The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-09-03
WAS IT A GHOST?

w i Il L
The following strange story was re.
lated to me by the principal actor in
the drama, and a number of persons
who were present at the recital said
they were acquainted with both of the
men who once figured as partners.
The names are fictitious, but the Incl
dents and locations are authentic:
l was working with an engineering
corps, who were making preliminary
survey of route for the Atlantic and
Pacific r. r.
Our camp was located at the foot of
a mountain, near the Little Colorado
River. We had been working hard all
day, trying to find a suitable place to
cross the river, and was very tired,
and was the first man to lie down to
sleep. l remember distinctly when my
bed-fellow came to bed, and that was
the last knew, until was awakened
| by someone Shaking r1IU, and IL r0iCe
saying:
Come out here. Charley; want to
show you something"
The person who spoke to me was
holding up the edge of the tent close to
my head.
The moon was shining brightly, and
as crawled out from bed I saw man
standing few feet from the tent. l
did not recognize him as being any OF
our boys and as stood trying to make
out who he was, he said:
Come with me; l want to show you
silver mine"
Il followed him up the side of the
mountain until we came to a we'll
defined trail, when he stopped and
said
Before we go any farther you must
promise me that you will not say or do
anything in regard to the mine until
you go to Laguna, where, by inquiry,
you will find man by the name of
Henry King. He was once my part
ner, and while we were prospecting in
this country found this mine. An
accident prevented me telling him at
the time, and / have not had the op-
portunity to let him know of the find
since. He will inform you of the ma
ture of the accident that happened to
ME. Tell him that Jack Long showed
you the find, and requested that it be
shared equally between you"
1t struck me as being a remarkable
story, and questioned him in regard
to it.
why do you not go to Laguna and
inform your partner? And why do you
give me. total stranger to you, half
interest in your find? Why not keep
it yourself?'
For reasons you could not UNDER
stand. l cannot speak with my part
ner. There is more money in the mine
than one man should have, and think
YOU are deserving of more wealth; and
to pay you for doing what ask of you
is the reason l offer it to you. To me
the mine amounts to nothing. A man
in nv position does not require any
mines, as you will learn from King"
reluctantly made him the promise
he required, and he turned and led the
way up the trail. l followed him over
the mountain and down the opposite
! side until we came to where the noun
| tain broke off, and formed one side o.
a deep canon.
Here he turned to the right, and af
ter going several rods, he stopped ano
picked up some pieces of rock, which
he gave to me, saying:
Take these with you and examine
them by daylight. All this loose roci
is broken from the ledge, and this,
pointing to large out-cropping o
rock, lis the ledge. 1t is silver, ant
very rich. Now mark the place, 81
that you can bring King here. Show
him the rock, and tell him that Jacl
says there is plenty of it. Goodnight.
felt a queer sensation creep ovel
me as though l had seen a ghost.
stood for some time, half expecting tt
see him return; then picked up sev
eral pieces of the rock, returned t.
camp, and went to bed.
In the morning it all seemed like {
| dream, but there was the ore, and
could see that it was filled with som
kind of mineral.
l showed piece of it to the engi
neer After looking at it for shor
time, he said:
1T is wire-silver. Where did yol
find it?"
l told him person had given it t.
me, and said it was wire silver.
did not attempt to return to tn
ledge. for fear would be followed.
When we reached the vicinity o
Laguna, left the corps and went t
hunt up my future partner. l had nj
| trouble
satisfy myself that he was the righ
man, 1 asked him if he ever know
man by the name of Jack Long.
Yes" he replied, Jack used to b
my partner. Were you acquainte
J with him?"
Whereupon 1 related my story t
him, and gave him some of the mir
eral.
shall never forget the expressio
of his face as he stood before me Wnll
was relating my experience to hin
He never removed his eyes from m
face until l was through; then b
quietly sat down and examined tn
mineral.
You say YOU never saw Jack unt
the night he showed you this mineral!
he asked.
NO" replied.
"Never heard of hlm?"
Never
s.WeI, you have told me a que'
story. Jack and l were prospectln
on the Little Colorado, at the poll
YOU mention. On the tenth of Augu
Jack left our camp, saying he was g
ing over on the very mountain yc
speak of to do a little prospecting II
: quartz. We were looking for place
gold, and 1 put in the day prospectlr
. a bar on a small stream that ente
the Colorado near the place you spe;
of. He did not return that night, al
!. the next morning l went to look I
: him. found him on the side OF t
3 mountain, stone dead. He had be-
> caught and crushed to death by
hoWlder that had become loosened al