The Sinister Story Behind This Popular Mississippi Beach Town Will Give You Chills
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Daniella DiRienzo
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Pass Christian is a small beach town located on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. During the summer months, the quiet coastal community becomes a bit livelier, as beach goers flock to its shores. However, many are completely unaware of the sinister tales behind the town, in particular, its beach.
The French discovered Pass Christian in 1699. However, it wasn’t officially chartered as a town until 1848. Dating back so many years, the small seaside town has a storied past, which includes some sinister tales.
One of the town’s most infamous ghost stories dates back to the 1850s, when Senor Vinesto and his wife, Julia, fled Uruguay during a revolution. Leaving in such a hurry, the couple had to abandon many of their possessions, including Julia’s beloved harp. The two boarded a boat to New Orleans; however, they never made it.
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Sara Goughenour
It seems that while the couple was aboard the ship, Julia began to develop feelings for the boat’s Captain Hawes. And the feeling was mutual. Senor Vinesto noticed the obvious attraction between his young wife and the captain and decided to do something about it. One day when the boat docked, Senor Vinesto purchased a harp for his wife, hoping it would occupy her time. And it did, she would play the harp for hours on end.
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However, the journey eventually hit another snag when the captain learned that Senor Vinesto had a trunk filled with gold coins. Between the beautiful wife and riches, Captain Hawes saw an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. And one day, Senor Vinesto mysteriously fell overboard, disappearing forever. Though she was young, Julia wasn’t stupid, and she knew Captain Hawes had something to do with her husband’s disappearance. She tried to get the captain to confess to a priest; however, he refused.
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Rather than convincing him to admit his crimes, Julia’s relentlessness only convinced the captain of one thing - she needed to be kept quiet. So, Captain Hawes ventured off route and anchored just off Pass Christian. Not long after, Pass residents saw a fire off shore. Several rowboats headed toward it to rescue passengers; however, before they could reach the blazing ship, it exploded. Several townspeople claimed to hear a harp playing beautiful old love songs at the time of the incident. But the story doesn’t end there.
Captain Hawes and four crew members made it to shore the following morning, claiming to have narrowly escaped the fire. The captain used his riches to settle in Pass Christian. However, Captain Hawes’ secret came out when a crew member admitted to everything on his deathbed. With his secret out, the captain decided to unearth his buried fortune.
Carl McCaskey
According to locals, harp music could be heard as the captain dug furiously. Just as he finished digging, four skeletons and a phantom harp player in a row boat approached him. Legend says if you listen close enough, you can still hear the harp playing its hauntingly beautiful music.
The town and its beach are also said to be haunted by the ghost of a little boy. According to several reports, the little boy’s ghost would suddenly appear, watching people as they enjoyed a visit to the beach. The boy’s clothes appeared to be old-fashioned, tattered, and dirty. His unkempt appearance would often lead to people to ask questions about where he lived, his family, etc.
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Perhaps more haunting than the site of the little boy’s ghost, was the answers he gave. Always very polite, he would reply that he stayed "down at the packing plant." That’s the most information he ever gave out. Anyone familiar with Pass Christian is well aware that the packing plant the boy’s referring to has been closed for decades. According to witnesses, once the questions became too much, the boy would simply disappear right before their eyes.
Did you know about these local ghost stories? Know of other sinister tales associated with Pass Christian? Tell us in the comments section.
If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out “The Story Behind Mississippi’s Most Haunted House Is Beyond Terrifying.“
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