Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-21

como back There's powder over
head!- "Iknow that" said he with
the GOODNESS only Yankee is master
Of, ssbut we must put out the fire."
Taking of his coat be threw il over the
shavings and then threw himself full
length on top Of il. At the same time
he called out to me Now throw on
the water !" and | did il, thoroughly
drenching him and checking the flames
materially. by the time the other
workmen came running up the fire was
out. Turning and grasping me By the
hand the brave Yankee exclaimed 81
would not have entered this building IN
the face ofsuch danger as threatened VS.
for all the company is worth i'll hadn't
thought it was my duty" Examina-
ton showed that the office had been
robbed Of several costly rifles and
other things. and then the fire was
started to hide the crime. Several
days after the employee who had met
the discharged workman on the day of
the fire happened to remember about
his interview with him, and reported it.
Two or three other suspicious circum-
stances were recalled, he was arrested,
and all the stolen goods found in his
room. lie had robbed the Office and
set fire to the building in revenge for
his dismissal, little thinking, and per-
haps little caring, how many lives
might have been lost in consequence.
IL the fire had not been discovered at
its start, and had communicated with
the powder, the result would have been
terrible to the whole settlement. The
criminal was sent to State prison for
seven years.
The last explosion | witnessed, and
the one which finally led me to leave
the mills. has a little ghost story con-
nected with it which may make the in-
credulous laugh, but which, ncyerthe-
less, occurred just as | tell it. One
evening in June | started for home
about 10 o'clock. 1t was bright
moonlight night and warm one, and
my road lay along narrow causeway
and over a bridge between two large
ponds. The water looking inviting,
concluded to take swim all by my
self, so | undreSsed and plunged in.
| had finished my bath and was dress
ing to go home when | happened to
glance in the direction of one
Of the mills, only part Of the
roof Of which was visible from where
| stood. As looked at the mill saw
resting on the peak Of the roof and
facing directly toward me something
that looked exactly like human skull
that had been coated with phosphorus
and was all afame. The empty eye-sock-
cts and the grinning jaws gave it de-
cidedly " hair-raising appearance. and
felt my heart going down toward my
shoes in an exceedingly lively manner.
| stood and looked at it for fully ten
minutes, not knowing whether to run
or to stand my ground; dared not go
into the yard if ] had felt inclined.
as it was against the rules for
those not on duty to enter. | final
ly went home, leaving the hideouS
object still glaring at me in the bright
moonlight, and, needless TO say, in
very unsettled state Of mind. The
next morning. Just as | sat down to
breakfast. there came fearful cxplO-
sion, which shook the plaster all oil the
walls of the room and damned one of
the window-sasheS behind me over my
head. breaking the glass all out of the
sash and nearly stunning me. jumped
to my feet and started toward the door.
when there came another shock from
another mill, which had caught fire
from the first. The mill where |
had seen my "ghOst," and to which
| was going as soon as | had finished
my meal, had exploded and ignitcd
the second mill. The occupant Of
the first mill was torn limb from limb.
had been working with him the ia"
before in another part Of the yard, and
had said to him II wouldn't work in
your mill for all the company is worth
80 pshaw ;" he answered. - would
rather work there than anywhere else. -
That was the last saw of him until |
found his torn and diSfgurcd remains
the next morning. As for my - ghost
have no explanation to offer. | have
never seen one since. Although a firm
disbelicyer in supernatural apparitionS
in general, | have always looked upon
it as a warning of impending danger on
that occasion.