Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-17
The GHOSTS
That Tsed 10 Ride with the Deceased
Engineer, John n Miller, of
sidney, d.

CINCINNATI, February 14-The Com
mercial Gazette's Lima correspondent tele-
graphs that John M. Miller, the brave engi-
peer who lost his life in the railroad col
lision near Sidney, o., on last Monday, was
buried on Thursday, the funeral being
largely attended, especially by the Masonic
Order and the railroad men Of this place,
the latter having orders from the officials TO
quit work for the purpose of paying respect
TO the memory OF one of their number, who,
for twenty years, had never shrunk from any
duty, and who died with his hands en- the
throttle OF his engine to save the lives OF the
passengers on his train. Since his tragic
death and burial many stories are teld of
his ecceptricities and superstition among
which are, that he had for years persisted in
telling his family and intimate friends that an
old fireman, who was killed several years ago
and in the same accident in which be him
self was crippled, would get on bis engine
every night he passed the fatal spot, and
taking his accustomed seat, would ride with
him to the end of the trip. 1t is also said
that be would talk to the phantom just as he
used to do when the fireman was alive and
we'll, and that be would never allow any one
else to occupy the seat, always reserving it
for his ghostly companion. A few years ago
Miller lost by death a bright little girl, to
whom he was greatly attached, and ever
afterward she, too, would nightly and daily
get on his engine at a certain place on the
road, and ride and talk with him until his
train nesred Dayton, and then disappear.
As in the former case, her seat was kept for
her in the cab, and no one allowed TO
occupy it.
At his home a chair was always set up to
the table, the crib in which the child had
been rocked drawn near, and a plate and
T. Il IL u l.
little gill lived and prattled. II is even said
that the father would look at the chair and
talk TO its supposed occupant Just as he used
to do during its lifetime, aud what seems
strange now is that the wife and mother, an
intelligent and highly respected lady, enter
tanned, and does now, the same supefstitious
views in regard to the child, and had the
utmost faith in all that her husband ever
told her about the ghostly vsilatious on the
road. The dead engineer was a man OF
more than ordinary intelligence, read much,
and was considered by his friends and COM
| psnions a high-minded, honorable man, and
one whose word was as good as his bond. II
is certainly true that the railroad officials,
| for whom he worked 80 long and faithfully
| had the most implicit confidence in him, and
| looked upon him as one Of their safest and
best engineers. Yet among those with whom
/ A--O1e
it Is said that, entertaining the views he did
and being protested Spiritualist, if the
collision, in which he lost his life, had &C.
CURED through any negligence or fault oil
his, that the officials of the road would have
had TO shoulder" The blame because of hav-
ing kept 80 long a man with such known
superstilious notions and ideas, and in one
| of the most dangerous and hazardous posi-.
tions on the road. The fact., however, that
the brave engineer was in nowise to blame
Tor the accident, bat, to tbs contrary, he did
all in his power to prevent the awful
calamity and save as many lives IS possible
even at the sacrifice OF his own, proves that
the officers of the road appreciated hi
wsrth and knew so well "of what kind OF
stuff" he was made, that they could trust
him al all times and under all circu instances
Notwithstanding his queer ideas and unex
plainable eccsntricities and belief. But the
strongest part of the story remains 10 be
told, and that is that his sudden and terrible
death should have taken place at almost the
exact spot where his cd fireman lost hi
| life and where his dIsembodied spirit, with
that of Miller's child, afterward regularly
boarded his engine for their nightly ride.