cruisers, wherewith they
secured the sea. paying visits unto other
vessels, and carrying On 4 general trade
AFTER very ins.stent and Wholesale
fashion Il IS a matter OF historical
record that Captain Kidd had for his
| associates Lord Chancellor Somers. the
Duke OF Shire wsbu!y. the IGars OF Rom
ncy and Oxford and equally Industrious
individuals
Tradition has it that "Old Colonel
Tom grew cruel and blood thirsty. and
the relation OF his deeds made people
shudder 20 hear" And when he died
the old brick house and Brick House.
Geek seemed 10 become bewi:ched On
stormy nights the ghost or the dead
pirate held high carnival in the house
The window Of his bedroom was ALWAYS
open; no earthly hand could close il.
Every Saturday night the waters OF
Brick House Creek. Jalc's Aunt Chas-
nGhts and odors. and if any foolha dy
fisherman CHANGED 70 hook a fish in that
creek on Saturday there oIld be 4 low
rumbi!ng noise. smell OF sulphur and
the iisherman's boat would be cas-; high
and dry on the bank"
Jaac Spragg, the daredevil Of Hungry
Hatbor, lad wager on a quart Of rum
with Ben StoreE, that he would go ceiling
alone on ceriain Saturday night in
Birch House Creek. Jaac's Aunt Chas-
thy endeavored 20 difsu IDS him. but he
shook her off, and SAID he'd be hanged
II he wouldn't like TO come across Old
Colonel Tom" ,Iaac went His neigh
bors and his frantic wife sea: chcd for
him all day and all night Sunday, and
It was not until dayb-oak on Monday
that they found him lying unconscious
In the bottom of his skif, which was
high and dry on cliff mile away.
When he came to himself Jaac told.
amid shudders and means, Of horrible
experience. He had met the ghost of
"Old Colonel Tom" and had been taken
out TO sea on q spectre pirate ship. The
fiendish ghost had compelled him to say
old people In cold blood and torture ana
mut.late children. Finally he rebelled
a. some artocious command, and the pi-
rate ghost summoned four devils, witt
wings Of blue flame, who threw him int o
his skiff and bore him 10 the cliff where
he was found.
Jaac Spragg lived for many years in
Jerusalem South after that eventful
night and ne told his story over and