Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-09-20
CAN GHOSTS SAW WOOD.
= Circular Saw Operated by Spirits in
Cincinnati Carpenters shop.


There is a carpenter living in the West
end of Cincinnati who has a shop III the
basement of his house in which he lives.
In the shop he has the usual amount of
benches and other things, among which is
d foot-power circular saving machine,
which he used to rip lumber with the help
of two or three of the hands, it being sup
piled with handles for the purpose The
carpenter lives about one square from my
house, says a writer in the Enquirer. and
we are very well acquainted and good
friends. He says he has heard strange
noises in his shop for some time about
the middle of the night. but said nothing
about it, not being sure what it was.
One night recently, about 10 o'clock, he
came to my house. white with fright, for
me to 90 to his house and help find out
what it was. He said the house waf
haunted sure. So | went with him and
we got a light and went down into the
shop, but all was as still as death.
We went up into the room above the
shop to see what would happen. He was
telling me what kind of noises he had
heard for some time back. He said it
seemed to him as if the saving machine
was running; at first as if a little boy was
trying to run it. but could not make it go;
then the next night it seemed to run faster,
until this evening it run as if it would fly
to pieces. when he left to come after me.
We had been talking about one hour when
| heard the machine start, slow at first, but
soon 1t increased as near as | could tell by
the sound of the saw, to about 5000 revo-
tions per minute.
We got light and started do>s into
the shop, but everything was still again.
We could see nothing that had been dis
trlrbed, 50 we left the shop again and went
up to see if the noise would be repeated.
We waited long time and could hear
nothing, so left, promising to come the
next evening. Nothing disturbed my
friend any more that night.
The next evening | went over at 8
O'Clock, but nothing was disturbed until
about 10. when we heard the saw start
again The machine kept running at
about the same speed of the evening
before for half an hour. and as there was
no sign of it stopping, we started down,
but we had scarcely reached the first step
before all was still again. We were com
pIetely puzzled So proposed to fasten
the fv-wheel of the machine so it would
be impossible for it to be turned We got
a chain and put it through the spoke of the
wheel and round the posts of the frame,
and fastened it with a spring paddock.
Now, | thought, I'll go home, for we've
got it safe from running any more.
started, and got as far as the pave
ment, and was turning to leave. when the
machine started faster than ever before
went back into the house, got a light and
went down, but everything was still. The
chain was loose, lying beside the machine;
the lock was loose. lying beside the chain.
We were completely beat. and did not
know what to do. | don't believe in spirits
at all. nor ghosts or anything of the kind,
but this little experience has somewhat
shaken my belief So determined to try
something else to stop the racket. There is
a window opposite where the machine
stands. We concluded to fix piece of
timber so it could be pushed against the
saw from the out side, should it start
again 1t was now II o'clock We con-
cluded to wait awhile before leaving. but
did not have to wait long. The machine
started with lightning speed as if to defy
us to stop it. We could get to the timber
without a light, so we pushed it against
the saw thinking to stop it. but to our
astonishment the saw went through it as
easy as if it had been nothing. Finding
that wouldn t stop it, we got light and
that stopped it.
Are we to be outdone by something, not
knowing what? If it is spirits we will
make some use of them. or stop them al
together, and we will do it in this way:
The handles of the machine are long
enough to reach through a partition and
still give the machine room to be used.
The handles will be in one room and the
machine in another
We want to see if the spirits. for that is
what we believe was turning the machine,
Will turn in dark room by the handles
while the machine is in the light
Ny friend is making the partition firm
in the belief that he has got into the
keely-motor secret. or something better.
1t will take some time to get it fixed. so as
to give it a fair trial. I am not allowed to
give the locality until he finds what will be
the result.
Why not turn saving machine if they
can lift a table with man on it that
weighs 100 pounds. and do many other
wonderful things?