The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-01-13

cause OF the ghost story connected with
it, was that Of John Weston, of Seward.
township. Mr.. zvWestosshad bee>tg
Graham Lakes and Us returning with
load of wood. whenlthe stors cauglN
him. He drove across hissown 4 farm
and missed the house. Turned and
went in circle. making the same circle
twice, as shown by the tracks Of the
sled. He then bore north to the vicini-
ty of the place now owned by II. D.
Winters, In Graham Lakes to xnship.
He abandoned his team, and the oxen.
after wandering awhile, turned the
yoke and choked to death. Mr.. Yves.
ton, from this point, evidently conclud-
ed to walk with the storm, and made
bee line for Hersey. He walked about
twelve miles and fell forward ON his
face, clutcling the grass As he fell and
the blood gushing from his nose. Ills
body was found the following spring,
with the hands full Of grass and the
blood on his face.
THE FAMOUS GHOST STORY.
The story of John Weston's ghost
WAS first published in the ADVANCE
and widely copied 20 that it became
known throughout the country. Wes-
ton appeared to Mr.. Cosper, who is
still 4 resident of Seward township, and
was an intimate friend to Weston. A
few days ago we caught Mr.. Cosper in
town and had the story from his own
lips. He is a practical, unimaginative
man and gives the story in a circum-
stantial way.
The day after the storm, Mr.. Cosper
had been out with some neighbors
searching for Weston's body. He had
returned to his home and was at the
stable feeding his stock just before sun
down. lie came out of the stable and
passing around to the east end, saw
John Weston coming up the path from
the creek. Weston had on the
blue soldier oyercoat which he usually
wore. His hands were tucked up I'M
der the cape, and he approached Co.'S
per with his usual smile and usual sal.
utation, saying, ''How goes it?" Co.'S
per said, "Why, Weston, l thought you
were frozen to death!'' Weston re-
piled. II am, and you will find my body
Il mile and Il half northwest of Herseyr'
Saying this, lie vanished. Mr.. Cosper
says that even after Weston was gone,
it took him some time to realize that he
had seen ghost and to feel queer"
Before, this Weston had evidently
announced his death to his wife. Mrs.
Weston related the incident and it
was confirmed by her son. The second
night of the storm. she was awakened
by knock at the door. She dozed off
again and was aroused by second rap,
when she asked: ''what WAS wanted?"
A voice answered. Ibid you know that
John was frozen to death?'' The voice
sounded like that of her brother. Mr.
Linderman, who lived in the vicinity.
The boy heard the voice and, raising up
in bed, said: Mother. did Uncle say pa
was frozen to death?" Mrs. Weston
went to the door, but there was no one
there and no tracks could be found in
the snow. Mr.. Linderman hid not
been there and it seems that Weston,
wishing to announce his death and at
the same time not to brighten his wife
too much, assumed the voice of his
brother-in- law.
Now for the confirmation Of Cosper's
story. lie told it at once and it was
published throughout the country be-
fore the winter was over. Search was
made for Weston IS body but in vain.
When spring came, however, and the
snow began to melt off, Weston's body
was found near \ slough, where the
snow had been deep, a mile and a hnlf
northwest Of Hersey. We believe Mr..
Erickson, who now lives III Worthing-
ton. was the first to discover the body.
So much for the Great Blizzard.
There will probably not be another
such in our day. 1t was a rough greet
ing for the early settlers of Mobiles
county, but they can all testify that
Boreas has been comparatively mild ev-
er since, except in putting the screws
on the mercury and bringing it down
tight occasionally.