Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-03-16
A Mysterious ApparitiOn.

On the evening Of the 25th ult. harm.
less dog was shot by William Richardson,
while passing through his premises ac'
companying some children to a writing
school. On Friday night, the 4th inst,
the apparation of said mastiff made his
appearance at the gate of Mr.. r., about
II clock at night. Mr.. r. being arous-
ed from his sleep by the voice Of bowling,
mourning and wailing, with ferocious
scratching at intervals, sprang from his
bed and rushed to the front door, and on
opening it his own dog ran into his house
and took refuge under the bed. Mr.. Il:
tried in vain to hiss his dog, but could
not get him out Of the house. lie started
out himself in the direction from whence
the voice came, put his hands upon the
fence in the act Of jumping over, which
brought him directly in contact with
large black dog, poised on hind legs. eyes
dilated and mouth open, having every ap'
pearancc of a fcrocious mad dog. MIR.
RS bravery suddenly left him ; he was
then taken with a retrogrsde movement;
bounded into the house, and in few mo-
merits returned to the scene with load.
ed gt1n. lie took deliberate aim and fired
at the black object, but few rods from
him, when 10! and behold. the dog or ap'
partition Immediately vanished in the
smoke Of the gun.
A short time after the above occur
renee Mr.. S. NJ. Froggc, living near MIR.
Richardson's was aroused from his sum-
bcrs by singular noise outside. Run
ming in haste to ascertain the cause, he
stumbled over this same 1abid animal.
He gave one prolonged scream, calling on
his wife, that he had been bitten by q mad
dog. A young man boarding with the
family was awakened by the screams OF
Mr.. F. and others Of the household. On
learning the cause Of the confusion, nc
Immediately seized several sticks OF stove
wood, and hurled them in quick success
sion at the phantom ghost. TO increase
his fright the object moved not. Al
this juncturc the young man bounded:intt
the house, and into bed, leaving the lam
ily to take care of themselves.
! Soon after this the family Of j. LAX
was awakened by AN incessant scratch'n,
at the door. Mr.. L. arose and openet
the door. What q frightened scene me
his gaze. There stood the same dol
monster, poised on his hind legs, for
paws elevated, and with mouth open
,, ready to pounce upon his victim. MIR. l
, shrank back with terrific yell, seize
his gun and discharged the weapon imm<
, diately in the face OF the ferocious look
ing object. A terrible shrek rent tn
, air as of some one in terrible agony. NJ!
l.. shut the door to exclude tho terribl
noise outside. Shortly after tho vii
went to the door and looked out. Th
apparition had disappeared and every
. thing was quiet.
Early on the following morning, MT. .
= r. Froggc went to his barn.yard to fee
the stock, and, on going to tho corn'cril
what did he observe but the ghost do
a with his head projecting out from til
+ corn-crib door as il ready to jump upo
: his prey. Mr.. F. went back to the hou!
! and procured an ak, with tho dctcrmin
- ton to cxtcrminate the brute. and h'
advanced to within few PAGES of the do
to find him perfectly lifeless.
This dog is known to have been de'
j. for the last two weeks. How the po'
i cur managed to carry his lifelcss carca
d around and make so many frightful visi
e is the mystery.