The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1872-12-12
A GHOST AS ~ A GHOST.
From the st. Paul pioneer.I

Ole aCeluent Wnl0n took place III pllnu'
lug snow storm at Randall Station, on the
main liuo Of tho St, Paul and Pacific roud
in March last, which caused tho death Of
several persons. Among the victims Of
that terrible accident was q section fore.
mau named Connolly. This man was ve-
ny much attached to bis division, and took
great pride in keeping everything right
and tidy, rs far as his supervision exteud-
ed. Although his section was located at
that time in sparscly settled section Of
the couutry--on trcelcss waste, so to
speak, where especially there was nothing
to break the force Of the wind which at
times swept o7er the bleak prairics With
the force Of q hurricane, yet so great was
Connely'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 Ran.
dali station was given to another man
whose namo is also Connolly. Tho lattOr
has been employed on the road for a long
time. and is known to be sober, indust-
rious and intelligent mau. one in whose &.
deity the company has the most implicit
confidence, aud the last mau almost that
any one who knows him would suspect Of
being ,inctarcd in tho slightest degree with
supersti,ious notions. For soms time at.
ter assuming charge Of tho division every.
thing went along satisfactory. This state
ofthings was not to last however. For
sometime past Mr. Connolly has comp'ai-
ned 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 preae.
cessor. The ghostly form appears at his
bedside and vainly endeavors to tell bis
tale by unearthly motions at times appa'
rcutly cntreating, aud anon with eycryap-
pcarance ofauger and revenge. Several
times Mr., Connolly has been thrown from
his bed with great violence, and his arms
aud other portions Of his body show the
marks Of rough hundliug. The imprint
ofbauds and finger nails are plainly sisi'
bic, which be asserts have been left there
by his ghostly visitor. TO such an extent
has this most mysterious visitation been
carried that Mr. Connolly has pctitioned
to be removed to another section, or grant
ed permission to erect another house on q
different portion Of tue section. He says
it is no. only these visi!ations whioh dis
lurb him, but the spirit Of the dead man
prevents him from performing bis duties
both day and night. lIe has seen tho sw-
llul spectacle 10 the -day. sim4-while u i,iiss
|labors, and the shadowy form has. by IN.
mstakable motions, ordered him away
For long time Mr.. Connolly rcfrsiued
from mentioning anything about these
mysterious appearances, knowing that be
would not be believed, and in all proba.
bili,y would be laughed at. and il is prob
able be never would bavo mentioned it
but for au occurrence which took place o
short time ago.
One evening after the labors Of the day
had closed, and as Mr.. Connolly and the
men under bis charge we're seated at the
table eating their supper, tho door Of the
house opened uoiselcssly, and in the door.
way, in tho full gaze Of all who we're pres
cnt, stood the awful apparition Of the dead
man. The shadow remained long enough
to make number Of demonstrations Of a
revengcful character, and then disappear.
cd. apparently melting into space An
awful feeling Of terror fell upon that small
party Of men, aud for time thoy were
speechless, gazing into each others faces,
with eyes distendcd with horror. They
we're men not easily frightened, and some
Of them had looked death in the face with
out ainching. But this uncarthly super.
natural visitation, which was at once re-
cognizcd by them oil as spirit Of the mau
they had all well known while living, was
more than the could stand. When their
momen'ary terror had subsidized, they com
mcuced 10 awe.slricken tones 10 tell each
other what they had seen. 1t was then
that Mr.. Connolly related his experience,
and i. is needless to say he was not laugh
ed at or disbelievcd. The sight had been
too real, aud too palpablc to all to admit Of
dispute. They lad seen the veri,able
ghost oflheir fomer fellow workman.
Since that time there have been many
mysterious occurrences taking place at that
lonely station on the prairie. Several
tools, which are known to have been put
away. are missing, and various other
things have taken place to hinder Mr..
Connolly and his men from performing
their work.
Nor is this all. The engineer on one
ofthc freight trains AYERS that several times
he has seen the apparition in the night en-
gagged a, work upon tile track, the same as
when the dead man was living At one
time it will be engaged with a crowbnr
raising the rails, aud making motions as
though giving direction to gang Of men.
Again he has seen it standing upon the
track in advance Of his engine, with both
arms stretched out as if TO give Warning 81