Ghosts of Bannerman’s Island

Beacon, NY—Just south of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge lays a
mysteriously isolated island and on this island stands the ruin of a
once grand Scottish Castle, which in its time, stood as a fortress and
rose above the trees to create an impressive gateway to the Hudson
Highlands. This is the image I remember as I child, and I am still
captivated by the menacing vision of this dark lifeless structure
surrounded by the rushing tides of the Hudson River. Today this majestic
ruin, known as Bannerman’s Island Arsenal, rests on Pollepel
Island and crumbles before our eyes. The recent deterioration of
the ruin inspired me to not only witness and photograph the devastation,
but to write about its lingering legends.

Pollepel Island was just as mystifying nearly 400 years ago as it is
today. This dark deserted isle was the subject of an impressive
“arsenal” of storytellers’ tales. Storytelling was a common past time
and, just as with any story, over time these tales were naturally
embellished and grew into astounding historical accounts that were
passed down by the area’s early inhabitants giving us the great early
legends of angry spirits, lost lovers, and ghostly goblins.

The Early Legends

Long before Francis Bannerman built his castle, this six and
three quarter acre isle was uninhabited. The Native Americans feared the
island was possessed by evil spirits, which made it a prime location
for settlers to hide during periods of aggression with the Indians.
Over time, a number of legendary tales evolved. As I walked along the
shoreline, the crystalline ice formations glistened in the sun and I
thought of the legend of Polly Pell, a story that stakes claim for
naming the island. The story of Polly Pell (Pollepel) was shared among
Dutch settlers when newlywed Polly Pell was saved from the frozen Hudson
River following a romantic sleigh ride with her beau. The fierce
currents of the icy Hudson washed Polly and her new husband up on the
rocky shores when a slave rescued them and named the island after her
and the legend of Polly Pell was born.

The infamous Pollepel Island became well-known among Hudson River
sailors. The secluded island was the basis of much of fantastical
folklore that surrounds river travel through the Hudson Highlands.
The story The Storm-Ship written by famed storyteller and
Tarrytown resident Washington Irving, tells the tale of a dreaded tribe
of goblins that the Dutch feared inhabited Pollepel Island. These
goblins thrived under the reign of the Heer of Dunderburgh who is said
to control the gusty winds and treacherous waters of the Highlands. The
Dutch lived in fear of the Dunderburgh. The “storm ship”’ actually
refers to the legendary Flying Dutchman, a ship lost in a brutal storm
sinking just south of Pollepel Island. The story condemns the captain
and his crew to sailing the Hudson for eternity and it has been reported
that their cries for help can be heard during violent storms. Once a
ship ventured past Pollepel Island, the captain and crew earned right of
passage for a safe journey down the Hudson.

Whether or not the ghosts, goblins, and evil spirits existed was left
to the imagination. However, boat captains were known to cast off new
sailors on their inaugural voyages down the river as an initiation.
Often drunk and scared out of their wits these poor sailors were forced
to disembark to take their chances with the phantoms of Pollepel Island.
They were picked up on the return trip hopefully sobered up and
fearless.

Given the history of Pollepel’s influence on shipmen of that period,
it is ironic that the next ghost story would be that of a tugboat
captain angered by Bannerman himself.

A Ghost from the Bannerman Era

Francis Bannerman VI was the visionary behind the progressive growth
of the Scottish castle that bears the name of Bannerman’s Island
Arsenal. Bannerman purchased Pollepel Island in 1900 when his
insatiable hobby of scrap collecting gave way to becoming a massive arms
company. As his wealth increased, Bannerman was able to build a home
that would serve as a monument to his heritage. The castle itself was
comprised of six major sections; three arsenals, the lodge, the tower,
and the superintendent’s house. In addition, there is also a family
residence with magnificent views of the Highlands.

The property was protected by breakwaters, which were formed by the
sinking of old barges and boats. There is a legendary tale that the
tugboat captain of one of the boats requested that his prized vessel not
be sunk in his presence, but before anyone knew it, the boat was
sinking right before the former captains eyes. The captain cursed
Bannerman and swore revenge. It has been said that employees in the
lodge often heard the ringing of the boat’s bell at various times
signifying that the captain had returned to make good on his promise.

Just as the tugboat captain experienced a devastating loss that would
condemn him to Bannerman’s castle for an eternity, Bannerman would also
experience loss.

A Castle in Ruin

Bannerman’s Island Arsenal has had its share of disastrous events. A
1920 explosion of gun powder and shells blew a wall clear over to the
mainland. Three people were injured including Mrs. Bannerman and the
incident incurred $50,000 in damage. The most devastating event occurred
in August of 1969 in a fire that gutted all the buildings on the
island. It was undetermined as to what was the cause of the engulfing
blaze that would destroy the celebrated estate of the late Francis
Bannerman VI leaving it in ruin. This would not be the last disastrous
event that the castle would endure. In late 2009 and early 2010 the
castle saw increased damage that has forever changed the landscape of
this iconic structure. I wonder how much longer it will endure the
elements and how this rich haunted history will be remembered.

Remembering Bannerman’s Island Arsenal

The recent collapses have removed Bannerman’s name from his cherished
castle. As the castle fades into history, the legends will remain to
haunt us for a lifetime. As unbelievable as the stories may be, they add
to the allure of the island and someday may be all that remains of one
of the most captivating historical sites in the Hudson Valley. I think
that Jane Bannerman’s quote best describes how I feel about Polly Pell’s
island.

“No one can tell what associations and incidents will involve the island in the future. Time, the elements, and maybe even the goblins of the island will take their toll of some of the turrets and towers, and perhaps eventually the castle itself, but the little island will always have it’s place in history and in legend and will be forever a jewel in it’s Hudson Highland setting.”

- Jane Bannerman

Island Tours and Contributions

The island and castle is easily viewed from land. Take a short drive
south on Route 9D until you get to Breakneck Ridge. Park on the side of
the road and cross the bridge over the trains track. BE VERY CAREFUL OF
PASSING TRAINS!!

source

Mystery of the chinese pyramids

For decades, there is a legend, or arguably the rumor, which circulated in the western world when in a remote location in China, there are many mysterious pyramid that is even larger than the pyramids of Egypt. For decades, the Chinese government and the arkeolognya had denied the existence of these pyramids, and this denial actually makes the western world increasingly interested in investigating.

Is it true that there are pyramids in China? What is actually stored in these pyramids? And Why the Chinese government to deny its existence? However, in the imaging space and google earth, now we can know if the Chinese pyramid-pyramid really exists, even numbered up to 100 fruits. These pyramids are located in the province Xaanshi near the ancient city of Xian.

The Great White Pyramid The Great White Pyramid
In 1983, Bruce Cathie, a New Zealand author admitted that the Chinese government has expressed its pyramids to him if it really exists. But there is nothing mysterious, it's just pyramids tomb of the emperors .

In his book The Bridge to Infinity (1983), Cathie told the origin of the Chinese pyramid is becoming known in the western world. It all stems from the experience of an American air force pilot named James Gaussman. At that time, in 1945, Gaussman are flying between India and China in a routine mission. When his plane experienced engine trouble, he had to reduce altitude. That's when he saw a mysterious Chinese giant pyramid.

In his report, he stated:
"I was flying around a mountain and then we went into the valley. Directly below us, looks a giant white pyramid that seemed to emerge from a fairy tale. Pyramid gleaming white. May be made of metal or certain types of rocks. All the sides are white . But the most interesting is the rock on top of the pyramid - a precious material such as pearls. I'm really amazed with kedashyatan building. "
At that time, arguably if only identical with the Egyptian pyramids. So, should report Gausmann can attract more researchers to the west. However, the report Gaussman only to end up in American military archives. Two years after the report Gausmann, the pyramids of China re-emerged to the surface. Colonel Maurice Sheahan, director of Trans World Airlines admitted that he also saw a giant pyramid of China. Sheahan testimony published in the New York Times on March 28, 1947 article titled "P enerbang Americans see China's giant pyramid in the remote mountains in the southwest of Xian."

In that article, Sheahan said that the pyramid has a height of 300 meters by 450 meters wide. If that estimate is accurate, then the pyramids of Egypt was defeated size of the pyramid that has only 135 meters high. Sheahan also said that the pyramid is located in a valley at the foot of the Qin Ling mountains about 40 miles southwest of Xian. Near the giant pyramid, he reported that there are also hundreds of small bumps similar to a pyramid. But Sheahan's testimony did not mention the existence of stones like pearls on the top of the pyramid. Two days after the article was published in the New York Times, the story was published back in New York Sunday News. This time they display a photograph of the pyramid who later known as the photos taken by Gaussman year 1945.

Since that time this building became the object of debate and speculation. Who built it? What for the building was made? Nobody really know for sure because at that time, China shut out the outside world.

The first breakthrough came several decades later by a German writer named Hartwig Hausdorf. In his book published in 1994 entitled Die Weisse Pyramide (The white pyramid), it showcases a lot of pictures pyramids of China. Hausdorf admitted that he had been permitted by the Chinese government to visit some locations that used to be forbidden to take photographs.Now, China's pyramids are not a secret anymore. We can see the pyramids is from google earth and we can even visit the site directly. Unlike the Egyptian pyramids made of large stones, arguably China's pyramid is made of compacted soil mounds created as a tomb of the emperor. Two of the pyramid is the largest and most famous is the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang and Maoling mausoleum.

Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum
This mausoleum is China's largest pyramid. Is 76 meters high initially, but over time, the pyramid was eroded so that residence 47 meters.Has basically the size of 357 meters X 354 meters. This is the final resting place of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the first king of the Qin dynasty who built the wall of china and uniting all of China in the year 221 BCE. Near the pyramid is also, in 1974, three farmers who want to make a well accidentally discovered trenches containing teracotta statues which now is one of the most illustrious archaeological sites in the world. According to the book "Records of the Historian: Biography of Qin Shi Huang", the historian Sima Qian (145-90 BC) mentions that this mausoleum has rooms that contain miniature-miniature palace and pavilion with a pool of mercury that flows beneath the sky- sky gems that make up the image of the sun, moon and stars.

In other words, the contents of this shows a replica of the mausoleum of the emperor's kingdom complete with the five sacred mountains in it. Chinese researchers who examined the content of the soil around the mausoleum was discovered that it contains mercury which is quite high. This paper confirms the credibility of Sima Qian. According to Sima Qian, the tomb was built when the Qin Shi Huang is still 13 years old. Workmanship use up to 700,000 workers and completed within 20 years.

The workers move the soil until level with the water level in the soil, then the floor was coated with molten bronze is then overwritten with a stone sarcophagus. When the workmanship is completed, all workers who know the entrance to the tomb was killed to keep it confidential. Until today, the pyramid is still keeping secret since the Chinese government has not dismantled by reason of fear of damaging a valuable part of the cemetery.

Maoling Mausoleum
This mausoleum, which is sometimes called a pyramid of great white, has a base size of 222 meters X 217 meters. This makes it the second largest pyramid in China. This pyramid is a pyramid of his picture in newspapers in New York Sunday News in 1947. In other words, the pyramid is what has been seen by Sheahan, and possibly by Gaussman. However, it seems Sheahan has been mistaken for estimating the height of this pyramid was only about 45 meters high. This mausoleum is the final resting place of Emperor Wu named Liu Che (or Wu Di), who ruled from 157-87 BC. This means that the pyramid is 2000 years old. History records that it takes up to 53 years to complete this building and in it saved many precious objects. In contrast to the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, the mausoleum has been excavated and some precious artifacts stored in museums and exhibits.

Although it was unknown if this same pyramid with the pyramid on the photo that appeared in 1947, many researchers are still baffled by a mystery. According Gaussman, he claims to have seen the material like pearls on the top of the pyramid. However, we can look at the top of the pyramid if it turns out flat, like truncated.

Is Gausmann lie?

Or, if someone has moved the top of the pyramid?

Or maybe, somewhere in China there is still a giant white pyramid 300 feet tall with glossy peaks that have not been found?