The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-05-24
RAILROAD GHOSTS.

In this day of skepticism, it is
popular to profess an unbelief III
apparitions or ghosts, and to receive
every assertion that such things
have appeared, with shrug and
sheer. Despite all this, there is not
q man of us all but becomes strange
~ interested when we hear of such
occurrences as ghosts being seem
and not a man of us but that i'll his
secret heart owns an underlined
thrill of mysterious horror ut the
bare recital of those who honestly
believe that some shadowy sceptre
of the mysterious beyond has be-
come visible to their sight, and
crossed their pathway.
The last ghost sensation has &C.
Cured near Freeport, ILL.,, where
the Western Union Railroad track
passes under a bridge, on the Illi-
nois Central railroad. This spot has
been fatal to human life-Eot less
than eight men having been killed
there. Perhaps it is this fact that
surrounds the place with horror;
but that could scarcely be-ior we
insensibly to ourself forget such
things by frequent visits to such
spots. But to the business OF the
ghosts. We will plain tale deliv-
er, leaving you to form your own
conclusions but say in justice to
those whose names will be mention
ed, that they are sincere in their
belief, and firm in their convictions,
that they saw something that they
could not account for ON any ra-
sional principle.
About q month ago, as Thomas
Carroll, an engineer on the w. U.
r. r., was approaching the bridge,
he saw standing on ii, a figure in
white, that gesticulated most franti-
cally, and waved the signal of dam
ger, so familiar to every one. He
at once whistled down brakes, and
stopped the train. But imagine his
establishment, when, on looking
out, he saw the phantom had van
ished. He, thinking that he had
been sold by some mischievous per-
son, took a wrench and pretended
to be fixing something about his
engine, and shortly after went on.
From that time until the appari-
ton was again seen, he told no one
of the circumstauce-cor
thinking that he would be laughed
at. Not long ago, George Dickin-
son, another engineer on the same
road, was approaching the bridge,
| when he saw the same figure, and
his fireman saw another from
his lookout window; both figures
were making the same signal OF
danger-both motioniDg the train
to stop-but it was UNDECIDED /; and
as the train Numbered under tho
bridge, one of the ghosts dropped
down upon the pilot, the other on
the tender. AS his ghostship struck
the tender, they heard q report as
though a gun had been fired, and
there was nothing there. On rush.
ed the train, and engineer and fire.
man both looked at one another fOI
minutes in blank amazemeBt AND
horror-until at last George found
tongue TO ask: aWhat the d. wal
that, anyway p To those unac.
quainted with Mr.. Dickinson, We
have 10 say, that he is one of the
last men likely to be deceived Oh
frightened by q shadow; he is {
man of intelligence, cool and cOur
ageous, and q perfect giant in stat
ure and strength man that weigh
nearly three hundred pounds, anG
. by no means what would be termet
feshy.
y The next time the ghost was seen
} q WatcilmaB, returning to his hoinl
about four o'clock in the morning
met him or her, or it, standing Of