Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-03-31
Ghost Stories in Syracuse.

TIE LATE DANIEL J. HALsTED SAID TO
HAVE REAPPEARED IN BODILY FORM.
From the N. Y. Sun March 25th:
For some time the relatives and the bus
mess associates of the late Daniel j. Hal
sted, for many years publisher Of the SYRIA
cuse IN. " Courier have been greatly excl
ted over the alleged temperance of Mr..
Halsted in bodily form before the eyes of
several persons who were associated with
him during lis life. Mr.. Halsted died in
August last after long illn ess. For several
years he has bsen incapacitated, through
bodily inirmities, from taking a very ac-
tive part IN the management of the bust
ness department of the Courier. He was
for many years proprietor of that journal,
which he founded during the Douglas cam
palgn. He disposed Of controlling in
terest in it in 1870, but was retained as
business manager for several years, and
was connected with the business depart
ment at the time of his. death. For ten
years previous to his death it was known
that he had become convert to spiritual
ism, and frequent Seances were held at his
house, principally under the direction of
John w. Truesdell, a prominent broker
and an acknowledged medium. Mr.. Hal
sted believed he frequently received MESA
ges from Gen. John A. Green, Jr., and
other departed friends. through Mr.. Truss-
dell, and he had firm faith in the tenets
of spiritualism.
Some three months ago, Mr.. Charles
Meigs, foreman of the Courier composing
i,,f bn of be
compo sing room out into an ante-room,
from which stairs lead to the sidewalk,
when, as he alleges, he saw Mr.. Halsts4
standing in the ante-room as natural as
life. and leaning upon cane which he al
ways carried in his latter years. There
was bright light burning in the room,
and Mr.. Meigs asserts that he could not
possibly have been deceived. Msigs hasti
ly retreated into the composing room, and
he says he heard the apparition 90 down
stairs, giving vent to a laugh, such as Mr..
Halsted was accustomed to indulge in du-
ring his life. Meigs related what he had
seen to several persons connected with
the Courier. who laughed at his story. He
was, however, most emphatic in his dec
larations and protestations of sincerity.
and could not be shaken in his belief that
he had seen Mr.. Halsted. Two weeks ago
Mr.. Meig's story received confirmation
from James B. Hopkins, reporter for the
Courier, who recently came to Syracuse
from New York. As Mr.. Hopkins was
sitting in the editorial rooms about 81
O'Clock in the evening. talking With Mr..
Meigs, the foreman, Meigs noticed him
staring at large closet, the door of which
was open.
''There is man there!" exclaimed Hop
kins.
Both sprang from their seats and started
towards the closet Mr.. Hopkins says he
distinctly saw the form and figure of Mr..
Halsted standing IN the door Of the closet,
leaning upon his cane. Hopkins started
towards the apparition. and, was within
five feet of it when it disappeared. Both
Hopkins and Meigs were very much excl
ted, and they solemnly assert that they
cannot be mistaken in declaring that Hal
sted stood before them. The story caused
good deal of excitement when it became
noised about the city, and for several days
it was with great difficulty that many Of
the employees of the Courier could be pre-
vailed upon to remain in the building at
ter nightfal
Hopkins was seized with violent fit of
sickness the day after he saw the appari-
ton, and was confined to his bed for two
weeks. His life was despaired of for
awhile.
NOUllHS 1ul lllCl WdO oCCu VI Uu0 &uOOtIy
visitor until early one morning last week,
when Robert Moore, tie presSman of the
Courier, claimed that he distinctly Saw
Mr.. Halsted standing behind the desk in
the counting room of the Courier. Mr..
Moore. reaching the counting room at II
O'Clock A. M. went behind the counter to
turn up the gas. He declares that he had
nc sooner turned on the light than he dis
tinctly saw Mr. Halsted standing within
three feet of him.
He was in his shirt sleeves,'' said Mr..
Moore, lard was try Ing to open the money
drawer. He looked as natural as life, and
appeared just as | have seem him hundreds
IL times. have been connected with the
Courier for more than ten years, and saw
Mr.. Halsted every day up to the time he
died in August last. When [ saw him This
morning standing there where I had seen
him SO often, you may believe was fright
ened. I ran out from behind the counter,
and when turned to take second look
at the ghost it was gone. Could be de-
ceived? No, sir; don't believe in ghosts
or spirits, but saw Mr.. Halsted just as
plain as [ ever saw anything. | could
have touched him if [ had not been 50
scared
Mr.. Moore promptly Informed the man
ager of the Courier of what he had seen.
Mrs. Halsted. the widow, lives in a
brick house Oh Forman Park. She has no
children, and feeling lonely after her hus~
bands death, she leased a portion of her
house to John A. Guile, agent for safe
manufacturing company, who occupies
several rooms of the dwelling with his wife.
Mr.. and Mrs. Guile say for some time past
they have been seriously disturbed at night
by the sound Of walking about the house.
AT first they supposed it was Mrs. Halsted
but she Informed chem that she did not
rise from her bed after retiring. Mr.. and
Mrs. Guile had heard the stories that M
Halsted had been seen several times in the
Courier building, and concluded that he
must be walking around his house ALSO
Mr.. Guile asserts that he has frequently
heard the sounds of cane pounded on
the floor, and of late the noises have con-
tlnued the greater part of the night. He
has informed Mrs. Halsted that he will
vacate the rooms.
Mrs Halsted, on being Informed that
her husbands form had been seen several
times. expressed no surprise, but on tine
contrary, particularly inquired how he
looked, and earnestly requested to be in
formed of the details and particulars of
the apparitions.
Several Of the best-known physicians of
Syracuse have been consulted in relation
to these appearances, and they express tho
opinion that the persons who think they
saw the ghost are of nervous temperament,
and, while they are undoubtedly honest III
their belief. yet the visions existed only in
their excited or diseased Imagination.
Hopkins. Moore, and Meigs scout the idea
and claim that their pulses beat temper
ately while Mr.. Halsted stood before them
Mr.. Guile declares that he does not believe
in ghosts, is no spirltualist, and doesn't
pretend to give any explanation of the
tramping about the Halsted house, but he
asserts he would not stay in the house an
other month if the owner would give it
to him.
Mr.. Halsted, previous to engaging in the
newspaper business, was Captain of the
steamer Maid of the Mist, which used to
carry naSSanperS LID under the Hnrseshoa