The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-04-26
A PHANTOM TRAIN.
STRANGE Spectacle Soon. IN tho. Rarefled
- Air of tho Elock Hills.

StSango Spectacle Soon IN tho Rarefled
Air of the Black Hills. ..
My companion then spoke concerning our
mission to this bleak and barren spot saws
writer in the Leadville (Col) Herald in
course Of description of the lonely land
scape Of the Centennial State. "About
twelve years ago." he said, "an old man by
the namo OF Cearnals was the proprietor Of
q jack train with which he used to bring
provisions and other commodities into that
mining camp you see beneath you there.
This was before tho railroads entered the
tastnessos OF these mountains, and every
thing was brought by mule teams or by
these jack trains into the camp. The treas
ures which were found in the hills were
carried out the samo way
"One tlme the old man Cearnals did not
arrive in the camp on time. 'Twas in the
Winter-and the Coldcst one, too, ever ex-
experienced in these hills. A searching
party was sent out to find him and his train,
as the people who had goods consigned to
MN feared that somo accident had befallen
him. Near where we are now is whore he and
his train were found frozen to death. And
now each night may be seen the jack train
just as they were, but in the form of specters,
Hing along tho way to the camp. Get out
and we Will go down the trail piece and SEQ
them" We got out of the buggy, and
fastening the horse 20 II stuntcd Pine, we de-
seconded tho other side of tho range on tho
road to Alma. After most porilous and
tortuous walk of half an hour, on account OF
the slippery condition of the ground,
which was covered with snow, my
companion led mo to point near
the old Lcadvillo trail, which could
DC distinctly seen above us against the side
OF the mountain. Looking at his watch, no
remarked that it was almost time for them
to appear. After kicking the, snow from n
couple of powders VIC sat down and in si
ienco awaited developments. My compan-
ION would not say Il word, but simply pufrcd
away at n cigar, his looks being cast in tho
drcctlon OF the trail. We waited half an
hour, but 1T seemed week to NO. q cold
wind having arisen, and | was almost frozen
ana was wishing myself at homo.
Suddenly my companion clutched mo
nerVously by the arm and pointed to tho
trall The sight that | saw made each in
ulVldual halr on my head stand on end, for
thcrc on the trail, coming around n shady
angle caused by Il bowldcr, was Jack train
OF tWcnty-thrcc animals. They all emitted
1alnt phosphorcsCcnt glow, which made
them appear all the more vivid against tho
slde or the hill. They were loaded with
different articles of merchandise, and tho
last one which the spectral driver was urr
ing on with his short gOad seemed to be
loadcd with flour. Every once in a while as
the train slowly filed along, this last lack
would lean his load against Il projecting
rock, as if resting himself This would
cause the driver to punch it with his short
STICK. The weird Spcctcrs slowly passed
from view around the hill, and, moro dead
than alive from fright, We made our way to
where we had left the horse and buggy.
My companion informed me, while on our
way back to the city, that this strange sight
could be seen anV dark njUbt