davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18

of the Mllennal Dawn. The captain
was one of these here religious fanatics
and held, regular services on board ship.
no matter who was on board or where his
ship happened to he weathering. The
captain kept a regular library of religious
books in his cabin, which was as neat as
wax the day he showed me his layout or
religious readin' He would tie UP his
boa- almost anywhere to argufy about
what he called the second comm, what
ever that means, and he never was quite
happy unless he was a-tellin' some poor
sinner just how the world all happened to
be, leastwise as he understood il.
This parson person whom he had along
with him. was not prepossessin to look
at-at least at first shot He was
greasy individual. with long. gray hair
hangn' below his battered old derby hat.
He didn't have full crop of hair. a
good share of the right side of his scalp
being missing. and a shiny scar being in
its place. This also took out his eye, and
gave him his nickname. The old man
had been struck by a glancing shell on
the right side of his head in the Mexican
a pension and also for his being a good
bit off his head, although it seemed to
take effect only by making him terribly
religious But he was lots better looking
with the hat on
He used to hold meetings along thu
docks when In port. the captain nelpin
him out by singin' and once in willis
turning in bunch of experiences on Ms
own account and admonishing the crowd
that always hung around to quit tnefi
oneriness and gambling and get ready
for the world to come. I've lived a lone
time now, and / guess the old parson was
right. although / laughed at him then. :
Again the old sailor looked out over the
river his weak blue eyes half closed ap-
parently bordering just what the ratio OF
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18

I'm dying, captain. said the old nnah
and ! wish that you bring the boat-to
ard call all hands for our last parting.
The men gathered about. and just
darkness followed twilight down The
Potomac h. said: My race il run. | de
will be allowed TO return. and them !
shall be able not only 10 preach 70 men
souls. but 10 heal their bodies
With a sort of little gasp the III
man was dead. his hands r aching toward
the crew In sort 81 a henediction- The
vessel slowly pulled into port, the crew
standing by their ropes solemn as judge
The darkies and some white people
got hold Of the way the old parson lad
died and the promise IL had made, aad
soon ii was scattered about that the odd
man was 10 return ard heal the sick.
They they used to hrina4the little children
that had twisted bodies to the water 5
edge just at twilight hoping that the
spirit Of the old man might return-so
help them.
Il have heard stories that the old HiHIl
did return at least once. He Wore ms
hair long in life. and they said tbat
his scar Mas glossy silk. tie Appeared
just between twilight and dark IN the
very spot the Millennial Dawn was II
chored when he died, but his return va
as peaceful as his life and been
1t is impossible to forecast what storie'
will grow as time passes. The matsF.a
is present for a first-claSs crop Of fhe
most approved ghost stories about The
old graveyard of ships / and mang-a
canoeist and yachtsman - Ae pass+
the place west Of the Monument on Ike
trip. now involuntarily glances OVER lbs
shoulder he rounds the spot. by St,fsf
innate suggestion he seems t half SIS
pect that the spirit Of the odd parson1or
the 'headIess woman" may yet b seen
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18

old hulks by fire. as well as the more
practical reason that they usually are
so watersoaked that they will not burn.
and must he left somewhere to rot.
There is some difference among the riv-
ermen TO the exact location of the
graveyard. arising principally because of
the fact that vessels of various tonnage
have been left at practically all the
points from the Aqueduct bridge to the
lowest point of the District. However
the most commonly accepted location is
near that portion of Analostan Island
lust west of the Monument. and hardly
the width of the Potomac from the city
proper. From there the graveyard ex-
tends southwark at the present time, be-
ing we'll defined only as far as the site of
the old Long bridge.
Just at this time a number of vessels
may be seen back of the sea wall that
extends from the base of Analostan
island 10 the Long bridge. where they
will be buried when dredging shall have
completed the filing back of the wall. 1t
is best accepted that the proper location
of the graveyard" is near the eastern
shores of the island, where tradition.
we'll horne out by fact. has II that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18

boy with him That was the last of
the boy, and it was told around the
wharves that bunch Of slave catchers
had grabbed him and run him off.
The next day the captain seemed a
bit more talkative. He said that he
had started from Wilmington. or New
Berne. or some of the southern ports,
with two men besides himself and the
on account of his old men leaving him.
Coming up the coast to the capes. be-
low Norfolk. he said that sharp
squall struck his vessel all Of a sud
den, and that the two men were washed
overheard and lost in trying to pull in
sail.
We'll. we had only the captains word
for it. since the negro boy couldn't be
he had for his crew. The matter just
dropped. although there was a lot OF
shaking of heads among the river men.
for they just naturally didn't believe
his story.
And now comes the funny part of
the thing" continued the river man.
drawing long and thoughtfully at his
ancient pipe. The captain got more
more strong liquor. until he was stupid
from it all the time He would hardly
speak to any one. and finaliv endeo
the whole thing by getting killed in a
drunken row in water front saloon.
He didn't live here regularly. but
cousin was found. and he took the boat
over and had her run. Right tnere
was where the queer things started 70
happen. The boat was old. all right
enough. but She was supposed 70 ne
seaworthy. And yet now she broke down
completely. -, ST.. g
seemed that the holes couldn't be stopped
Every timber in the old schooner seemed
to give way at once. so that she cost more
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18

great many ships have in the last hun
dred years found a final resting place
from storms
A riverman who had been standing near
as his companion told a reporter for The
star of the location of the graveyard for
ships now took part in the converse
ton. He was a thin, wiry man. as brown
as a beechnut his face dominated by
pair of keen gray eyes He is master OF
schooner that has made Washington
ports for many years. and although his
hair IS only slightly gray he is well along
toward the seventies. Filling his short
stemmed. black pipe from the reporters
tobacco. he led the way to the shade of
boathouse. preparing to tell one of the
yarns that seem almost a part OF
sailors existence.
To begin with. sonny, said he. care
fully seating himself on a billet of wood
and lighting his pipe with an old-fash-
Toned sulphur match taken from a Gu
riously wrought silver case. there's more
than folks usually allow in regard to
these here ghosts and spirits. although
L can't say that l am SO very much of
a believer in the things myself. How
ever, there is a ghost story in connec-
tion with a three-mast schooner that
piled In these ports and in Alexandria
before the war
She had peculiar history from the
day she left the WAYS until she finally
found her muddy grave over there in
the flats of the Potomac. I'll not men
ton her name, for some of the old river
men would remember the craft. and
there's no use in stirrin' up bad feelings
This craft had the same captain from
she sprung several bad leaks. and sud-
denly rotted away, and had to be towed
out where she has long since disap-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18

peared beneath the mud, just, as the
old schooner Fanny now is bleaching
her bones The captain of the schooner
was a powerful big man. with ter
rible temper. which he wasn't slow to
show when his men didn't exactly suit
him.
'.He had been engaged in a general car
rying trade from ports as far south as
Wilmington, making In here regular,
sometimes stopping at Alexandria but
usually coming on up TO Washington with
at least part of his cargo. He was
strong Union man. and along just few
years before the breaking ont of the war.
when the whole country was redhot in
talk over states rights and the slave
question he grew almost rabid. so strong
was he in favor of the Union. | was just
a lad then. but i can remember him
mighty well.
.One night late in the fall. just as the
river traffic was slowing up a bit in
preparation for the winter season. his
craft came a-limping into the harbor
here. the captain and little negro
boy whom he had been carrying for
cook being the only living souls aboard
her. The captain. who was sullen and
quiet. at first wouldn't answer any ques
tons as To why he was so short
handed. After tying in and locking his
cabin he went up town. taking the negro
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18

tons graveyard Of ships.
~Thar's the bones of many a good
craft Iyin' beside some worthless TIM
hers Of lot Of no-aecount scows over
thar, all rottin' together. and slow-like
slippln' - tn, bottom OF the river. and
roin' out with the foods by pieces
The erizzleI old sailor was right, for
20 the west Of Washington. just under
the emincnce where sleep many of th':
nations heroes i'm Arlington. lies the
graveyard OF ships. And concerning
the barren hulks partly exposed al low
tide IS many q story, for since the
days OF old. mystery and romance have
hung about ships and shipping.
Occasionally. also are heard stories OF
a more gr1esorne nature. OF ghosts of
captains and mates long since dead in
search Of the craft they once command
cd Some ef ths rivermer as we'll as
many of the darkies on the Virginia
shore believe tirmN that "ha 'nts' and
'spools'' inhabit the marshes and flats.
where at night all IS as silent as death.
except for the cry of night birds and the
constant tapping Of the water il as
sists the other elements in the slow work
# decay of the old vessels
In this unique graveyard. buried in the
ooze and slow accretion of mud, the
lodging place OF turtles and water birds
lies the buried hulk of many a goodly
vessel whose stanoh form once proudly
sailed the seas. Lone-stripped rnasts and
spars stretch skyward as though in sup
plicaiion for a Speedier end. slowly
crumbling keel and ribs are the melan-
choiy reminders that 'once there was
vessel strong and true
The ships graveyard of the Potomac
i well known To every riverman that
makes the port of Washington, or the
ancient wharves along Georgetown chan
mel, farther To the west. To many of
them have been handed down stories of
the older days. of the years when the
capital was mere village in the woods
and Alexandria locked some of the larg-
est traders then afioat. and buyers came
from far inland To replenish stores Even
before the days of railroads these
wharves along the Potomac presented
scenes OF the greatest hustle and i'm
portarice. throngs of buyers following the
auctioneers about TO purchase West In
ola goods and East India goods in the
original wrappings.
As far back as the early part OF the last
century dates this buryfng place for
ships. Tor then as now. when craft
became worn out from use or Their tim
hers rendered unseaworthy from decay
they could not he left in the channel
10 impede nav cation. They We're lowed
at high tide TO the flats in the neighbor-
hood OF the Monument. and there left
Tor the elements to finish, be il ever SO
slowly. There is a sentiment among sail
ors which prevents their destroying the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18

himself one day last week Well.
may say that | do remember him. and
then again | don't remember him. so
long ago is that Il seems like a
dream"
The old sailor gazed long at the softly
ripping water. his eyes far away. as he
lived again IN the days that are but
history to most Neutrality-suspicious.. Re-
Stunning. he spoke slowly and very softly.
his voice at times being almost inaudible
and having the faintest trace OF Scotch
accent.
THE one-eyed parson wasn't exactly a
sailor. although he could tie a clever
enough knot in hawser and could help
around the vessel when needed. His real
duty was to serve sort of chaplain
on board the Millennial Dawn, about
the queerest craft that ever cast a
shadow on water. The skipper Of the
craft was an old man when ! knew him.
long before the war and when | was as
straight and strong youngster n
any you'll see" The old man broke on
suddenly and seemed TO be computing
laboriously. his lips moving as he count
ed the years.
Yes. ii was sixty-eieht year ago.
along in 1915 or 1850. when | knew the
parscn and the queer captain and crew
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18

life and death Is. anyway. Al last h
continued:
II never did know Just how i was that
the old. one-eyed parson was shot. any
way. The schooner had been down he
low Little Hunting creek loading surna
shingles FOR Georeetnwn dealers Tic
parson had been fooling around the boat
while the darkies loaded her. one report
WAS thai a drunken FISHERMAN pulled 4
gun on the old parson, telling him IL get
on his knees and say prayers, and then
shot him because he Wouldnt - II. An
other had II that he WAS cleaning an old
musket when the thing discharged acc
denfally and Killed him.
Anyway. The Millenn.al Dawn hurriei
through the loading after tho captain nad
dressed the OLD parsons wound Is best ~.
could. and. pretty soon after. the ycSSef
pulled w the Georgetown channel wli
the old man lAin' on the after drch. 4
hiG wound through his chest. ANA him ~
expected 70 ike till doctor could u,
reached. lie had taken wors. almost ~
sight Of Nashington. They had pas& i
the old bridge and Wee ev,n with sra
foundation Of the WASHINGTON Nonrmciii
just then about T. he lad, whrn III" :,
parson motioned the skipper Wha wa$-oy
his side all the time. ~ ,ast anchor.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18

for repairs than she was worth, not to
speak of laundering and running a cargo.
So the new owner just stripped her and
towed her out to flats to die
Then things began to happen about
where she lay. \ mate of mine, who
died soon after. was fishing one night in
the channel near where the boat was half
buried in the mud. when he suddenly saw
a bright spot of light her just about
where her aft cabin door should be. as
near as he could make out. Then he
heard the most blood-curdling Yell, just
Ike man let's out when he has been
stabbed with a knife. Then it was quiet
for a little while, after which another
yell. That mate of mine d ,dnt lose any
time in getting to shore after that, and
a bunch of us, thinking that something
must be wrong out at the old hulk, got
into boats and went right out.
'Everything was quiet a church
yard. with the little waves heating
against the old boat. and We all gave
my mate the laugh telling him he must
have been in his cups We forgot all
about the ghost business for a long time.
although You couldn't hire any of the
negroes about the wharf to go down that
way after dark.
About two years later ] was pulling
down the river to where l had some hooks
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18

set under where the old Long bridge
used TO be. ! Just had got even with the
old craft, whose hulk l could family
make out between me and the shore
hair on end. 1t was a hoarse scream,
like a man sometimes makes when he
sees death staring him in the face. |
was so scared that | couldn't move an
oar the current bearing me slowly by
the spot. Just as l got even with the old
ship l saw n man rise up out of the
hold. He seemed to be surrounded with
a sort OF dim light, like my mate saw,
and I could just make out who 1t was He
carried long sailors knife and seemed
to be in a terrible humor.
Il could swear that the man was the
captain of the old craft and that he
was there just as real as he ever was
when he used to stand and swear at his
men. The light about him grew DINNER,
but he seemed to make a stab with the
knife, and there came again the awful
scream, and then hoarse growing and
cursinG-then all was as still as ever. |
didn't tend any hooks that night. and as
near as I can remember I just rammed
the boat into the shore somewhere. and
beat it for home.''
The old sailor rose and thumped his
pipe to clear it of ashes. After seeing
that can you wonder that | Will believe
that ships graveyards is haunted? Well.
that's what settled 1t in my mind as to
what had happened on that schooner
when she was at sea. The captain had
lost his men down south because he was
so cranky and had hired a couple Of
southerners. Drinking as he was, and SO
disagreeable about the states rights ques-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18
Heard and Seen at The Star Scof@b@ard.

broke. but I'm sure glad ! saw MN
do it,
This same southerner insisted daF-
ing the second inning that the gafne
was unfair.
1T should be like chess" said he. re-
flectively.
Chess" bawled 4 red faced man
near him.
Certainly" replied the southerncr
I'm chess one gives ones opponent--I
knight in order - even the contest.
When Johnson is pitching the Wash
ington players should withdraw AT
least two outtielders
IN one game last week a little dargsy
planted himself directly under tf4"
scoreboard and un3eterred hy apparent
adversely kept chanting to himself: =
"Ah done tor yuh dey wus swine to
win. All done tor yuh deg WIS swias
to win.
When Washington tied the score Fr1e
little African capered about eNcitedit--
"Dey's gwinc To win D.y's gwine 10
win" he yelped.
Finally Washington Won ! man wto
had been watching the little eoIuIcn
boy approached htm
say. son he remarked, which tedEl
did Won think WAS going t. Wln.
Didn't max no Offence t. me boss
replied the darkcN. grinnne. = wds
yellin' foh both y them.
TIIE. man wno can improve 10 the ey-
listing order Of things is never s7s
sent. one sad-faced gentleman stopped
I'm front of the board last week. and II
fifteen minutes mad taken Tile eiectr.,,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18

] ! Mn - CN
can see il for
YOURSELF
The griZZled old
riverman pointed
with a sweep of
the arm toward
the tidal fats on
the eastern shore
of Analostan Is
land and the Viz
ginia s n q r ..
toward Washing
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18

You most certainly do. replied the
friend, enthusiastically.
The man remained silent and watched
the scoreboard frowningly. as if daring It
to put over another one like that
1t happened a little later. Robert Groom
swatted the ball for two-base hit. and
the crowd gave another imitation or an
Indian war dance. Then the gentleman
with the package turned slowly toward
the man he had addressed before.
Trying TO kid me, weren't you?' he
said. in hurt tone. Il know he didn [
make that first hit. 'Senough, l know
when I've had enough to drink
And with those few words he started
for street car.
THERE is one man who always visits
the scoreboard when the first OF
the fans arrive. He comes alone. Taking
a position Well down Pennsylvania ave
nue., he assumes a calm and reStfui at
titude. and says nothing-until the game
begins.
Then he gives Il lfelike imitation of
Sherman's march 10 the sea. AS each hit.
error or run Is recorded the man adj
vances toward the scoreboard. He makes
his march in one-yard advances, stop
ping when nothing is happening, but go
ing forward again as soon AS the excite
ment starts. The result is that the ninth
inning finds him right up under the score
board.
Friends Of the man hopeful that
some day the score will run to a tieLp
TO the nineteenth inning They are conf
dent that if he continues his march he
will be somewhere in the vicinity of T
street northwest, and heading rapidly
for the District line.
REPRESENTATIVE SIDNEY An
IN DERSON of Minnesota stopped in
front of the scoreboard few days ago.
and turning to party of friends. let out
this wall
Congress will adjourn for three weeks
II that isn't hard luck 1 don't know what
Is We get three weeks of recess at the
time when the Washington team is play
Ing ball IL fs0Of miles away from the local
park. Then, when work begins TO pile
up, and I've are toiling at our desks, the
team comes back. and were lucky to get
off once a week, Such is a congressman )
luck,''
TN all the crowd at The Star score
1 board on the afternoon when Walter
Johnson broke the worlds record for
consecutive scoreless innings there
was no man more deeply interested
than a tall. lanky southerner, who ex-
planned that he hadn't the faintest no
ton Of what Johnson was breaking.
but was determined to watch him in
the act
AS the scoreboard announced the
fact that the first st Louis player
had struck out the southerner turned
around anxiously and dema nded To
know what that broke
That ties the worlds record was
explained
Then the second man knocked a high
fly and was out
What does that do?" demanded the
southerner.
THAT breaks the record" was the
reply.
The stiffness that had followed the
first two put-outs was shattered appall-
ingly by the southerner. Rising on his
toes. he emitted d shrek of joy and
then said,
Well, don't know what he's done
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18
OUEER Burying Ground
. Where Old Vessels Find


Last Resting Place-Super-
stitious Sailors and Darkies
Have Many T ales of
.Spooks" and "Ha'nts" in
the Vicinity-Story of the
"Headless Woman" Who
Rises From the Wharf.-The
"One eyed Parson' Gave
Notice That He Would Re
turn, and Some Claim He
Has Appeared in "Spook
Form.