The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-11-01
AGA0SF A Is a. GHOST.

vastDle 9A0W- 0nt0peach habit Q Tes-
tiRsayv+aA 10 the Ghos1r. Nam-.
Appesrsace and n octurnaI Habits.
From the st. Paul Pioneer
Our readers will all remember the
terrible accident which took place in
a binding snow storm at Randall Sta
ton, on the main line Of the st. Paul
and Pacific road, in March last, which
caused the death Of several persons.
Amorg the victims Of that terrible
accident was q section foreman named
Connolly. This man was very much
attached to bis division, and took great
pride in keeping everything right and
tidy, as far as his supervision extended.
Although his section was located at
that time IN spsrsely settled section OF
the country-on treeless waste, so to
speak. where especially there was moth
ing to break the force Of the wind
which at times swept over the bleak
prairies with the force Of hurricane,
yet go great was CopAelly's attachment
to his section that he refused several
more lucrative positions which were
offered him.
Upon his death by the accident
above referred to, the Randall Station
was given to another man. whose name
is also Connolly. The latter has been
employed on the road tor long time,
and ia known to be a sober, industrious
and intelligent man, one in whose
fidelity the company has the most inn
pliclt confidence, and the last man al
most that any one who knows him
would suspect of being tinctured iu the
slightest degree with superstitious no
tions. For some time after assuming
charge of the division everything weRt
along satisfactory. This state Of things
WAS not 10 last, however. For some
time past Mr. Connolly ha. complained
that he could not sleep at nights. He
AYERS that he is visited at all hours OF
the night by the apparition OF his dead
predece .sor. The ghostly form appears
at his bedside, and vainly endeavors TO
tell his tale BY unearthly motions, at
times apparently entreating, and anon
with every appearance of anger
and revenge. Several times Mr..
Connolly has been thrown from his bed
with great violence, and his arms and
other portions OF his body show the
marks of rough handling, The i'm
print OF hands and finger nails are
plainly visible, which lie asserts have
been left there BY his ghostly visitor.
To such an extent has this most mys'
terious visitation been carried, that Mr.:
Connolly has petitioned to be removed
to another section, or granted permis-
sion to erect another house on differ
ent portion OF the section. He says it
is not only these visiiations which dis
turb him, but the spirit of the dead
man prevents him from performing his
duties both day and night. He has seer
the awful spectacle in the DAYTIME while
at his lsbors, and the sbadowy form
has, by unmistskable motions, ordered
him away.
For q long time Mr.. Connolly re-
trained from mentioning anything about
these mysterious appearances, knowing
that he would not be believed, aud IN
all probability would be laughed at
and it is probable be never would have
me ntioned it but for an occurrence which
took place short time ago.
One evening after the labors OF the
day had closed, and as Mr.. Connolly
and the men under his charge were
seated at the table eating their supper,
the door of the house opened noise
lessly, and in the doorway, in the full
gaze OF all who were present, stood the
awful apparition Of the dead man. The
shadow remained long enough to make
number OF demonstrations OF a re-
yengeful character, and then disappear
ed, apparently melting into space. An
awful feeling of terror fell upon thai
small party OF men. aud for time they
were speechless, gazing into each Others
faces, with eyes distended with horror
Thew were not men easily frightened
and some Of them had looked death 10
the face without fliuching. But this
uuearthly supernatural visitation which
| was recognized at once by them all at a.;
the spirit of the man they bad all vel
known while living, was more than they
could stand. When their momentary
terror had subsidized, they commenced 10
awe stricken tones to tell each other
what they had seen. 1t was then thai
Mr.. Connolly reflected his experience
and il il needless to cav that he was
not laughed at or disbelieved. The
sight had been too real, and too pslpa-
ble to all TO admit of dispute. They
had seen the veritsble ghost OF thell
former fellow workman.
Since that time there have been many
MYSTERIOUS occurrences taking place al
that lonely station on the prairie. Sew
eral tools, which are known to have
been put away, are missing, and various
other things have taken place to hinder
Mr.. Counelly and his crew of men from
performing their work.
Nor is this all. The engineer on one
of the freight trains AYERS that seVera
times he has seen the apparition in the
night engaged at work upon the track
the same "A when the dead man was
living. At one time it will be engaged
with a croubar raising the rails, and
making motions As though giving d'rec
tons to . gang of men. Again ne ha'
seen it standing upon the track in ad'
vance of his engine, with both arms
stretched out as if to give warning o.
danger ahead, and the engineer says
At such times his engine acts as it pillow;
ing its way through drifting snow, aGc
although he pulls his engine wide
open," the speed of the train 10 sensl
biy decreased until it reaches certain
pcint, when it will plunge ahead q
though just relieved from some oostruc'
| w. I-l +bot these moe,