Legend Say Noted Pirate Is Cause of Lake Wales' Famed "SPOOK HILL" The story relates that the old Negro parked his old car at the foot of the hill. He was going fishing. He headed for the lake. His song froze on his lips, as he glanced back at his jalopy. Slowly, but surely, his car was backing up the hill. The motor was not running. "Dem's spooks," he was quoted as crying before fainting. That's how Lake Wales' renowned "SPOOK HILL" is credited with being Christened. It's A Fact It is a fact. You can stop your car at the very foot of "SPOOK HILL." Turn off the motor -and the car will surely back some 75 to 100 feet up the hill. There are those unbelieving folks who say it is merely an optical illusion. Those who really know just whisper: "GIMME SARSAPARILLA." No, that isn't an order for a soft drink. Captain Gimme Sarsaparilla was a bloody pirate captain who roamed the seas in the early 16th century. (It is reported that Tampa's Jose Gasparilla was just an ordinary freebooter in comparison -a poor relation -second or third cousin of the terrible Captain Gimme) Back In 1511 One day in the year 1511, Captain Sarsaparilla tired of the black pirate flag and came to Lake Wales to retire and lead a life of a gentlemen. It is said that he wished to devote the remainder of his days to whale fishing. Only one pirate accompanied the terrible Captain to the Polk County Community. He was Gimme's trusted aide, Teniente Vanilla -full name -Vincento Alfredo Nieto Isidoro Lima Llano Alvarez. When Alvarez died he was duly buried at the foot of what is now known as "SPOOK HILL." In those peaceful days, there were no automobiles to disturb the final rest of the dead pirate. As to all men, death came finally to Captain Gimme. He is said to repose in Davy Jones' locker at the bottom of North Lake Wailes. All was peace in the Pirates' afterworld until the old Negro stopped his car at the foot of the hill. It rested directly upon the chest of Teniente Vanilla. Now the weight of a car is said to approximate the weight of 16 dead men. Everyone knows that pirates have a particular aversion to "16 MEN ON A DEAD MAN'S CHEST." The ghost of Vanilla called for Sarsaparilla. The spirit of the old Captain arose from the depths of the Lake and pushed the old jalopy back up the hill -off the chest of the trustworthy Vanilla. Such has been the case ever since -every time a car stops at the bottom of "SPOOK HILL." If you doubt your car will back up the hill just drive over to lake Wales and learn firsthand for yourself. "SPOOK HILL" is located on Fifth Street at the end of North Avenue. The writer, in fact, tried stopping his car three times on Vanilla's chest, and was last heard muttering, "GIMME SARSAPARILLA." Still Takes Place Strange happenings still take place at the foot of "SPOOK HILL." Numerous signs calling the public's attention to this apparent phenomenon have disappeared mysteriously at night. There are those, of course, who say that school boys are taking the markers as pranks. Those who really know are aware that the bloody old Captain is just showing his resentment at this 20th Century exploitation of a famous historic spot. And it seems that when a visitor states "optical illusion" after seeing his car back slowly up the hill, there is a murmur of rage wafted on the wind as it crosses North Lake Wailes. The murmur seems to carry a message from Gimme's burial place -"ILLUSION!! BOSH!!" It's A Gimmie It is said that there are days at "SPOOK HILL" when all seems quite and peaceful. There will be little or no wind, and yet white caps will break in circles over the waters of the otherwise calm lake. There are those unbelieving folks who say it is just a freak of the breeze. But those who really know can tell you, those white caps are churned up by none other than the once bloody Captain Sarsaparilla. He is said to be charging around on the bottom of North Lake Wailes in the old Negro's jalopy (Copyright, 1956, by The Daily Highlander, Lake Wales, Florida)