Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-03-06
ALAS, POOR GHOSTi
The BrinkIey Female College Ghost
stOry-A Visit TO the Place.


A sensational report spread through
out the city yesterday morning, caused
in part by sensational article in yes
terday's Avalanche, to the effect that a
yeritable, palpable, conversational ghost
had been seen by the inmates Of the
Brinkley Female College. The spirit
hoated through the house and walked
abroad, reckoning and talking, like the
perturbed spirit in Hamlet. 1t appeared
and talked to young lady, informing
her that ii (the ghost) was named
Lizzie" and was the true owner of the
college property, the title deeds to which,
and manyyaluables, we're buried beneath
stump Immediately east of the
house. The young lady to whom
these revelations were made is about
thirteen years of age, and of delicate
constitution and nervous temperament.
So far as we were able to investigate the
event yesterday, no other person saw or
heard the spiritual visitor, nor is the real
appearance of the ghost credited by the
teachers at the institution. 1t is believed
to be the result of some peculiar mental
condition of the young lady, caused by
high state of nervous excitement
Nevertheless, it found firm believers on
Saturday night, for, from ten until two
o'clock men dug and dug beneath the
stump. At two o'clock the clarion rooster
gave salutation to the morn, and the
weary diggers rested from their labors,
tiredsbut wiser men.
THE HOLE IN THE GROUND,
where the diggers worked is about FIVE
feet wide and of like depth. No brick
vault or arch-work was reached. A few
brick-bats were indeed brought to light,
and from this small foundation arose
the magnificent structure, called the
brick arch-work. The hole is there
to be seen to this day, so is the stump;
but the ghost has departed, and the
title deeds and treasure are not yet re-
covered. Over five hundred persons
visited the hole yesterday, and over
five hundred thousand questions were
asked-all about the ghost and the
treasure. Capt. Kids treasure never
so excited people, and we presume
this hole will be made deeper and other
holes will be dug, by those intending to
make the ghost tell the truth. Nay, il
will be hunted for years to come by par
ties into whose keeping the tradition
will have descended. Spiritual me-
diums will be placed en- rdpp ort with
Lizzie, and IL will be compelled again
and to again take the stump and talk of
title deeds and treasure. The half
formed beliefin the supernatural existing
in the public mind is strange truth. The
things that can't be dreamt of in our
philosophy are most firmly believed The
ghost of Lizzie is not yet at rest, and we
look for further manifestations from this
disembodied spirit. We endeavored to
get on the track of the ghost, but like
the spirit itself, it was impalpable and
led to the stump. This latter is real,
so is the hole in the ground, which the
treasure-hunters abandoned. 1t was
amusing to see the curiosity-hunters
yesterday on DeSoto street. Those who
we're returning from the college grounds
we're eagerly questioned by those visit
ing them. Had they seen the ghost2
Had they found the treasurer" And
hardly waiting for an answer, the eager
and curious swept on toward the stump,
to return in short time and be ques-
toned in like manner by another wave
of human beings. The visitors became
so numerous and curious that the
proprietors. of the college closed the
gate, while a policeman ordered the
crowd from the premises. Even after
this necessary arrangement had been
carried out, numbers climbed over the
fence and rushed up to the fatal spot
They acted as if they thought it out
rageous that any person had a right to a
private ghost. 1t ought to be a public
thing. an American institution, which
could not be appropriated by any one
person. The hole was also public prop
erty, and every person had clear right
to look into it, go down into it, and dig
it deeper, if deemed advisable. Mr..
Meredith, the supposed occupant of the
building and grounds, had no rights,
ghostly or otherwise, that a ghost-hunting
public ought to respect. They even APP
peared to be annoyed that Mr.. Meredith
did not bring his ghost out and exhibit
it for nothing. Toward evening the
grounds were cleared and the proprietor
was left in peaceable possession Of his
college, his stump, his hole in the
ground, the treasure beneath, and lastly,
his ghost (the irrepressible Lizzie },
(" which vanished into the air; and what
seemed corporal melted, as breath into
the vino"
Missouri valley Life Insurance
Company.