The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-02-23
VAN TASSEL'S SPOOK.
Returns to Keep Up the Discussions
Among the Little TaSsels.
The Thin Story of an ImpaIpalable
Presence-Gauxy Particulars

NEwBuRG, N. Y, Feb. 22.-To.day Is
The day set for VIM. Van Tasse, who died
last fall, to return, according to the state
men's OF his family, to his farm near Twin
Lake, on East Mountain, at Central VAL
ley, In this county. Hundreds Of citizens
from the surrounding country will be on
hand to see the appartion. Van Tassel
was plain farmer. He had between 2O0
and 800 acres on the mountain east OF Cen
trail Valley. The dwelling Is situated close
to the road and is surrounded by high
woodlands and low valleys. Van Tassel
raised large family OF girls and boys, most
OF whom are now married and living
elsewhere. Two OF the sons are
running Erie railroad trasns and third
was badly injured on the same road some
time ago. one daughter married a car.
penter OF Poughkeepsie named Byron Ba-
ker, and the youngest married John ii.
ii. Hoffman. Baker, who resides on the
place, told the reporter that two weeks ago
he was making an axe handle. William
Bailey, son Of another mountain farmer,
stood near by. Suddenly they were startled
by agonizlng groans In the barn.
81 FASTENED to where / supposed the
grOans came from,' said Baker, Sand
opening the barn door, saw an animal
which seemed to me to be a species OF
leopard darling across the hay NOW.
climbed into the NOW but could see nothing
OF it. In one end Of the barn there is a
chest which contained many yaluables. AT
this time unlocked the chest and found
my father. in-law's fur hat there In one end
undlsurbed. Their locked the chest and
resumed my work. was not many min
utes employed when Mr.. Bailey startled
me with the cry of 'Oh, look!' | looked in
the direction indicated, and, to my
SURPRISE AND HORROR.
| saw my fathcr-n law, William Van
Tassel, who has been dead since last fall.
lie was looking from the barn window and
wore the fur hat which had locked in the
chest only few minutes before. He also
wore a sheepskin drawn loosely over his
shoulders. | then again unlocked the
chest, and to my utter surprise found the
fur hat in the corner where 1 had seen 1t
before. Subsequently when Mr.. Bailey and
were talking about the strange visitation,
we were startled again by loud voice call
ing, James, James, James!' Looking In
the direction OF the sound we saw my faith
er.in.law standing IN the yard in front OF
the barn wrapped in buf.
faIo robe and calling frantically,
James, James, I want my son
James. Immediately went into the
house and induced James to come out.
When he stood in the presence of his faith.
er's ghost, the latter addressed him, say.
ing, james, you must mend your ways
and stop swearing, and take charge Of this
farm. understand that John +. Hoff-
man Is coming 70 live here, and want you
to tell him that will be here again on FRI
day, February %, and II he Is here then a
will haunt the life out OF him. When this
was said Mr.. Bailey went to the house for
shotgun to shoot the ghost, but when he
returned and pointed the gun in the direc.
ton OF where the ghost stood 1t had
gone.'
The residents In the surrounding country
who have talked with all or any Of the trio
say that all tell the story alike and will not
listen to refutation by the incredulous.
Mr.. Cooper, OF the firm Of Cooper 4
Barnes, at Central Valley, who
HAD HEARD THE STORY,
was found in his store. lie said: "Baker
is the husband Of one the oldest Of the Var
Tasse girls and Hoffman the husband o.
the youngest daughter. The latter wa
married against her fathers will. Val
Tassel did not live very happy with hi
wife. They were both about sixty years o
age, and he being sick much of the tim
became peeysh and fretful, and accord
ingly GOODNESS grew up between them
Mrs. Van Tassel had left the farm about
year before the old gentleman died an(
taken her residence with Mrs. Hoffman a
the farthest OF the Dean mines, in thu
town Of Highlands. She is however, I,
return the farm this spring with her son
in.law, Hoffman, who is to work it,