Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-04-13
A CENTENNIAL GHOST
Thioh Hes Come to uE From the
EiEbteentb Century.
~ old Tttuer in CinoiapAti, Which
Walks Again In Our Con-
tenninl YoRR

!
srEzllpa rain, accompanied by q raw
Wind, that pisrcsd the marrow In ones
,HnsA Rumoru Of murder up tho
Looking, caused friend and myself to
AXE long tramp through mud and
vAtor to Aaoortnin the ruthiulneas Of tho
story. IL proved to be boAz.
IL was after II p m. whom we aprang
from the Newport ferry and hastoDod up
the long hill on the Cincinnati sidA My
friend left ms AZ the corner Of Third and
LASranos strssts, We bado saoh other n
Asaiy good eight" and separated.
tslt illand out Of sorts, cold, tired and
hungry and drsnohsd 10 the skin But
tonina my Svercoai closer about my
hrss, ihruai Uy bare hands into the
kssP pockets aud plodded on, As abb
supuy turned the corner si Lawrence
ana Fourth streeta, ran sRHinst the tall,
EAuni nEurs Of man, He was alad In
black and wore . "slouch" hat, pulled
tS~ ever his eyes, and the high collar OF
his coat coming up ovoT his earu Slmosi
eatlrsly concealed his features.
stsppod quickly to ons side, aHd
would have passed. him, but be sudden
ly placed long, whito, bony, glorelesH
han upon my shoulder. Something In
bhs touch made ms doubly shiver, while
be drew close and said In hollow
Whisper "Yeung man, Arry bit"
For my life could not raise my hand
end puah that othoT hand away and in
tpits Of N yself stood still and waited.
Two minutes perhaps went by
ssancd IKE twenty when | mansged
h sAy through my ohattorins tssthi
"Wall, what do you wautf"
Tn. only answer was . ohuoklo, long
snd aud doepi then the bony hand slid
trom ny shoulder. and linking his arm
within my own my strange follow po-
atstrisb started on. Reaching Sycamore
ttroci be lsoasnsd his hold sIightly and
'rokei
"Ah, my old stamping ground, and
.ftAI ell those Yoars." Then he heavsd
dSh Ito was becoming fearful bore,
,ad was just on the point Of desPera-
ion whom suddenly ho turned and went
into restaurant, and, dropping my
.sfm. said "Come, let us havS supper"
,nd pointed ia rne OF the tables gladly
accepted tbls Invitation.
raRinR oil my hat | sxpacted my vie
via to do the same, but instead, he
rev bis slouch hat still lower, and then
q aotiaed that be sAi With his back TO-
ard the light.
Nv queer friend called for brandy
.nrgtniis and oysters for two. ] was
Asanously hungry and very weary, and
Ns meal WAaa feast to me, After the
anchsOn came the choicest OF cigars.
lsally the msn was no ~ahunp," after
"A.
We smoked In silence for . little
rhiie, the WSrm room, generous lunch
,un. and hno cigar all having their sooth-
~ slsot upon my weary body.
ansht myself nodding, when the
.trnnaer spoke, Arousing me with
art do bad rcmovou the cigar from
lie mouth, and knocking the ashos from
fl.. ln haa ~ nj o.
seri
~ N Jus, 100 yOarp ago ainOo I was
ssrs"
/ ,St bolt upright aud stared. "oue
Aludred yeAr9W sxolsimsd In very
evident surprise
YES" he answered hoarBsly.
What do you meant" asked.
Just what say" he replied, nodding
ais head oonoluhivsly, "ShaN tell you
ne story ?" he Esksd.
toob out my watch, Halt past
svSive. at " time 70 be In bed" Said.
He ahuckled again,
"Ii will not take long, He leaned
vvsr the table Aad whispered, 'and you
must hear"
"wsn II must, 1 must" answered
~ no banded me another Havana"
~IAAten," tbs stranger SRid, aud hts
Tsios aonshow reminded me OF the wind
Sssn Il vailA through hraaohos 81 pias
assz
| was listening with all tho cara had.
eJusi one hundred years ago, When
N~g nabins were the rule and brick man.
l,ons IN nhsArd Of whom the sky could
Ss Sson and nswsboys did not hold high
HAruiVal upon the corners, and police
Hab were non sat- whom street aRrR and
railroads we're somEthina 10 dream Of In
Aa future and 'mEshas' were those only
II Legitimate potatoes, . ghost walked
what no1seuse," / HpeouIRtod,
"YeunR man, beware" aid me
5lFsnger, aud again his breath seemed to
Deaf over me and chill me, and Az shlv-
s-sd and seemed 70 Hhrink inta myself,
10 eontnusdi
"A tail, sAuHI ghost with Dyes like
sallS Of fire, and olRmmy, talon-like
aesOrs, with SAeletoH iorm robed In
garments of snowy whitonOss, with
tnHe- rattlod AAd shAiOd In the wind ss
y walked"
Ugh, sruutsd, and began bHttss-
tvs up my OvsrcoaL for was cold.
'Sycamors street was tbs place erat
shoGau for its prSnks and rnmbleA Up
md down, uP and down, frSrn the
zanady ohio's brink to whero Ninth
rlreol now Ia, Il walked. Many an aged
ESsadsire II hs dared. would testify 10
lss truth Of my story, whose father be-
bore him know the tale. No enc could
all whence the ghoSt came or whittier II
cent, aud woe os unto the lone Podes-
Itan Woe chancsd upon SycAino ore street
the wee ama" hours. IL was frs,
'tnu one night during . terrible storm.
0~u Brown, man OF yeRrs, mad
ken refuge under vaysido tree, and
- Waiting for the rain 10 slacken,
hen tho heavens were lit with q lurid
.isr and a terrific crash OF tbundor fol-
Eed fhe wind arose and walled
l1riugh the branches OF the trees above
Id tuubsn's head Then came tho
-sunl Of harsh discordent laugh that
frated upon his nerves and made his
ring ed rosb creep. There was a fap-
tag Of wings, a swishinB OF garmonts, a
,otriu!- rattle Of dry bones, and then,
white, mi-ty something loomed up
a'eTe the lone old mau.
How DO you k-n-o-v" managed 10
,ae. ton.
d' Aory teller gave another blood
apAng laugh, and Apswsrsdi await
nd .se