The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
A REMARKABLE CASE.

The Ghost of husband Appears and
Tells Where to FIND Ills kemains.
From the 81. Louis Globe Democrat.
The sudden death of Mrs. Ellen Short of
Jamaica, L. l., and the result of the inves-
tigation of a vision she claimed appeared to
her, cleared up q mystery which has
puzzled the residents OF that quiet town for
over year. Mrs. Short died at her home
on Washington street aud shortly before
her death repeated to one of her children the
story Of dream she often had. 1t was
that she had seen the body Of her husband
who mysteriously disappeared on July IA,
1890, lying at the bottom of big we'll In
the Long Island railroad round house. A
search party found the body.
William Short was 45 years old and a car
cleaner In the employ of the Long Island
railroad. On the morning of July II he was
left alone In the engine house and was never
seen alive again. Mrs. Short was left to
provide for IA family of seven children, the
oldest one but IA years old It was be-
lieved at first that Short had abandoned his
family. Mrs. Short did not believe It, and
soon ntterward a vision appeared to her
while she slept, whioh confirmed her disbe~
lief. One night she said she was awakened
from sound sleep and saw plainly in the
dim light OF the room her husband, who
told her to have some one look in the well
into which ne had fallen. Mrs. Short re-
peated this story to some of her neighbors,
but they wers incredulous.
The railroad officials were told about it.
They refused to investigate Ths oldest
boy of the family had for some time held a
| position at the telegraph Office OF the rail-
road. He was discharged soon after his
fathers disappearance, and the loss of his
income was a serious one TO his mother
She tried every kind Of work TO provide
| food for her children, even working for
farmers ia their fieles Every day the
struggle for existence became more severe.
1t was no unusual thing for her to spsud an
entire day seeking work, and then to send
| the children to bed without bite to eat
One Monday, after she had had an unsuc-
cessful day, she came home utterly worn
out aud dropped into a chair. hardly able to
| speak. She sent one Of her daughters out
to get some water, kissed another of her
children who climbed into her lap, and then
leaned back into her chair. The children
played arouad softly. so as not to awaken
| her. Finally, when one Of the youngest
pulled her by the dress there came no an
swer from the white lips, and when the
daughter returned with the water she saw
that her mother was dead. Kind-hearted
neighbors found the children crying and
hungry. The Sisters OF st. Dominick took
| charge Of them.
Coroner McEverett of Jamaica held an
inquest on Mrs. Shorts body on the Tues
| day following. One Of the boys told the
coroner that the day before his mother died
| she had another sight Of her husbands
ghost. Tho coroner had not heard the story
before, and be Interested several men In II
and got up search at midnight William
Magale, who was in charge Of the engine
house, volunteered to go down the well. 1t
is about Is feet wlds aud 80 feet deep. A
pair OF rickety stairs circle about the sides,
and the descent was dangerous. Magale,
lantern in hand, finally reached the bottom
and looked about. The first thing to catch
his eye was the body of man lying at full
length, with piece of timber across il.
Two or three descended and saw the same
fearful sight By the clothing 1t was known
as Shorts. The body was taken out and
| carried to the morRue