Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-03-05

berg IN the dark only the air sbo7t =.
ghost s team was colder than aDy ~ .l9i
ever saw"
Connolly confirms this stateuen. az.
the inexpressible chill that came W. ~
ing from the apparition, hut saws \
as be fell back, oveIpowered by II "a ~
caught glimpse Of number of az l9
faces IN the wagon. and that the Dr.
is a skeleton with Burning e7es.
The ropes and wired fencing which b.,
so little effect on the passage of tbs rs la1
tom, were found 10 be unbroken All
their original position. Nonpulsad ~ a
and thoroughly alarmed. the citizen.
solved 20 watch whence the sprar;,;'-
came. and stationed some twenty man IL
following night just beyond the spot noe.
which the team had been first observed -
each occasion, but failure again res7I,a5
The strictest watch vas kept for ne ro,-
ing Of the phantom, but though all earIl
swear 1t had not passed them, it va,
presently seen travelling slowly down M
street Just beyond their post. Where t5s
wagon goes Is likewise mystery !.
yet unsOlved. 1t simply disappear, 6afo,.
the eyes OF the watchers as if il had pavs,
ben. Inc excitement produced prov,
hourly, and the majority Of the paonlo
even the educated, intelligent class /.
very nearly convinced that the Occurrence
can have but one origin, and that snnar
natural one, though what the object q,
meaning Of the apparation is all are eo1al.
ly at a loss to conjecture.
The negroes are even more wrought m
and mediate an early exodus. as they ba-
ieve that the destruction Of the town il
thus toreshadOwed. To avert this or Ia
prepare for it this portion OF the popnlaoa
spends the night and the greater Dart az
the day In carrying on religious services
weeping and shouting for mercy, and Gsep.
ing the place to Sodon and Gomorab
They are completed demoralizsd and can.
not be induced to 90 to work.
There are a few skepticll spirits in the
community who persist in expressing their
belief thSt the people are being very clev.
eriy hoBxad by some one, who BY means Of
refractlon and ingeuiously disposed mir
rors causes the reflection of such tsamn
pass down the street every night. In proof
OF this they point out the fact that the
phantom Is not visible under the electric
light that has been placed on the street
though on the other side If it the appari.
ton is distinctly seen. But the theory is
too far fetched to gain credence with the
masses, gho. are beginning to feel rather
proud OF the sensation created By it, and
which 5ring in hosts of visitors from all
over tne country to see the thing for them.
selves. Richmond is one of the oldest
towns in the state ard was connected
with many of the thrilling events Of
Texas early history.
Col Dan Thurber, one Of The first set.
tiers IN he county, speaking of the mys.
FERROUS travellers, says that in l847 a SINH.
lar excitement prevailed over a phantom
wagon that trayersed the village for seven
days and heralded an outbreak Of yellow
fever that depopulated the country. He
says that at that time it was believed that
the wagon carried a family of pioneers, or
their ghosts, to speak accurately. that had
been taken With the fever while coming
from louisiana, and smittan and dying
had passed through the village, but were
not allowed to stop even to bury their dead
or procure medicine for the sick, but were
forced to drive on out into the comtrl
The oxen came back in a couple of weeks
still hauling their lead, but the wagon
was filed only with the dead and decay
ing bodies
Asto the truth Of this dreadful story
Col. Thur5er could not be positive, hut
Knows sucn il was at the time pokaa or
Other old settlers admit that tbey have
heard this story. and with that IF tie
ghost wagon tuey are veil acquainted,
one or two even remembering having
seen il in ls47 These are confident that
the appearance presagas evil to Che com
mun'ly. II is u0w nearly a week SINCE
The phantom began its slow jouueyng
and according to tradition has bur one
more trip to make.