Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-25
A GHOSTLY VISITOR.
Syracuse, New York, Greatly Excited
over the Appearance OF One of
Its Citizens After Death.
An Old Newspaper Man, Weary of the
Tomb, Returns TO the Scenes of
His Former Labors.

SYRACUSE, y. y, March 24-For some
time the relatives and the business associates
Of the late Daniel J. Halstead, OF the SYRIA
cuse Courier, have been greatly excited over
the alleged temperance Of Mr.. Halstead in
bodily form before the eyes of several per
sons who were associated with him during
his life. Mr.. Halstead died in August last,
after a long illness. For several years he
had been incapacitated through bodily in
irmities from taking very active part in
the management Of the business department
OF the Courier. He was Tor many years pro-
prietor Of that journal, which he founded
during the Douglas campaign. He disposed
OF controlling interest in il in 1879, but
was retained business manager for several
years, and was connected with the business
department at the time OF his death. For
ten years previous to his death it was known
that he had become a convert to spiritual
ism, and frequent sesnces were held at his
house, principally under the direction OF
John w. Truesdell, prominent broker and
an Acknowledged medium. Mr.. Halstead
believed he frequently received messages
from General John A. Green, jr., and other
departed friends, through Mr.. Truesdell, and
he had firm faith in spiritualism. Some
three months ago Mr.. Charles Meigs, fore
man of the Courier composing room, was in
the act of passing from the cOmposing-rOom
to the sidewalk, when, as he alleges, he saw
Mr. Halstead standing in the ante-room as
NATURAL As LIFE,
and leaning upon a cane which he always
carried in his later years. There was a
bright light burning in the room, and Mr..
Meigs asserts that he could not possibly have
been deceived. Mr. Meigs hastily retreated
into the composing room, and he says he
heard the apparition 90 down stairs, giving
vent to a laugh such MIR. Halstead was
accustomed to indulge in during his life.
Meigs related what he had seen to several
persons connected with the Courier who
lau ghed at his story. He was, however,
most emphatic in his declarations and pro-
testations Of sincerity, and could not be
shaken in his belief that he had seen Mr.
Halstead. Two weeks ago Mr.. Meigs's story
received confirmation from James B. Hop
kins, a reporter for the Courier, who recently
came u Syracuse from New York. As Mr..
Hopkins was sitting in the editorial-room,
about $50 o'clock in the evening, talking
with Mr.. Mays, the foreman, Meigs noticed
him staring at a large closet, the door of
which was open. There is a man there"
exclaimed Hopkins. Both sprang from their
seats and started toward the closet. Mr..
Hopkins says he distinctly saw the form of
Mr.. Hastead standing in the door and lean
ing upon his cane. Hopkins started toward
the apparition and was within FIVE feet of it
when it disappeared. Both Hopkins and
Meigs were very much excited, and they
solemnly assert that they can't be mistaken
in declaring that Halstead
STOOD BEFORE THEM.
The story caused a good deal of excite
mont when it became noised about the CITY,
and for several days it was with great diff
Guilty that many of the employees of the
Courier could be prevailed upon to remain
in the building after nightfall Nothing
further was seen of the ghostly visitor until
early one morning last week, when Robert
Moore, the pressman of the Courier, claimed
that he distinctly saw Mr.. Halstead standing
behind the desk in the counting-room of the
Courier. Mr. Moore reached the counting
room at 80 o'clock am, and went behind
the counter to turn up the gas. He declares
that he had no sooner turned on the light
than he distinctly cav Mr.. Halstead stand
ing about three feet from him. Gle was in
his shirt-seeves," said Mr. Moore, "and was
trying TO open the money-drawer. He
looked as natural life, and appeared Just
as | have seen him hundreds OF times. l
have been connected with the Courier for
more than ten years, and saw Mr.. Halstead
every day up to the time he died, in August
last. When l saw him thin morning stand
ing there, where had seen him so often, you
may believe | was frightened. | ran out
from behind the counter, and when turned
TO take a second look at the ghost it was
gone. Could l be deceived? No, sir. l
don't believe in ghosts spirits, but l saw
MIR. Halstead Just as plain as | ever saw
anything.
COULD HAVE TOUCHED HIM
if | had not been so scared Mr.. Moore
promptly informed the manager of the
Courier Of what he had seen. Mrs Halstaad
the widow, lives in a brick house in Fore
man Park She has no children, and, feel
ing lonely after her husbands death, she
leased portion of her house to John A.
Guile, agent for safe manufacturing COM
pany, who occupied several rooms of the
dwelling with his wife. Mr.. and Mrs Guile
say for some time past they have been seri-
ously disturbed at night by the sound of
walking about the house. At first they sup
posed it was Mrs. Halstead, but she in
formed them that she did not rise from her
bed after retiring. Mr.. and Mrs. Guile had
heard the stories that Halstead 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 sound of a
cane pounded on the floor, and OF late the
noises have continued the greater part of
the night. He has informed Mrs. Haktead
that he will yacate the rooms. Mrs. Hal
stead, on being informed that
HER HUSBANDS FORM
had been seen several times, expressed no SIR
prise, but, on the contrary, particularly in
quired how he looked, and earnestly request
ed to be informed of the details and partioI-
lars of the appsrition. Mr.. Halstead, pre-
vious to engaging in the newspaper business,
was captain of the steamer Maid of the Mist,
which used to carry passengers up under the
Horseshoe Falls at Nisgsra. Last night as
Mr.. Robert Moore, the pressman OF the
Courier, was lying upon temporary bed ia
the press-room asleep, an icy cold hand
pressed upon his face, Leaving the undeniable
marks of three fingers. Moore spraDg to his
feet paralyz with fear, and dashed To-
ward the gas, which he lighted, but the
shadowy form had disappeared. Later in
the night a clock, which is almost without
works, and which has been idle for three
years, suddenly commenced ringing. Crowds
visited the Courier to-day, and the city is
wild with excitement.