The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1891-10-30
THE HAUNTED TUNNEL.

great canal. built many years ago. Is
a long tunnel by means Of which the
artificial waterway was conducted past
natural obstacles which could be over
come In no other.manner. Even when
the canal was in active operation. with
lines OF barges constantly coming and
going, the tunnel was an eerie place
with its yawning mouth and black
waters, and the boatmeu were always
glad when they emerged In safety
from the long cavern. A narrow tow
path. scarcely more than a shelf,
skirted the canal and along this the
sure-footed mules picked their way in
the darkness, relieved only by smoking
torches in the hands OF the drivers
More than one unfortunate navigator
had slipped and fallen into the thick
water to meet instant death, and in
time tho tunnel gained the reputation
OF being haunted. When the day came
that the canal could not be operated
probably it was abandoned and the
water was no longer disturbed by pass
ing packets OF heavily laden boats.
Still the bed was not drained. but for
years the great ditch was filled to over
flowing through the inlet locks con-
Meeting directly with the river and
needing no human aid to direct the
current Naturally the reputation of
the tunnel did not improve under the
changed condition of affairs With
the disappearance OF the boatmen, the
spot of course. became lonelier than
before. and the inhabitants Stunned
the locality. Unruly children were
frightened into obedience by threats
of Punishment TO the dread opening.
and the older people were unwilling 10
enter the dark portals.
One day news came that it was pro-
posed to build branch railroad along
the bed OF the canal. and before the
sleepy inhabitants fully realized what
1t all meant corps of surveyors was
in their midst, squirting through their
instruments and making mysterious
notes in their books. BY and by the
strangers had run their line right up
to the mouth of the tunnel and found
further progress barred by break in
the tOwpath. The engineer in charge
at once instituted search for a skif.
but was unable to find one until the
following day.
The pretty daughter OF the planter
with whom the chief engineer boarded
told the history OF the tunnel to the
stranger one moonlight night as the
pair sat in the shadow of the porch
and gazed across the narrow valley at
the great mountain which was pierced
through and through by the opening
The listener was strangely impressed.
Whether by reason of the horror of
the tale or by the fascinating influence
of the soft voice and picturesque scene
or both. he became intensely inter
ested. and long after the family had
retired he sat alone on the porch
smoking and musing over the story.
At last 1t must have been very nearly
midnight the inclination to visit the
spot became so strong that he rose
and strolled over TO the canal, walking
toward the tunnel. The water lay
black and still in the moonlight I'M
moved save by the sudden plunge of
frogs. disturbed by the tread of the
wanderer. Gaining the mouth OF the
tunnel he lit fresh cigar and took
seat on a huge rock Not q sound
broke the stiffness of night
At last his cigar was nearly finished
the engineer rose to go. but as he did
so he seemed to hear a faint halloo
from the tunnel Considerably startled
he peered into its depth and listened
eagerly. Nothing rewarded his vigil
lance and thinking that the cry was
nothing but a creation of a sleepy
brain he again turned to depart
Scarcely had he taken q dozen steps
ere the sound of voices reached his
ears. and once more turning he was
Mortified to see lights wavering far
away in the tunnel The spectators
hair fairly stood on end for a moment
but realizing that the mysterious lights
were approaching he crouched down
behind q pile of stones and waited de-
Velopments In a few minutes the
water began 20 reflect the rays of
torches. and presently the sound not
Of q struggling mule. but of oars was
distiuguishAble. Finally q long mar
row boat shot out OF the tunnel and at
the same instant the lights disappear
ed. Quickly the craft sped down the
canal. so that by the time the engin-
Ger could recover his senses and stand
erect the boat had vanished In the
darkness the moon having set Per
picked and surprised he walked slowly
home. His reason forbade the &C
ceptance OF the vision a. . supernatur-
81 occurance. and yet he could account
for the spectacle In no other manner
The next day . skin was procured
and the engineer with two assistants,
padded into the opening. A torch
blazed brightly In the bow and as the
boat progressed the light fell fitfully
snon tha walls and roof of the tunnel