Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-17
GHOSTLY FRANKS.
The Spirit that Bothers and Baffies the
Engineers ON the Philadelphia and
Readi0g Road,
And the Spook that in Bristol Shows
Great Partially for Manageable
Girls-History of an Old House.

The Philadelphia Times snvs that ghost,
who looks big enough and is presumably old
enough TO know better, spends MS evenings
on the track of the Reading railroad, just
below Port Kennedy Station, soaring The life
out of the engineers and train men who N ay
happen to pass. He has been shot at twice,
is run over several times nightly, and has
been struck on the head with blsdgeon
once. This kind Of thing doesn't disturb
him, however, for he swallows the bullets
without fear OF indigestion, and plays roley-
policy with the heavy csr-wheels "a they are
crushing and mangling his intangible body.
Ten years ago a vagrans was run over
Just near the spot which is now hsu.,'ed,
under circu instances which implied neg
gence on the part of the man in barge Of
The locomotive. Immediately CHESTS began
to make their appearance by the dozen, until
the fall of 1880, after which time ii was
thought that their wrath was appeased, as
they came no more. On Christmas night,
however, an spparition OF unusual size
attacked the 9 o'clock freight train, which
is managed by Engineer Charles WEIGH.
This was the signal for a general Onslaught,
and every evening since then phantoms have
fitted across the lines and otherwise made
themselves felt. In consequence great
many OF the trains which leave the Callow-
hill 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 7:45 o'clock
pm claims to have had a thrilling expert
ence with the ghost; it ran away with his
| cap. On New Years night he was standing
| on the front platform OF the FIRST car to get
a Whit off fresh air, with the train steamipg
thirly-fve 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 a man standing
out in bold relief. Although it could not
have been more than q few seconds before
| the train reached ii, the time seemed pro-
longed to minutes. Nelson excitedly seized
the bell-rope, pulled il violently, and in ad-
dition shrieked out to the engineer to pull
up. Although he laid hold of the cord at
once, he says that it was not until the appa.
rition was passed that the gong struck. Grad
ually the train neared the person, who
seemed TO be standing with oneof his hands
shading his face, and the other pointing to
the throbbing engine, straining to NOW
him down. There was a sudden blank.
ness, q cold blast of air which carried of his
hat and Nelson did not know what hap
pened till the conductor opened the dooi
and told him he would catch cold. He wal
certain that what he had seen was not flesh
and blood. On the next night he armed
himself with large piece OF iron, but the
ghost was a willy one and didn't come. On
the succeeding evening, however, he had ,
clean shot at it, and passenger on the
train, who had been told of the boyle, JOINED
him and fred two barrels OF q revolver il
his face, all without effect.
The most interesting experience, however
was reserved for Engineer Charles WEIGH
who has been mentioned as having heralded
The ghosts FIRST experience this season. o.
last Saturday night he spied it, as usual
ahead, but it looked 60 different from whs
it did on the previous occasion that b,
thought it was a real individual and not al
al tifcial one. In few seconds, with grea
presence of mind, he had the breaks down
the steam whistle blowing and the bel
ringing. He shuddered perceptibly as tn,
train slid over the figure and then came to
dead stop. He had not had sufficient motto
4 TO stop the train in time.
"We've killed some one, J i'm" said WEIGH
sorrowfHlly, TO the conductor. sand We hat
better 90 back and pick up he piecesn 4
mournful procession proceeded to hunt 10
the required items, but not a scrap could the,
find. WEIGH all at once remembered abou
| the ghost and The train sped on.