In 1845, Fort Severn was acquired by the War Department to be used as a Naval College, now USNA Annapolis. Illustrious alumni include Admirals Halsey, Nimitz, Rickover and Zumwalt, President Carter and Senator/Presidential candidate McCain. The USNA is home to ghosts and urban legends.
Annapolis' Lieutenant’s Ghost
October 13, 1907: Lt. James Sutton died at the Academy under mysterious circumstances. There were whispers that he was beaten before he died. There was an immediate inquiry about his cause of death. The official report stated it was suicide due to a “mental breakdown.” His friends disagreed, noting that he was rational and easy going.
On the day he died, Sutton’s apparition appeared to his mother who lived hundreds of miles from Annapolis. He told her he had been beaten before being shot by another officer. The family demanded a full second investigation. The body was exhumed. The autopsy proved Sutton had been beaten prior to his death. The shooter was never identified.
Sutton’s ghost has been sighted by many credible witnesses on Annapolis’ grounds, in buildings, floating above the academy’s fence, walking through walls, peeking into windows and hovering over Midshipmen’s beds.
There have been reports of a glowing light moving about the grounds at night. It is uncertain whether or not this is Sutton or another ghostly resident.
John Paul Jones Ghost Haunts USNA
In life, he was renowned for his naval skills and courage. 1779: Jones was the Captain of the Bon Homme Richard. During the battle, when all appeared lost, the English captain demanded Jones surrender. He replied, “I have not yet begun to fight!” Instead, the enemy was defeated. January 26, 1913: Jones’ body was re-interred in a crypt in the Naval Academy Chapel. Sources differ about who the daily honor guard was; some aver, a Marine, others, a sailor.
A sailor was the honor guard when he heard a voice asking him his name. He ignored it. The voice repeated the question. The sailor hadn’t heard anyone pass by and turned to the place the voice came from. He saw a phantom, dressed in an old Naval uniform and recognized him as Jones’. The question was repeated. After the sailor answered, Jones nodded, turned and walked out of the doorway. The sailor quickly followed the specter, but it vanished before he got outside.
Witnesses have reported seeing Jones’ ghost wandering in the Chapel’s grounds near his crypt.
Scuttlebutt: Naval Academy Urban Legends
This is an Internet publication about urban legends, unpublished customs and traditions. Usually, these are ranked as false, unverified and true.
A Marine honor guard was on duty at the John Paul Jones crypt. He was found leaning against the tomb, babbling to Jones. Unverified.
The USNA and USMA have a rivalry which leads to pranks. There were numerous reports of a new ghost at West Point. Annapolis’ Brigade Activities Committee took responsibility for this one. Some of them made an 8 mm film of pieces of a Cadet’s Civil War uniform. They used projectors and tape recorders to create the illusion of a ghostly soldier. While designated as true, the publication’s staff would like comprehensive details including copies of press clippings.
Other alleged BAC pranks include putting limburger cheese under seats on the Army side of the field before the Army-Navy game at the, now demolished JFK stadium in Philadelphia and dropping ping-pong-balls containing the words “Go Navy Beat Army” on a dress parade at the USMA. Neither rated.
Related Articles:
Sources:
Haunted Places, Dennis William Hauck, (Penguin Books, 2002)
http://homeport.usnaweb.org/scuttlebutt.html
Jill Stefko - I'd rather deal with the paranormal than human abnormal - having dealt extensively with both.
