The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-08-06
BRICK HOUSE CREEK.
HOW PIRATE TOM JOHNSON AND HIS
GHOST MADE 1T FAMOUS.


devil Of Hungry Harbor - A Legend of
Long Isiand-The Days when Freeboot-
ers Were Honored Citizens.
IN those early days when pirating was n
5.lde In which men of standing in the
community engaged, either openly or COW
ertly, there were some queer and startling
happenings along the south coast of Long
Island. More than n century 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
with the story of Deacon Tribulation
Smiths conquest of Tackapausha, the
Marsapeague sachem.
1t was in South Jerusalem that Thomas
Johnson, more Familiarity known as "old |
Colonel Tom, built the first brick house |
on Long Island, which was then called |
Mattowacs This brick house stood on the |
best farm on the island, and in subsequent |
years it came TO be regarded with feeling |
of awe by the Dutch residents of that
region. cold Colonel Tom" was man of
unquestioned prestige in the community.
| He enjoyed the respect and homage OF his
neighbors because he insisted upon 1t. In
| the picturesque cove at the mouth OF Brick
| House creek lay "A stanch clipper built
| schooner, carrying six FOUNDER, maya
! zine of ammunition and a rack of cut
| lasses. This clipper built schooner made
| occasional trips out into the ocean, and It's
return was invariably followed by neigh.
| borly festivities in honor OF "old Colonel
F, TOMS prowess and increasing prosperity.
| On such occasions the hardy crew or the
| little schooner would bring out their cut
lasses and scour of certain dark spots with
more or less ostentation.
There were honest and pious people on
the island of Mattowacs in those days, but
mono was disposed TO criticise the doings
Of his neighbor, especially the doings OF
such neighbor as "old Colonel Tom.
The trade of "water merchant" was re-
garded by popular sentiment as leniently
ms infractions of the excise law are now.
In Smiths History of New York" may
be found this paragraph: at is certain
that the pirates were supplied with proyi-
sions by the people of Long Island, who
for many years afterward were so infatu-
ated with the notion that members of that
guild buried great quantities OF money
along the coast that there is scarce point
of land on the island without the marks
D of their 'auri sacra flames. Some credu-
| lous people have ruined themselves by
I these researches, and they propagated n
= thousand idle fables, current to this day
r among our country farmers.
The same historian is authority for the
t statement that "many worthy gentlemen
: of that early period invested much prop
: erty in divers small craft. e., brigan
i tines and cutters, wherewith they scoureo
y the sea, paying visits unto other vessel'
!, and carrying on general trade aiter
: very insistent and wholesale fashion. Il
| .lnlA In nd IA
g tain Kidd had for his associates Lore
J. Chancellor Somers, the Duke of Shrews
10 bury, the earls of Romney and Oxford ant
IS other equally illustrious individuals.
d Tradition has it that "old Colonel Tom
Is grew cruel and bloodthirsty, and 1.-THE re
II lation of his deeds made people shudder 7
h hear" and when he died the old brio
house and Brick House creek seemed
r. become bewitched. On stormy nights Tn
ghost of the dead pirate held high carniV'
no in the house. The window Of his bedroom
It. was always open. No earthly hand coul
n close it. Every Saturday night the water
of Brick House creek emitted sulphurot
~ lights and odors, and if any foolhardy iisl
e. erman CHANGED to hook a fish in that cree
ed ON Saturday "therc would be a low, run
as bling noise, smell of sulphur, and Il
he fishermans boat would be cast high an
nd dry on the bank.
TO- .Jaac Spraag, the daredevil OF Hungi
as barbor, laid wager of quart OF rui
nd with Ben Storer that he would go eeilil
alone in Brick House creek on certal
nd Saturday night. Jaac's Aunt Chasti'
endeavored to dissuade him, but he shoo
her off and said "he'd be hanged II
wouldn't like to come across old Colon
r,v Tom" Jaac went His neighbors al
nd his frantic wife searched for him all ia
he and all night Sunday, and 1t was not VI
Ill ill day break on Monday that they foul
i'd him living unconscious In the bottom
70 his skiff, which was high and dry on
of cliff mile away.
co. When he came to himself, Jaac TO
NV amid shoulders and means of horrible
tn nerience. He had met the ghost OF o
or Colonel Tom and had been taken out
raj sea on a specter pirate ship. The nendi
nat ghost had compelled him to Stay old peoI
nd in cold blood and torture ana muffin
40. children. Finally he rebelled at sol
hat atrocious command, and the pirate S ght
cd summoned four devils with wings OF bl
ose flame. who threw him into his SKIN a
do bore him to the cliff where he was foun
ing Jaac Spraag lived for many years
ave Jerusalem South after that eventful mig
ing and he told his story over and over aga
do never varying it as to details. HIS CT
are dren repeated the narrative, ana their ci
NO. dren and grandchildren told IL a1ter tne
ON Thus was perpetuated the legend OF br
,an Uouse creek.-New York Times.