Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-04-03

Now for the sequel to my ghost
story, which was related to me when l
was released from durance vile.
Between 2 and 8 o'clock on the morn
ing Of the day after l was taken to
prison, a man came screaming into the
guard room of the barracks, exhibiting
symptoms Of the most extreme terror,
and declaring that he, too, had seen
the figure while on sentry; and his de-
scription Of its appearance was pro-
cisely similar to mine.
The sergeant of the guard at once
rushed to the officers quarters, woke
up the adjutant, and informed him Of
the ghosts alleged temperance. A
hue-and-cry was at once instituted;
and the orderly sergeants having been
reused, q ''check-roll" was called, to
ascertain whether any man had left
his room for the purpose of playing a
practical joke. Every nook and
nv in barracks, from the officers quar-
tiers to the wash-houses, were rigidly
examined; but the spectre had appar-
emily vanished into the thin air, leav.
ing all the regiment in a state of un-
pleasant suspense.
whats all the row." shouted the
colonel from the window of his room,
he having been awakened by the un.
usual commotion in the barracks.
1.-The ghost has appeared again,
sir" replied the adjutent.
"Have you caught himp"
"No, SIR"
IF you do. put him, white sheet and
all, in the guard room. l should very
much like to see the gentleman" re.
marked the colonel, as he closed the
sash of his window and returned to
bed.
That morning. ut orderly hour, Colo,
mel Morgan remittod the unfortunate
follow who, like me, had been scared
by the mysterious visitant, for trial by
court-martial, declaring that he would
put an e%ffectual check on these absurd
fancies of the sentries; and immedi
ately before the usual parade he deliv.
cred q most characteristic warning tc
the regiment on the subject. After de-
scribing the condign punishment which
any practical joker, whether officer OF
private, might expect if caught in the
act of playing the ghost, the command
ing officer turiously exclaimed: "Wher
a soldier is on duty l expect that he
will stick to his post, eve supposine
the Evil One himself should make his
appearance; and l will try by court,
martial any man who dares to act con
trary to my express injunctions."
The afternoon, however, when the
guard mounted, the adjutant privately
| gave orders that the oldest soldiers
should be detailed for the second re
lief on the haunted post; and this Sc
lection fell on a brawny Yorkshireman
a Crimean and Indian veteran named
Sykes. Sykes at once minated it as
his intention to have a shot at the
spectre; and being filed with a super
stitious belief in the efficacy of a silver
bullet when fired at a visitor from the
world of spirits, vowed that he would
hammer up his days pay of sixpence
and place it in a cartridge, to make
sure of doing for the ghost, even al
though he knew the operation referred
to would spoil the price of a quart OF
beer.
The sergeant of the guard having
seriously inquired of the sdjutan'
whether, in the event of the figure
again making its appearance, the sen.
try would be empowered to fire at it. =
81 think not" the officer laughingly
observed. IF it is a real ghost, then
I'm afraid a bullet won't be of much
service. II it Is a practical joker, then
we'll make it hot enough for him
without shooting him."
That evening at mess the appear.
ance of the spectre was the general
theme Of conversation among the
officers; but all of them, how.
ever, expressed their in
credulity with regard to the story. A
few of the youngsters, whose curiosity
was strongly excited on the subject,
made UP their minds to keep watch be.
side the sentry, SO as to pounce on the
spirit when it made its appearance,
and arranged to take with them a pet
bull dog belonging to the colonel, to
assist in the operation.
won't you join US, sirp" asked a
young ensign addressing the command.
ing officer.
II think not" he replied. 81 am
tired and shall 90 to bed. If you catch
the ghost-which l suppose is likely to
be one of the men-olap him in irons
and put him in a cell. I'll attend to
him tomorrow"
yul-- r--zl NE----- r