St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-10
GENUINE GHOST STORIES.

In an editorial in last Sundays GLOBE
the idea or ghosts Is discredited, but
Will you allow me to give the details of
a genuine ghost story, or at least as
true as any ghost story ever told. Some
years sine had house for rent in this
city. which had long been vacant, and,
as usual in such cases, the impression
became general that it was haunted.
AT last tenant was found who assured
me that he was not afraid of ghosts, and
he had the floors richly carpetted, filled
the rooms with handsome furniture and
moved in. The very first night he and
his family occupied the house burglar
entered it, and he was moving
around. The man who was
not afraid of ghosts struck
a light just III time to see the Ill
defined form of thief escape by the
first door. No arguments could be adj
vanced to convince the tenant that it
was rObber he had seen. On the fol-
lowing day the carpets and furniture
were removed and the house vacated.
Whenl was boy the colored people
in Kentucky believed in ghOsts-often
i'll the evening l would enter their
cabins and hear them tell ghost stories.
1t was remarkable how firmly each one
believed that he had at some time not
only seen a ghost, but been chased by
one from which he narrowly escaped.
These stories so wrought me up with
fear that could not think of returning
to the house alone. so two If them would
accompany me. Two went so that they
would be company for each other as
they rushed back wildly to the cabin.
In the neighbOrhOod of our plantation
and distant from our house about four
miles, stood a church around which
there was graveyard, and every negro
in the county who had to pass it after
dark invariably saw a ghost in the
churchyard. 1t was looked upon as the
superstitious fear of the ignorant,
but in the course of time
some of the most intelligent peo-
pie of the neighbOrhood saw the same
ghost until it finally became an estab-
iished fact that the old churchyard was
frequented by some unearthly visitor
every night. My father. who was a
physician and minister of the gospel,
and who was afraid of nothing that he
could see. was passing the church about
2 one morning. Suddenly his horse
gave wild snort, stopped still and re-
fused TO move tkrward, even under the
inspiration of the spur. The moon was
shining brightly. occasionally Obscured
by passing clouds.
Looking forward short distance. my
father saw white object IN the road.
DiSmOunting and hitching his horse,
he advanced upon it and it re-
treated at once. followed by one
who had determined on ascertaining
fer himself what this curious thing was
that had so completely demoraliZed
every one in the entire neighborhood.
The ghost leaped over the fence into
the churchyard. closely followed by my
father. Seeing that it was closely fol-
lowed it passed into the church, and
right here / would have abandoned
further pursuit. My father did
not. however, but entered also just in
time TO see the object ascend a ladder
and escape to the attic. Pushing on. he
also assembled the ladder, and further
escape for his ghostship was imposs-
bic. Round and round he chased it,
and at length got his powerful arms
about it and had the creature down and
out into the open air. By the light of
the moon he recognized it as a
human being whose giaring eyes and
idiOtic features revealed the fact that
reason had long since ceased to control
and govern him. Taking the poor Great
uTe 10 iuC iledIeSI mouse, rap on the
door brought the owner out and my
father said to him. II have brought you
a ghost to Stay the remainder of
the night with YOU" Casting
his eyes upon the unwelcome
visitor he exclaimed, "Why, this is my
poor son, Robert"
The story was soon told. He was en-
gagged to beautiful girl and was to be
married on a certain Wednesday, but
she died on the Sunday preceding, and
was buried on the very day the mar
rage ceremony was to take place. The
sad experience unbalanced his mind,
and it was his custom after the family
retired to arise and wrap a sheet
around himself, and go and rest at, or
near. her grave. This is as genuine a
ghost story as any and am not sur
prised that you should discredit the
actual appearance of visitors from the
great beyond. Those whose feet have
pressed the golden streets would not
care to return and soil them on the
streets here below. while those whose
streets are paved with fire and brim-
stone could hardly get furlough for
that purpose. X. w. JOHNSON.