The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-03-21
STEVE TEMPLETONlS GHOST.
A Strange story from West Virginia Village
Mysterious Disappearanee-TheS Spectral Wis.,
itor which Communicated the News Of
aTragedy and offered to Appear
in Count as q Witness.

aTragedy and offered to Appear
in Court q Witness.
In the latter part of September, 1874, a
man by the name of Stephen Templeton, a
much respected citizen of Martinvilie, a
small village on the Virginia side of the
Ohio river, disappeared very mysterioEsly
and nothing could be learned of his where !
abouts. The next day skiff he was seen
in the previous day was found lodged in
some driftwood near the foot of Paten's
island, about five miles below town. 1t
was then supposed that be was drowned,
and for several days the river was dragged
for miles, but all to 40 effect. Templeton's
wife said her husband left home in the
morning, taking with him note for $785,
which was due that day, which had been
given to him in payment for piece of
land he sold some time before. She also
said her husband intended going up the
river short distance, where a trading
boat was lying, for the purpose of buying
some groceries. The maker of the note,
who was also a respected man, was inter-
viewed, and from him it was learned he
paid Templeton the amount of the note,
and as proof of the same exhibited the
note, and also called on disinterested
party who saw the note and money change
hands. He also stated that Templeton
said he was going up the river to what is
known as the ''Black swamp" TO cut some
hoop poles.
The proprietor of the trading boat was
called on, but Templeton had failed to put
in an appearance at his place of business.
So the excitement gradually died away,
and the widow and the fatherless children
ceased to mourn for the lost father and hus-
band. One night in the early part of the
present month there was ball, or better
known among the Buckeye boys as a
''shindig," over in Ohio, and some half a
dozen young men from Martinyille went
over to join in the sport. About 3 O'Clock
in the morning the guests from the other
side of the river concluded TO start for
home, but before so doing they agreed 20
run foot race to the river, which was
about one and a quarter miles distance,
with the understanding that the last one
arriving at the ferry would stand the treat
for the crowd.
Five of them started on double-quick,
but before going far one of their lumber
found himself fast falling in the rear, and
probably having mortal dread of bin who
is supposed to catch the hindmost, conclu
ded to cut across field, and by so doing
save at least One-quarter OF the distance
When about midway of the field, man
without head rose up, apparently out of
ba Of
had the effect of stopping the foot-racer.-
The headless figure spoke to him, calling
him by name, asking him if he did not
know him.
On being informed that he did not, the
supposed ghost informed him that he was
the long lost Steve Templeton, and went
on to say how on the day of his disappear
anee he received the money for the note.
and then went 20 the swamp up the river
in his skiff to cut some hoop poles, and
while thus engaged the third party, who
had seen the money change hands, came
to the swamp, and on the pretence of ex-
amning his axe, got hold of it and with it
split his skull. The headless spirit told
where his bones and axe could be found,
at the root of certain black gum tree
and he further stated that it WAS his wish
20 have his assassin arrested, and if it was
necessary be (the ghost would appear IN
court as a witness and then he disappear
ed as suddenly as he came.
When the young man arrived at the
river and told his companions what had
happened, they one and all concluded not
to say anything about it until they search
ed the swamp for the hidden grave at the
foot of tie tree. By the time the sun was
up that morning the five men, armed with
picks, shovels and spades, were in the
swamp, and were not long in finding the
tree, and after removing some brush and
about eighteen inches of earth they came
to pile of human bones, and also the axe
with which the deed was done.
OF course, identity was out of the ques
tion, had it not been for the boots found il
the grave, which Mrs. Templeton recog
nized as the property of her lost husband
which she was certain of by peculiar
piece set in the top of each boot TO make
them larger, so that they would not bur
his corns. The boot maker who made ant
afterwards altered the boots was will
ing to make oath that they were the pro
perty Of the missing man.
The story of the ghost and the finding o
the bones, ETC., soon spread like wildfire
and strange to say, before being accused
the man who the headless vision said wa
, his murderer, left the place and no ont
knows where he has gone. But should HI
have remained until the ghost story haC
all been told, Judge Lynch would havt
, bad job, so great was the excitement oI
finding toe remains of Templeton.
5 WHAT MAKES THE WIRE Hun Mos
boys believe that the humming sound mad
, by the telegraph wires is caused by the mes
sages hurrying along to their destination
, Most men believe that the sound is causet
, by the vibration of the wire in the wind
4 writer in an Austrian journal, however
, calls attention to the fact that one who vii
give close observation to both the wire aut
the sounds will find that the latter max
themselves obvious likewise when there j
a total absence of wind and in quie
Z morning in winter, when the wires appea
to be covered with frost 20 the thickness
r of a fi1ger, they nevertheless carry on live
ly vibrations and singing, while the air
? totally quiet. According to this writer
therefore, the vibrations are due, not {
the wind, but 10 the changes of atmospheI
ic temperature, and especially through tb
action of cold, as n lowering of temperatur