Ghost Tales of the Brazos - Bailey’s Prairie

Ghost Tales of the Brazos - Bailey’s Prairie

Brit was one of the original three hundred
Of Steven F. Austin’s colony
And got his land from a Spanish land grant
Which the Mexicans disallowed when
Their freedom was won from Spain
But when Texas won its independence
Austin restored his land

Old Brit was a constant thorn, a troublemaker
Constantly brawling and a mean old cuss
Some say he died of cholera
Others say it was pure meanness
Either way his will stated
He was to be buried standing up
Facing west, with his gun at his
Side and a jug of whiskey
At his feet

There are two tales about this
One says his slaves dug the grave
And stole his whiskey, if they did
They deserved it for his cussedness
Another has his wife
Refusing to let it be buried
With him

Either way, they say on dark, rainy nights
Old Brit walks Baileys Prairie
With a lantern looking for his missing jug
Motorists have seen the light
Bobbing along the field
Some have even been chased
I can’t say it’s true
Nor can I say it’s false
For I have seen the light twice
Many years apart.
Does old James Brit Bailey
Still walk the land that
Bears his name,
Bailey’s Prairie, Texas?