Ghost Stories
Ghost stories and lighthouses often go together, and that is true at South Bass. Two possible candidates for the spirit that is occasionally reported to visit the light station are Harry Riley, the first keeper, and Sam Anderson.
Riley began his service as keeper on June 23, 1897, at the age of 41. He had previously served as second mate of the tender Haze, was a native of New York state, recently married, and paid $560 a year to be keeper at South Bass Station. Anderson was employed as a laborer at the lighthouse in August 1898.
In late August 1898 and into early September, there was fear of smallpox at South Bass. Cases were reported at the resort Hotel Victory at Put-in-Bay and some persons were quarantined for medical observation. As it turned out, the cases were mild and all recovered.
A September 1, 1898, newspaper account reports, however, that Anderson was so concerned about the possibility of contracting smallpox that he "endeavored to drown his fright in drink. He finally took refuge in the cellar of the government lighthouse, not far from the Hotel Victory, where he had a fine assortment of snakes." He is reported to have walked down to the dock, yelled, "God save them all," and jumped into Lake Erie. His body was recovered the next day and his death was ruled a suicide.
Also on September 1, 1898, Riley was taken into custody by Sandusky police as an insane person. He died in the state hospital the following March. No other information is known.
