The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1899-07-22
The MYSTERIOUS Music of Pascasouia
From the Kalends, organ OF the Woman 5 Coi
Iege of Baltimore, January, 1895.

some few years ago, L OeCaiiio
much interested in one Of the
strange. sweet legends current IN
thav portion of the country. Ex-
erting greater charm upon
strangers than the peaceful love
illness of the land, or the beauty,
refinement and hospitality of lis
inhabitants, this story has q wide
circulation and credence among
the people.
Many and varied are the Ver,
sions of this tradition, but they all
have their foundation in the
" Mysterious Music of Pasca-
goula" This is a weird. musical
sound which issues from the ca
vern9 and grottos of Pascagoula
bay and river. 1t may be heard at
ccrtian seasons of the year, at any
hour of the night, provided that
deathlike stiffness pervades the
air. At the least noise it ceases,
and is often not noticeable again
for hours. Its sound is fitful.
Now it rises and swelIs as the roar
of a cataract; now it dies away
till the ear must be strained to
catch the feeble, quavering notes.
Some say that it most wonderfully
resembles nd-harp; others
compare it to the " hummlng OF
an insect of great and curious
powers;" while yet a third patty
affirrns that an exact counterpart
Of the music Of Pascagoula IS the
wavering, tremulous noise OF teie-
graph wires when played upon by
the wind. Some have dared to
aver that there is no harmony in
the sound, but all agree that 1t is
mysterious and is therefore charm
inc. account for this phenom-
enon many fanciful myths have
arisen. From generation to gen
Grafton they have been handed
down. growing with their age.
Of the many there are two
which are most widely circulated
and are in every way the leading
traditions. The first one tells OF
a tribe different in color and
characteristics from the rest of
the Indians. Its people were gem
tie and peaceabIe, caring nothing
for the usual sports of the " wild
man of tho woods. >" Their time
was passed in merrymaking and
rejoicing. The river yielded them
an abundant living of fish and
oysters. They loved the water,
not only because it was the
source of the livelihood, but be-
cause their ancestors had been
born in the sea. In beautiful
temple on the brink of the river
they gathered daily to worship the
carved image of a mermaid.
They played before her upon
strange-shaped instruments and
and gave voice to songs OF wild
beauty.
In 1889, shortly after the de-
struction of Mauvila, or Mobile,
bv, De Soto and his men, an old
man made his appearance among
this tribe. He wore a long white
beard, his garments We're loose
and flowing, and in his right hand
he carried the emblem Of the
cross. He brought with him a
book for which he showed much
reverence. BY degrees he began
to teach the people what this
sacred valume contained. The
work of evangelization went on
rapidly, and this Indian nation
bade fair to become a Christian
people when the priests mission
arv a work was brought TO a sudden,
dreadful close.
One night, at the solemn hour
of twelve, when the moon Hooded
the world with light. the waters OF
the river were seized with vlo-
lent agitation, as if moved by
mvriads of invisible wings sweep
ing above their surface. Several
times the waters rolled furiousIy
from bank to bank and then
gathered themselves up into q
9raat mass of foaming bilIow.
Orfhe crest of the topmost wave
stood a beautiful mermaid. She
gazed upon the shore with eyes OF
unearthly lustre, while chanting
strains of betwitching melody.
down to the rivers brink rushed
the inhabitants of the village
Seeing them, the mermaid threw
sweeter cadences into her voice
and sang mystic song, the bur
den of which was this oft-repeat,
ed strain;
" Come to me, come to me, We chnoren OF 'h'
Neither bell, heck nor Syoss shall win ye from
your queen"
The excitable, emotional Indian
nature was wrought to frenzy. Re
gardless Of consequences, one ol
the Young indian braves plungec
wildly into tie river. He wa:
quickly followed by hL; people
Men. women and children vansih.
ed in the twinkIng of an eye
The priest found ! himself alone
nnon the shore. &, horrid laugh
Of exultation rent the. night air a:
the last of the unfortunate race
disappeared. With frightfu
roar the waters subsidized. The
quiet of death ensue4 The
whole scene seemed but as 6
dream to the lonely priest. Eve1
since that night has been hearc
the distant music which ahas ex
cited so much attention aid in.
vestioation. The neighbGrins
tribes of indians have alwayssat.
tributed this strange music t.,
their lost brethren, who, they af-