Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-09-14
QUEER FREAKS OF A GHOST.
Something that Rothers the Railroad
Engineers.
Philadelphia Times

Philadelphia Times
a ghost. who looks big enough and
IS presumably old enough to know
better, spends his evenings on the
Reading railroad. just below Port
Kennedy station, soaring the life out
of the engineers and train men who
may happen 20 pass. He has been
shot at twice. is run over several times
nightly and has been struck on the
head with a bludgeon once. This
kind of thing doesn't disturb him,
however, for he swallows the bullets
without fear of indigestion and plays
roley-poley with the heavy car-wheels
as they are crushing and mangling
his intangible body.
Ten years ago vagrant was run
over just near the spot which is now
haunted, under circumstances which
implied negligence on the part of the
man in charg of the locomotive. I'M
mediately ghosts began to make their
appearance by the dozen, until the
fall of 1880, after which time it was
thought that their wrath was appeas-
ed as they came no more On Christ
mas night, however. an apparition of
biA1AolACtI oIEC 1llStN hCNI lAIC LILLY " N1CSh
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 consequence
a great many of the trains which leave
the Callowhill 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
quarter to s III the evening, claims to
have had thrilling experience 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 Whit of fresh air, with the
train steaming thirty-five miles an
hour. When within fifty yards of the
usual spot the headlights rays pierre
ing the darkness rested on what seem
ed to be the figure of man standing
out in bold relief. Although it could
not have been more than a few sec
onds before the train reached it, the
time seemed prolonged to minutes.
Nelson eXcitedly seized the bell-rope,
pulled it violently and in addition
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 apparltion was passed that
the gong struck. Gradually the train
neared the person, who seemed to be
standing with one of his hands Shad-
ing his face and the other pointing to
the throbbing engine, straining to
NOW him down. There was a sudden
darkness, a cold blast of air which
carried off his hat, and Nelson did
not know what happened till the con
ductor 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 arm
ed himself with large piece of iron,
but the ghost was a willy one and
didn't come On the succeeding even
ing, however he had a clean shot at it,
and as passenger on the train, who
had been told of the boyle, joined him
and fired two barrels of revolver in
his face, all without effect.
The most interesting experience,
however, was reserved for Engineer
Charles Welch. who has been men
toned as having heralded the ghosts
first appearance this season. On last
Saturday night he spied it, as usual,
ahead, but it looked so different from
what it did on the previous occasion
that he thought that it was a real in
dividual and not an artificial one. In
a few seconds, with great presence of
mind he had the breaks down, the
steam whistle blowing and the bell
ringing. He shuddered perceptibly
as the train slid over the figure and
came to a dead stop. He had not had
sufficient notice to stop the train III
time.
We've killed some one, Jim, said
Welch, sorrowfuliy, to the conductor
land we had better go back and pick
up the pieces" A mournful process
sion proceeded to hunt for the requir
ed items, but not scrap could they
find. Welch all at once remembered
about the ghost and the train sped on.
Aroh rnuromn