There are many Montauk mysteries. I have already wrote about Camp Hero and the "Montauk Experiment" but I would like to write about the legend of the "Montauk Man". Never heard of it/him? Well "The Montauk Man" as described to me appears in times of need in and around Montauk's parks, beach's, village and harbor. Some say he is similar to the "Moth Man" and others say he is just a kind stranger. Witnesses seem to describe the same thing: An apparition, or entity in the form of a weary good Samaritan.
Morning. I awoke to my usual thought, "not another day". It was the same old "what hell lies in store for me today". It was winter time and very cold which didn't help with my outlook for the day. These thoughts of despair are typical for me but today it was worse than any other day causing me pain. I could not stand it any longer, I had to do something about it. So I decided to skip work and take a drive out to Montauk, the most peaceful place I could think of, for me at least. I got in my car and headed out. There was no traffic like in the summer time, boy it can get really crazy then. I drove through historic Hampton villages and thought about the people from colonial times and what it must have been like, maybe there I would have been happier...
After I got through the villages I was on the long stretch of road that leads you to Montauk. This concrete highway seams so out of place cutting its way through pitch pines, and sand dunes, the ocean came into view. Up and down the hills of Montauk I drove until I reached Camp Hero, the old military base near the lighthouse, finally I made it. I parked my car and walked over to the cliffs before the ocean with the crashing waves below and stood there, close to the edge gazing out to the sea. The Montauk light house was over to my left and a nice sight to see.
Just then the wind really picked up and the sea grasses seemed to hiss at me. I needed to move to keep warm. I took some steps back from the edge of the cliff and walked for some time. I don't know why, but I felt a strong urge to go to the ocean.
It was far below but I managed to make it down some path I found on the cliff. The sea was rough, foamy and green. The smell of salt air was medicinal as I breathed it in hard. I stood there appreciating the awesome power of the sea, it was alive and I felt it speak to me, "Come closer" I had to obey. As I walked to the water I felt a stinging in my shoes, it was the ocean water. I tried to leave for the safety of the beach but I could not. I just stood there until I felt I had to move once again - forward... now the water was up to my knees, then my waist as wave after wave seemed to grab me, I began to shiver uncontrollably. I looked around in desperation for help to break this trance that I seemed to be in but no one was around.
I resigned to my fate and thought maybe this is Montauk's way of taking spirits and it heard my pleas for help and this was its way of helping me. I was beginning to go numb and my shivering became less. The water was now over my shoulders and right below my chin; I finally felt peace. I could care less about the world now or the troubles of my little life, soon it will all make sense I thought. Just then I fell in to what seemed to be the most deep sleep I ever experienced and then things went black.
I awoke near the bluff far from the waters edge. I was wet and freezing but on me was a heavy blanket with a small little fire nearby. I wrapped myself up tightly and warmed my hands up over the small crackling fire. There I knelt, dumb founded, puzzled as I looked around for someone, something to make sense of what was happening; who saved me? How did I get this blanket? Who started this fire...? I could not say. It was now dark and the night air was so much colder. The fire was nice but enough to keep me alive, I needed a warm shelter. I got up to leave and felt sharp cutting pains in my bones with each step I took I knew I had to keep moving otherwise what the ocean did not take the night air certainly would. I walked and walked with the freezing wind in my face for what seemed like miles.
From the beach I found the little path through the bramble that leads you to the lodge above. I struggled to open the door with my frozen limbs, as I held the blanket closely to me. No one was inside but a fire was raging in a big stone fireplace-I took a seat on the old sofa, checking around self consciously knowing I had some explaining to do about my appearance. The heat from the large fireplace began warming me up and drying me off. Finally someone came around, it looked like someone who worked here. She politely acknowledged me with a look and nodded her head without saying a word. That's odd I thought -I was wet, hair matted, wrapped in a heavy blanket and she just smiled as if nothing was wrong. I returned her stare and waited for my cue to come up with some story and ask for something hot to drink but she kept walking and left through some door and was gone. I didn't have the strength to yell out for her to come back let alone get up and follow her, man, I needed a nice warm drink...
From the beach I found the little path through the bramble that leads you to the lodge above. I struggled to open the door with my frozen limbs, as I held the blanket closely to me. No one was inside but a fire was raging in a big stone fireplace-I took a seat on the old sofa, checking around self consciously knowing I had some explaining to do about my appearance. The heat from the large fireplace began warming me up and drying me off. Finally someone came around, it looked like someone who worked here. She politely acknowledged me with a look and nodded her head without saying a word. That's odd I thought -I was wet, hair matted, wrapped in a heavy blanket and she just smiled as if nothing was wrong. I returned her stare and waited for my cue to come up with some story and ask for something hot to drink but she kept walking and left through some door and was gone. I didn't have the strength to yell out for her to come back let alone get up and follow her, man, I needed a nice warm drink...
After some time, I was feeling better although no one else came along. Somewhat dry I decided I needed to get home and recover with a hot meal and warm bed, I couldn't wait any longer I had to go. I left the lodge and started walking, wrapped in my blanket I trudged along the bramble lined sidewalk that takes you past the lighthouse parking and over to Camp Hero. An occasional car would drive past, but no one seemed to notice me or even slow down to see if I needed help. One car in particular, an old grey Rolls Royce, approached very slowly and then stopped before me, just in front of the lighthouse-I thought they were stopping to ask if I needed help, I don't know. I gathered my wits to get some story straight to tell. As I waited for someone to roll down the window I noticed an unusual looking boy in the back seat. He appeared to look like a very proper young gentleman, like some future lord of Parliament . He raised his hand and waved, although to my embarrassment not to me but if not to me then who? Puzzled I saw a reflection in the car window of a strange looking man behind me and assumed it was the person the boy was waving to. I turned around to look but there was no one there. I thought that's odd, who the hell is he waving to? Suddenly and without warning the car sped away with the boy fixing his gaze on me, holding it as the car disappeared down the road. I was baffled and dumbfounded-Thanks for the help, I thought, maybe he knew something I didn't. I had no time to waste, the night chill was getting worse and I needed to get to my car quickly. I made it. I felt happy, or at least a sense of hope entered my mind for the first time in a long time. I started my car put the heat on full blast, waited for the warm air and then drove off. I knew my life would never be the same ever again. I had to find out who helped me and thank them.
The following day I returned back to a cold but sunny bright Montauk. I sat on a bench near the lighthouse enjoying the sun on my face, searching for the good Samaritan who pulled me from the ocean. I became somewhat obsessed, I had to find this person who saved me, I had a new lease on life. I came back twice a week for months and sat on that same bench but alas I had no luck. I'm not going to give up, I think I'm going to keep to searching for this mystery person and get the answers I seek... Thanks for listening.
Copyright Lewis. Portal
