San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-14
THE GHOST HUNT.
THE WARNING ELEMENT OF
THE SEVENTH WARD HUNT
ING FOR SPOOKS.
North, Water and Matagorda
Streets Soldiers Camp-Mount-
ed Police Called Out-The
Spook Is Attacked
But Escaped.

The excitement in the Seventh and
Eight wards over the ghost which is sup
posed to be infesting that neighborhood,
as mentioned in Tuesdays LIGHT, is at
a fever heat. Young men, old men,
bachelors and benedicts patrolled the
streets of these two wards up to midnight
last night, armed with stones, clubs and
even deadly weapons, determined to lay
cold the terrorizing object, for it is no long
er doubted but that some man, disguised
in wig. mask and ghostly sheet, has been
parading the streets of these two wards,
frightening children and women. The
places where the spook, for some people
have come to the conclusion that such is
the object, has been most frequently en-
countered, is at the corners Of Matagorda
and North streets and at Remnants plan
ing mill on Water street. Hence, up to ten
o'clock last night these corners were liter
ally swarming with boys and even old
men, who have been laying for the object
determined to rid the community Of the
same. They were lying about the corners
in squads, and with few camp fires and
glittering arms, it would have appeared
that the town was under martial law:
These crowds became so noisy and
unruly that the mounted police had
to be called out to restore order.
Officers Andreas A. Brown and
Walter Beck answered the call, and upon
reaching the great crowd OF ghost hunt
ers which had surrounded the mill, for
this was supposed to be the spook's chief
head quarters, they found they had their
han
among the spook hunters, for they did
not imagine that the police had come to
quiet them, but thought that they had
arrived TO chase the ghost, and such
startling tales of how, when and where
the wonderful spectre appears began
pouring into the officers ears, that they
thought best to Scour the ward and see
that all was safe there abouts. No sooner
had the officers set off at full gallop than
the entire regiment broke at great run
and followed them. The police report that
entire streets were lineu with ghost
hunters, and the dark alley ways were
packed with some of the holder boys, lay
ing for the wierd spectre. Finally when
the hunters had run themselves tired, fol-
! lowing the police, they quietly returned
to the street corners to await further de-
velopments, large number of them re-
turning home, feeling that now all was
safe.
What caused such large crowd Of men
and boys seeking TO capture the masquer-
aiding individual, was the rapid spreading
of the news that on night before last he
was attacked by two young men and part
of his disguise captured. 1t seems that
about eleven o'clock that night, Mr..
Conrad Icke and Ed. Racket, two
young men living in the Seventh
ward, set out to investigate the mat
ter. They came from East Commerce
Str i'm
Racket noticed peculiar shape crouch
ing close up TO lamp post near the
Seventh ward school, at the corner OF La
fitte street. No sooner had the ghost"
noticed the parties than he started on a
run, but the parties overlook him ana
started in 10 thrash the object. The two
young men and the object in disguise,
which was very strong man, began to
grappe, Mr.. 1cke usinga handy parasol
in a vigorous fashion when Mr.. Racket
let go his hold and made plunge for the
wig, beard and mask. He succeeded in
obtaining good handful of the wig, but
the ghost" fearing recognition, tore
away from the attacking parties and
jumped over the high fence into the
school yard. The young men watched the
school yard for some time and retired,
returning last night, better prepared for
meeting. The search last night, was
more systematic than heretofore, certain
streets DelnR assigned 10 certain paTIleSs
who kept a faithful watch over them,
until close up 20 midnight. The ghost,
however, perhaps yet sore from his ex-
perience of the previous night, did not
show himself, at least not before the hour
of midnight.
The wig and partial disguise, which
was torn from the man by Mr.. Racket,
was turned over to Officer Tom Mushall,
who patrols the seventh, and part of the
eighth wards. The search for this Jack
the Spook will be continued until he is
either unmasked or laid out cold.
The motive of the person, who, thus
parades the streets and especially hangs
about the Reiman planning mill, frighten-
ing the neighborhood, is said to be for the
purpose of depreciating the value of the
property which is being offered for sale,
by making it appear as though 1t were
haunted. And there is no doubt but that
he has left pretty strong impression up
on the minds of some OF the credulous
people of the community, that the place
In question is a veritable hot bed OF
spooks, ghosts and hobgoblinS,