Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-08
To be continued.
A Ghost1y Visitor that StartIes and Puzzles
Texas Town.

A Ghostly Visitor that StartIes and Puzzles
a Texas Town.
Great ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS anon g the peo
pie living on the southwestern EXTREMITY
or Mckinney street, in Houston, Tex,
over the nightly journey taken through
that portion of the town by a phantom
cart, horse and driver. They say that at
2 o'clock the vehicle appears near the cor
ner Of Hamilton, and, turning into Nc
Kinney, moves rapidly down it, into the
open country, where it vanishes in plain
view of the beholders, The more ignor-
ant of the community are frantic with ter
ror over the appariCion, which they say
portends evil, and of which they seem
powerless spectators, unable to stop or de-
stroy. Even the more intelligent citizens
profess themselves at loss to explain or
| account for the appearance, which all have
seen and followed, only to see it dissolve
like a mirage
The thing has kept up for nearly two
weeks, pursuing its journey in spite of
obstacles, attempts to halt it, and even
shots which have been fired into it, but
have apparently produced not the slight
est effect
The cart is very ordinary looking one,
with two wheels and an elevated seat, the
horse, small gray pony, moving as if
lame In one foot, and very poor and miser-
able In appearance, and the driver, large
man, dressed roughly in shirt and dark
pants, with a large black hat slouched
over his face, hiding it except for a long.
straight mustache falling nearly to his
breast. He sits bent forward, whip in
hand, but never alters his position or even
turns his head. There is nothing special
IN his appearance nor his horses nor his
carts, and the latter rumbles along with
a good deal of noise, and unaccustomed
sound of which, repeated at such an I'M
usual hour, was the first means of calling
attention to the mysterious journey it
performs. Application was recently made
10 the authorities to place policemen along
its route, who were to forcib,y detain the
cart and its occupant and solve, if possible,
In some natural manner the problem of its
character. This was granted and the
street patrolled by Officer John hurry and
six men for several nights.
hurry gives the following account of his
attempt to stop the strange vehicle: Il
had stationed a man on every corner, and
kept myself a keen lookout on every side,
for, to tell the truth, was convinced
ScIlC OI ldIh was DG1ng
worked, as | did not believe in spookes
The city clock had just struck 2 when |
heard the sound of horses feet and the
mighty bad. | ran back and saw the man
who had been stationed at Hamilton street,
trying to catch up with the cart. stop
ped him and asked him where it had cone
from, when he told me that while he was
l;rooLlvr Io,r,o h., 81,
warning, he saw the cart moving where d
moment, before there was nothing. The
electric light was only about forty feet
approached without his noticing it. I
running, when | directed them to stop the
Mckinney street, into which it turned.
Hal Parker then ran on to catch the
horses bride. | was to cover the
driver with mypistol, and Dick Tom
llnson was to spring in the cart and see
snatch at the horse, and | called out
Parker was down in the street, the cart
shots at the man who was driving, and
WIZ udU HCNtI even luIu6u Ills utdu W
look at me. The other men who had been
kept back to hell US if we had need were
gathered round Tomlinson, who was lean
ing on one Of them, so | went over to see
what was the matter with Hal Parker
He was insensihle and all drawn up in a
knot.
sit took us nearly an hour to bring
him to, and it WASN'T till late next day
tlo4 looo or,41 ID L,,I -, 1
cry when the subject was mentioned but
he finally told me that wnen he tried to
lay his hand on that ghost horse something
caught his arm with a grip like hand of
ice. and flung him to the ground, when he
home. It is mighty hard to believe, for
| know | saw the cart run over him as he
fell, but there amt mark on him to
show that it did. Tomlinson saws that he
had made ready to jump when he looked
in and saw an open coffin sitting in the
wagon and the white face Of dead man
lying in it. 1t scared him so that he ain t
out of bed yet. He said that smell like
twenty grave yards struck him nearly
down when he looked in that CART
Major Robinson, who lives on the cor
ner of Mckinney and Willow, when in
terviewed On the subject, professed himself
wholly at loss to give an opinion.
Il am not spiritualist, he said, cor
| could very easily explain the thing. At
first | was amused by the Juror it excited
then worried by the crowd that follow it
every night, shooting at it, throwing
bricks and even small hand grenades at
it, and making the night hideous, and
then undertook to solve the mystery
and rid the neighborhood of the nuisance.
went out one night just before the thing
comes along and tied a wire clothes-line
right across the street, and then sat down
to wait for the cart, thinking it would |
have time going through that wire.
But. as am living man, sir, that devils
continuance kept on down the street, and |
when | went to look after my line found |
it unbroken, though with my own eyes
had seen the cart pass me.
Last nj ght the phantom was watched
for by crowd that lined the street for
blocks, and Tho followed it until it van
isned before their ewes in open country
more than half mile from tree or house.
but in the midst of all the hubbub and ex-
element he produces the spectral driver
never for a moment hastens his lame
horse or turns his head.
notwithstanding the fact that. just 1T
present. fur leads as garnitue for mil
tinery. hats of shirred lace covered with
fluffy tips. iutermixed with lace ears. are
among the most stylish Of full dress head
gear.