Clarksville evening tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1890, 1890-03-07
FRIGHTENED BY A GHOST.
A CHICAGO MERCHANT FURNISHES A
SHORT LIVED SENSATION.

A Newspaper Carrier Encounters q Ghost
with the Form Of q Human Being, Yet
1t Melts Away Before His Eyes-Baolxed
Up by Six Reporters He Lays" for 1t.
1t was nearly o'clock yesterday morning
when the night police reporters for the va
rious morning papers were preparing for
homeward trip There were thirteen men in
the room, and consequently heavy and
ominous pail pervaded the atmosphere, cast
ing dark shadow over them. When the
telephone bell rang the jingle sounded harsh
and unmusical This message flashed across
the wire:
lone Of our newspaper carriers has seen
CHOSE several times. Look into it."
The man vino had received the message
turned from the phone. His face was pale
and his form trembled.
Boys, I've got to interview a ghost, he
gasped.
"We'll go with you," came in a whisper
from between the clinched teeth Of his reck-
less and determined companions A party Of
six was made up The carrier who had seen
the ghost was questioned He was bright
lad Of u, and told hair raising story. Last
Monday while delivering papers with his
buggy he came across a corpse in the street.
1t was little after o'clock, and the streets
were absolutely deserted. The shock this
sight gave him quite unnerved him, but next
morning he was at his work again. He again
passed the spot on Leavitt street where the
corpse had lain, but there was nothing there
out of the ordinary. He turned the corner
into Madison street and jumped from his
buggy, as was his wont, and began zigzag-
cling across the street delivering his papers,
the horse following him. AT No. I'll he was
in the habit of throwing a paper into the
hallway At No. 709 there is sewing ma
chine store and as the youth came from
across the street to throw his paper into the
hallway, he caught sight Of a white robed
figure in the store next door, He paid no at
tention to it, but disposed Of his paper. AS
he started to get into his buggy, which was
now in front Of the store, he heard the old
fashioned handle of the door rattle. He
looked through the door window and saw a
white figure, like q human being and yet I'M
like one. He saw it but q moment. 1t melted
away, and all he could see was the bright
glow of burning coal in large stove near
the middle Of the store. With palpitating
heart the boy left the spot.
HE SEES IT AGAIN.
This second shock was almost too much for
the carrier, but he had to work, and the next
morning about 4:30 again approached the
hallway, this time with much msgiving. No
sooner had he delivered his paper than the
specter again appeared. The door ratified as
If key was being turned, and the ghost van
iShed suddenly. With loud scream the boy
fed. A Waterman stopped him. The boy
took the Waterman back with him, but the
ghost did not show itself. The Waterman
was asked to be there next morning when the
boy delivered his paper. He consented to
stand across the street. He, too, saw the
ghost, Nor were they the only ones who saw
it. The horse, which could not be influenced
by any hallucination, also caught a glimpse
of the strange vision, and with a loud snort
dashed away from the spot
This ghostly visitation continued every day
until the reporters heard Of it and deter
mined to escort the youngster on his rounds,
"rm glad there are lots Of yer going" he
said, when told Of the arrangements. A car
riage was secured and the reporters piled in,
the vehicle following the carriers buggy. At
Leavitt street both stopped and all alghted.
The boy was told to go ahead just as usual,
and the reporters were to steal along in the
shadow of the houses and surprise the ghost.
Two policemen appeared just at this moment
and stood across the street watching the
strange actions Of the reporters.
1t was about 4 80 when the carriers horse
trotted up to No 700 and stopped A mo-
ment later the boy ran across the street and
made dive for the hallway Of No. III. He
turned suddenly Just as the reporters made
run forward, pointed his finger at the door
way of No. 700 and cried:
"There it isl See it9 See it7" He was in
tensely excited. His hand trembled and his
eyes dilated. The curtains on the windows
and door Of the store were down almost all
the way, but still the reporters could see the
shadowy form Of a human figure standing
near the door. VIA an ear piercing shrek
the boy dashed across the street as fast as his
legs could carry him. The reporters and the
two policemen who had come up also ran.
In moment they returned, and the boy,
gathering courage again by their presence,
came back.
THE MYSTERY SOLVED.
There was a rattle of the door, tie white
specter again appeared, the door opened and
it stood before reporters, policemen and the
carrier. 1t was at bayl The ghost had