The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-10
SPIRITS AND THE POLICE.
SOME STORIES WHICH ARE HARD TO
BELIEVE.
Capt. Hackett Recites Series of Expe-
riences Had While Patroling a Beat,
and Offers to Prove lib askette Gets
There-Horan and Jim Polk.

An hPPEAL ICpOltcI was bltIiuS III tiO
station-house short time SINCE and
listened to a recital of experiences that
caused the hair on more heads than one
to raise abruptly and stand.
The first experience was related by Capt.
Pat Hackett. AS he neared the thrilling
part, his cheeks blanched, lie gasped for
breath at the recollection Of it, and his hat
rose with the disturbed scant locks OF hair,
fell over on the floor and rolled back into
the corner and under hydrant.
at was several years ago, when / was
patroling beat" said the Captain, with
Paddy Maloney Our lay was the Tenth
Ward, around in Fort Pickering There
was one square in the Fort that we
shirked, as though 1t was a graveyard, on
account Of the ghostly noises heard and
apparitons seen there nearly every night
after ~ o'clock. Beginning with a faint
moan, as though from a woman in dis
tress, it increased in volume until you
could hear it five blocks away, and wound
up with q shrek that turned the blood in
our veins to icces. As the noise ceased,
tall, shrouded object arose from the
earth, glided of toward the river, and
soon faded from view. The first night
We heard and saw it, Maloney dropped
and i thought he was dead. Help him?
thought OF but one thing and that was
10 get away from there. ran / don't
know how far, but finally fell from ex-
haustion away over by the bayou, and the
first thing | knew here came Maloney
putting and blowing like steam engine.
'What was it Pal2' he gasped. ms he
came up in hailing distance. May the
devil fly away with me ii / know /
answered, and from that moment we
swore of even thinking OF ii. One
night several months later we discovered
the abode OF damned spirits, we got into
chase OF fellow that led in that direction,
and before we realized our peril, were be-
tween the spot from which the unearthly
racket came and the river. There came
the moan, the shrek, and then the appa-
rition. As IL floated directly over our
heads, Involuntary | pulled my pistol
and let drive at it until every chamber
was emptied. Hal Ia ha was the only
thing | heard after the report had died
away, coming from the figure, as il
fioaled on toward the swamps Of Arkan-
sas.
A prolonged whistle and a look Of in.
credulity were the only replies youch-
saied 10 the Captains story, which evil
DENLY impressed him that unbelief had
taken up its abode in the breast OF his
newspaper auditor, and he calculated,
with some warmth "Oh, you needn't
think Pm lying about it. | can prove II
by Paddy Maloney."
did you ever see or hear anything
from IL after that nightP'
mo, ! didn't, but that's nothing. There
have been ghosts seen down in that part OF
the city since, though Baskette and that
negro, Townsend jackson, had little tilt
with one at the corner Of Calhoun and
Main streets, not very long ago. For sew
eral nights they had been scared almost
out Of their wits by strange looking OBJ
ject sailing past them, aud finally Basketle
determined 10 shoot the next opportunity
that presented itself. Jackson tried 10
persuade him from il. One night,
sure enough, hero il came again. Bas.
kettle pulled his pistol, and, when il
come close 10 him, fired. There was no
cutlery. the figure moved on without in
terrupiion, and Basketie sat down to medi-
tate over the vainness Of human endeayor.
They both described il as a figure much
like trunk, white. and it just rolled over
and over"
"Of course there are ghosts" put in
Sergeant HoRn, who didn't like the
smiles which played over the faces Of
those around the stove. "Why, I've seen
Jim Polk several times since he was killed
out at the workhousc. lie was at his old
post in front Of Smiths grocery, on Com
merce street, and passed as close 10 him
rs am to YOU
why didn't you arrest him for prowl-
ing2" inquired the reporter.
"llumph II he'll let me alone I'll let
him alone!"