The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-09-07
Az ARxAxsAs GHOST STORY.

A.uystsglsus BAli of ftre-A Buried
4sensure-A Haunted Spot Which tho
2lvss Dsellned TO wash Away.
In 1903 and 1869 Napoleon, Arkansas,
Vas q small but energetic town, run
ming back from the Mississippi river
In an irregular manner from half
10 three-fourths of n milo. Among tho
many sensations the town had during
those many years was real ghost
that would materialize. Mr.. A. A.
ELLINGTON, tho then sheriff OF the
county, started to his farm In
the country, three miles distant, one
dark night, whom, rs he said, just Az
no wae catering the woods mile be-
low town, no saw in the public road a
ball OF ire, "a big ca barrel, slowly
rolling down the road toward where
there were several graves of Federal
and rebel soldiers (the result of
guerilla tightly, and suddenly sank into
the ground. just IA the ball disap-
peared the figure of naked man
crossed tho road and went into
the bushes. Mr.. Ellington was not
. tiloid man, but no had wit
messed enough TO return to town and
repeat to wondering crowd what no
had seen. He had passed over tho
same road almost daily for 10 years
prey icus and had never seen anything
out of tho way before. No one could
d0ubi his veracity. Then all manner
OF su' misses about killing for money
end hanging during the war was In
dulg, Il In. The place where he ghost
was seen was just at the edge OF the
woods on the banks of the river. On
the river side were the graves of eight
or 10 Federal soldiers. On tho oppo-
site side OF tho road were the
graves OF some bushwhack-
ers aud war campers who were travel
ing west out of wars way. Just at
the turning point Of the road, and on
the roadside, was large iron wash
kettle, half buried with mouth down,
mark ny tho location of some campers
dufing the war. The vision of the ball
Of file was often seen by others, and
Mr.. X. Deadman, now Ct our county,
reported having seen q man dressed In
white kneeling beside ono Of the
grave. Mr.. Ellington never went
that road alone at night afterwards.
Several whites and negroes testified TO
soeinH the fire, and some saw the fig.
ura % aman. The singular part WAS
the figure or tho fire only presented
itself toa single person, never to two
at ore time.
Tho story Of the ghost and the fro
became confirmed by the number of
reliable persons who saw 1t. Some
one passing that road ono day discov-
cred me old kette turned upon its legs.
Upon examination OF the ground
whore 1t had lain, there wero found
marks Of gold aud silver coin pieces
imprinted in tho earth, as also pieces
Ofhouschold silver and jewelry. This
was another surprise. Who buried
these treasures, and when and who
took ,hSm away, after they had lain
for Years under that old iron
kettle, was mystery that
never was solved. Yet an
other The river that once peacefully
glided along the town front COM
mented to rapidly eat the banks away.
Houses and lots, acre after acre, were
swep Gway. The mighty river swal-
lowoa up the once busy town, until
not one inch Of earth that formed the
town was left. Still 1t kept busily
Dating down into tho woods until II
came % within probably 80 teot OF the
grove just spoken OF. There IL ceased,
and there II remains to-day for any
one curious enough to visit. What
these sights were or what they meant
can not DO said, but there are living
witnesses to vouch for tho ghost story
OF Napoleon.--l Globe Democrat.