HAUNTEDLIGHTHOUSE.ORG
Several people, include retired Officer Brent Saberhagen, have reported hearing the umistakable
crowing of a large black bird before accidents. Mr. Saberhagen has compliled a full listing
on his web site. Hikers have come to refer to the area around Shoreline 104 as "Crow's Bluff Trails"
or "Bird Shriek Cliffs". The number of injured people who have heard it makes you wonder.
In short, if you hear the cawwww cawww sound on the trails, be careful!
The beginnings of the story go back to when the land grant was approved. Cmdr Sheridan began work on Shoreline 104, the first of the lighthouses. During the late summer of 1892, his dear friend from the Navy, Captain Nevel Thomas arrived for an extended visit. The pair had served several years in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean, having traveled around the Horn of Africa three times.
On one of these voyages, these young officers had a shipmate who was notoriously clumsy, Midshipman Dickity. Thomas had a trained raven, Corvus crassirostris. As a cruel joke, they named it "Dickity Crow". It would then bounce on Thomas's shoulder, cawing, and could mime a few human words. Most imfamously, it would sing
Dickity Crow, Dickity Crow
Dickity Fall, Dickity Fall
Dickity Crow, Dickity Fall!
This was in reference of the midshipman's perchance to stumble or fall while above decks. The senior officers never repremanded them for teaching the raven this tune. The whole thing took on an extra meaning when Dickity tumbled from the high outlook, breaking his leg and having his left arm amputated. Dickity was left in British Ghana to recover. His ultimate fate isn't known.
As the years passed, both Sheridan and Thomas served in separate crews. They retired in their mid-50s. According to work logs, Thomas and his now aged raven arrived in Herrington on August 12th. Despite once being able to say a number of words, the demented bird could only repeat
Dickity Fall, Fall, Fall
Dickity Fall, Fall, Fall
Strangely, while Sheridan and Thomas were surveying the construction of Shoreline 104, the bird took off into the trees and refused to return. It was about this time any time someone had an accident, they would report having been distracted by nuisance cawing. The first of these was Peter Whelworth as he was assembling the wooden scaffolding around the top of the lighthouse. Mr. Whelworth was driving nails while hanging over the side, some would say carelessly. He slipped and fell to his death. In his last breath, he stared into another workman's eyes saying "Dickity! Dickity!" He died moments later.
Since then, there is a long list of people who have spoken of the mysterious cawing in the woods and cliffs leading to Shoreline 104. For a full accounting, see Mr. Saberhagen's web site. While ravens can have an extended life span if properly cared for in captivity, Thomas's bird certainly died within months, as that winter was especially harsh.
And while bird sighters have spotted a few larger black birds, even a turkey vulture, they have not seen ravens. So it is left to the imagination if there is one problem crow or several.
We can only ask hikers observe extra caution on these cliff trails. And, if you do hear it, please simply turn around and stay out!