The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-11-29
A GHOST STORY.
Jerry Regan's Experience
with an Uucanny Visitor,
AT ALTA, LITTLE COTTONWOOD
As Related to Herald Reporter
And Which Has the Merit OF
Being an Honest Recital.

Sometime slnces an apparently SenSa-
tional story was published IN city CO
temporary, the substance being that
Jerry Regain. of Alta City, had received
caller from the other world Such a
statement, on the face of it, is not one
likely to be believed by thinking,
practical people, and hence the COM
munity were incredulous, and even, in
some instances, treated the story with
ridicule. Mr.. Regain is now in Salt Lake,
and a HERALD reporter, having been
introduced, questioned him thoroughly
regarding the affair. Regain said, in
substance that some years ago be
was an intimate acquaintance OF
Ed. Crockett, and that about
TWO years ago he (Regan) went TO San
Francisco to be treated for lame foot
which was causing him great trouble
and from which he feared serious re-
suits. During last winter, and while
still in that city, a snowshde descended
upon Alta and among other destructive
consequences buried and killed Crockett,
who was fireman in the boiler room Of
the new Emma. Regain returned from
San Francisco about two months after
ward and took up his abode at another
place; but at the time we wish most
particularly to refer he went to the store
where Crockett had formely lodged, and
shortly after was entertaining a friend
till late in the evening and requested
him to stay all night. The friend re-
ferred TO refused to comply, saying that
he preferred to go elsewhere, but it was
decided to leave it to the arbitrament Of
the dice-box. The friend won, and took
his departure. Regain thereupon went
to bed, and about an hour later heard
some one calling his name; he said to
himself-"That fellow has come TO stay
with me after all, and / won't let him J"
The call was repeated, the second time
seeming to be in Regan's ear, and he
turned around in his bed and saw stand
ing before him the departed Crockett,
as natural as life. Regain said, What
do you want?" evidently not at this
time comprehending the serious aspect
of the case. The ghoStly visitor then
said: DO you know Kennedy's post in
the CELLAR" Regain replied, Yes" The
visitor went on, saying, "Go down there
and dig for my money; take il
and keep It," Regain immediately
jumped out of bed and struck light
(fOr all this had taken place with no
other illumination than that of the
moon shining through the window,
built fire, opened the doors and sat by
the fire till morning in a cold sweat.
Where did the visitor disappear"
our reporter asked.
AZ don't know he replied He
didn't go out of any door or window;
he simply vanished. went away all at
once, and that's all l know about it.
Mr.. Regan went down to the point
indicated by his ghostly visitor the next
morning, and made one search, which
was unsuccessful. A man came along
and asked him what he was doing, but
received no satisfaction. Half an hour
later, being determined to see whether
or not he was the victim of a phantasy,
he made another effort, and finally
found a wallet, that Of the deceased,
in which were a number of private
one or two newspaper clippings,
and $75 in greenbacks. These were
shown to our reporter and found 10 be
intact, just as Mr.. Regain had described
them.
The gentleman gives his story with
the air of one who is telling the truth.
He courts the strictest investigation,
and maintains his points from first TO
last. He first endeaVOred to retain the
pocket-book without making disclosures
which he knew. would expose him to
more or less ridfcule, but finally weak
ened" and gave the whole thing
away. He has not used a cent of the
money. our reporter finding it all there
rs represented, though getting some
what muStY; and Regain aVows his de-
to never use it in any way
,r make any disposition of it whatever, I
it as too sacred trust TO be /
,artered away or made convenience of. |
The story is strange one; but apart /
rom the evidence presented, Mr.. Regain
S Vouched for by numerous reliable /
nen who know him as q man of integrity |
md veraeity. To strengthen his story he |
ave his friends Immediately after the
an exact description of the ,
of the deceased at the time
le was laid away, though be had re-
eived no information on the subject
whatever One side of his face, he said,
lad been shaved and the other not:
his was accounted for by the fact that
rocket had lost that portion OF beard
v fire; the description was altogether
nd singularly perfect, and one cannot
stem to Regan's story without ex-
eriencing a decided sensation OF belief