Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-03-12
a DEFIANT GHOST
which the IRON Horse Cannot
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WhhSh euo hhNM hnor@C OmmMOG
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Record.
A well-authentioated ghost hsuuts the
Second street bridge at CoopeisYille, In
the Twenty fifth ward. Unlike the dis
embodied spirit Of immortal Hamlet's
father, the Coopersville apparisIon does
NOT keep regular hours, but has been seen
at various times Of the night, always In
the came spot, near the centre OF the iron
bridge ACROSS Second street, above the
Pennsylvania railroad, bat is oitenest
seen at midnight. The night wstchman
at Potter's oil cloth works, which 10
very near the bridge, says that there
can be no doubt that some strange
or supernatural thing has lately been in
the habit Of appearing AZ the bridge, aud
he has frequently seen 1t. On one coca
alien he attempted to approach the obi cot,
which, he says, looks like q cloud Of
steam in the shape Of an immense man,
but when he had got within 80 feet of II
the ghost disappeared. This has hap.
pened often. Sometimes there are, he
says, rumbling noises heard when the
ghost appears, which can not be the cara,
for none have been seen passing at the
time.
When accounts Of this mysterious visit.
tor first became current they were
laughed At and ridieuled, but within the
past week go many people declare that
they have seen she ghost, that something
like q panic exists in the nsiRhborhood,
and few Of the people about will e near
or pass over the bridge st night for any
consideration. The idea generally pre-.
vailed for some time that the ghost was
the trick Of practical jOkers aud system
ATTIC efforts were made to capture II, all Of
which have failed. The station
agent At North Penn function, which
is near the bridge, says that
'hs ghost has Almo6t put a stop to nigh
travel over the bridge, and that SONS
times the aIparitioD, like white robet
woman, can be aeen through the dark
mesa from the station platform. Ssvsra
children have been frightened out o
their wits upon meeting this spectre OF
the bridge, aud the other night
daughter Of John Keys was 80 frighsSne,
by 1t that she was nearly thvown int
spAsms, snd when she WAS taken home
doctor had TO DO sent for.
Bat the ghosts authenticity does no
rest upon the authority OF two or three
but dozens have seen 1t, all OF whom de
scribe IL as transparent, like fleacy sum
mer cloud, appearing TO rise through th
floor Of the iron bridge and disappear in
twinkle when approached. John Flshel
resident OF the neighborhood, says tina
on Monday last, ~ he was comm
home from meeting at Frsnkling Castl,
he heard terrible noise beneath th
bridge, IS he stepped upon 1t, and looh
ing ahead was Mortified to behold a lars
white object flying from the bridge to u
track below, when 1t disappeared.
BIDDING DEFIANCE TO THE IRON HORSE.
Another resident Of Cooperville, jam,
Long, who boards at William Lammel'
No. 1902 North Second street, relates h
experience with the ghost. He says thi
few nights ago he was on his wa
home, and when halfway soross Il
bridge he heard peculiar noise. Lool
ing quickly mp he was almost terrified
death 10 find that he was within eigl
feet Of an object which looked like M
on stills with sheet hslf 90
oealing him from view. 10 an insta
the thing disappeared, IS If dissolved
! thin air. Hs then heard terrible ye
from the railroad track below, sad loo
ing down saw the spparition slandil
between the rails and appearing to o
; ont to an approaching train. The engi
came laundering on and ran over
Though the thing, which was still stan
ing when the cars had gone by. II tn
suddenly vanished. The affair Ia gre
mystery, but many people think IL IL
trick to puzzle and Astonish the neighbc
hood. The supsratitiOus say that II
the ghost OF man who was accidental
killed bsnesth the bridge last summer.
my son, when You go to the city, get yol
bicycle, some tight pants some tooth-pi
shoes, and slender cane, but with all va
gettings don't fail to get a bottle of Salvsti
fali.'