The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-03-03
A Ghost on a Railroad.

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 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 things doesn't dis
turb him, however, for he swallows the
bullets without fear of Indigestion and
plays roley policy with the heavy car
wheels as they are crushing and mangling
his intangible body. 7.I ...r
Ten years ago vagrant was run over
just near the spot which is now haunted,
under circumstances which implied neg
ligence 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 it was thought that their wrath was
appeased, as they came no more. On
Christmas night, however, an appara-
ton of unusual size attacked the nine
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 consequence a
great many of the trains which leaves
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 a quarter
to eight in 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 piercing the darkness rested on
what seemed to be the figure of man
standing out in bold relief. Although
it could not have been more than few
seconds before the train reached it the
time seemed prolonged to minutes. Mel
son excitedly seized the bellrope, 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 apparition was passed
that the gong 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
throbbing engine, Straining to NOW him
down. There was a sudden darkness,
acold 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 a large piece of iron,
but the ghost was willy one and didn't
come. On the succeeding evening, how
ever, he had clean shot at it, and a
passenger on the train, who had been
told of the boyle, joined him and fired
two barrels of a revolver in his face, all
without effect. r...
The most interesting experience, how
ever, was reserved for Engineer Charles
Welch, who has been mentioned as hav-
ing heralded the ghosts first appearance
this season. On last Saturday night he
spied it, as usual, ahead, but it looked
so different from whatit did on the previ-
Gus occasion that he thought it was a,
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 perceptibly as the train slid
over the figure and then came to dead
stop. He had not sufficient notice to
stop the train in time.
"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
proceeded to hunt for the required items
but not a scrap could they find. Welch
all at once remembered about the ghost
and the train sped on. -PAiladelphia
Times.