The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-12
anaer pranIss Of o Ghost.

AN INTANGIBLE THING THAT B0IHERs AND
BATTLES REApING RAILROAD ENGINEERS.
philadelphia Timesl
A ghost, who looks big enough and Is
presumably old enough TO know better,
spends his evenings on the tracks OF the
Reading railroad, just below Port Ken
nedy station, soaring the life out OF the en-
gineers and train-men who may happen to
pass. He has been shot at twice. is run
over several times nightly, and has been
struck on the head with bludgeon once.
This kind Of thing doesn't disturb him,
however, for he swallows the bullets with
out fear Of indigestion, and plays roley-
policy with the heavy car-wheels as they
are crushing and mangling his intangible
body.
Ten years ago q vagrant was run over
lust near the spot which is now haunted,
under circumstances which implied negli-
ceuce on the part OF the man in charge OF
the locomotive. immediately ghosts began
to make their appearance by the dozen,
until the fall OF 1880, after which time 1t
was thought that their wrath was appeased,
rs they came no more. On Christmas
night, however, an apparition OF unusual
size attacked the O'Clock freight train,
which is managed by Engineer Charles
Welch. This was the signal for general
onslaught, and every evening since then
phantoms have fitted across the lines and
otherwise made themselves felt. In conse-
ouence great many Of the trains which
leave the Calowhll-Street depot after dark
are loaded with missiles and weapons for
use against bogies wherever they may be
found at large.
brakeman George Nelson, on the train
which leaves Philadelphia at a querter to 8
in the evening, claims to have had thrill
ing experience with the ghost. 1t ran
away with his cap. On New-Year's night
he was standing on the front platform OF
the first car to get Whit OF fresh air, with
the train steaming thirty-tive miles an hour.
When within fifty yards Of the usual spot,
the headlights rays piercing the darkness
rested on what seemed TO be the figure OF
man standing out in bold relief. Al
| though 1t could not have been more than
few seconds before the train reached II,
the time seemed prolonged to minutes.
Nelson excitedly seized the bell-rope,
pulled 1t violently, and in addition
sbrieked out to the engineer TO pull
ND. Although he laid hold OF the
cord at once, he says that it was not
until the apparition was passed that the
cong struck. Gradually the train neared
| the person, who seemed to be standing
with one of his hands shading his face and
the other pointing to the throbhing engine,
straininc to NOW him down. There was Il
sudden blankness, a cold blast Of air which
carried off his hat, and Nelson did not
know what happened till the conductor
opened the door and told him he would
catch cold. He was certain that what he
had seen was not flesh and blood. On the
next night he armed himself with large
niece of iron, but the ghost was willy one
and didn't come. On the succeeding eve
ming. however, he had q clean shot al IL,
and n messenger on the train, who had
been told of the bogie, joined him and
fired two barrels OF revolver In his race,
all without effect.
The most interesting experience, how
over. was reserved for Engineer Charles
Welch. who has been mentioned us having
beralded the ghosts first appearance TINS
season. On last Saturday night he SPED
II rs usual ahead, but it looked so different
from what it did on the previous occasion
that he thought It was real individual
and not an artificial one. In . few seconds,
with great presence OF mind, he had the
brakes down, the steam whistle blowing,
and the bell ringing. He shuddered per-
ceptibly as the train slid over the ngure
and then came to dead stop. He had not
had sufficient notice to stop the train IN
time. " ,, ia
"We've killed some one, Jim." SAID
Welch, sorrowfully, to the conductor,
. and we had better go back and pick up
the pieces." A mournful procession pro-
ceeded TO hunt for the required items, but
not scrap could they find. Welch all at
once remembered about the ghost, and the
train sped on.