The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-06
PRESSED TIE BUTTON ON A GHOST.
The Remarkable Catch Of q Kodak Fiend In
West Virginia.
from the Richmond Dispatch


WHEELING, WEST, VA, November
27.-The appearance of the astral or
spirit encasements of a man who had
been dead more than a year, in pho
tograph made with a kodak, was. the
cause for the almost total suspension of
animation on the part of Mr.. A. Allan
Wheat of this city. He had. made
lot of photographs ofpeople and things
about the home Of his wefe, near Dan
Vile, Va, and had sent them to the
kodak factory to be developed, and re-
ceived them back to-day.
Among the lot was a groupe COM
posed of his wife, his father-in-law,
Capt. Haase, Miss Maud Halcolm, and
his brother-in-law, Master Charles
Haase. The picture was taken at the
home of Capt. Raase, about ten miles
from Danville, and was made by the
usual pressure of the button about
three weeks ago. When it was taken
the party were arranged about the YER
anda of Capt. Haase's residence, the
sun shining brightly, and MI. Wheat,
who operated the camera, was stationed
about forty feet away. Miss Halcolm,
who lives near Capt. Haase's residence,
and who is friend of Mrs. Wheat,
called on the day in question, and as it
was the first time she and Mrs. Wheat
had met since the death of Miss Hal
colm's brother Charles they naturally
talked about hin considerably. After
dinner the party repaired to the veran.
da to make the picture. Nothing un-
usual was noticed by any one, and No
further thought of the picture was
given by Mr.. Wheat till to-day, when
he opened the package from the kodak
factory, when, to his amazement, be
found a perfect likeness of Charles
Halcolm standing Immediately back OF
bis sister on the veranda.
The figure of Mr.. Halcolm and his
head are four times as large as those
of the other persons in the picture,
although he is further away from the
camera, being in the extreme back
ground. He wears the clothing which
he wore in life; stiff hat, tilted back
toshow his forehead, as was his custom;
turnover collar, with a small black
bow; black coat, and white shirt. He
appears to be coming out of the double
doors at the back of the veranda, al
though the picture shows the doors 10
be closed. He is smiling, and appears
to be in the best of humor.
Mr.. Halcolm died of typhoid fever a
little more than year ago. He was
nota spiritualistic believer, nor was be
interested in such things. His family
were not splritualistic people, nor is
Mr.. Wheat or others who were present
at the time the picture was taken. MIR.
Hslcolm was we'll knowniu Wheeling,
and nearly all his aequaintances have
seen bis picture to-day, and all re-
| cognized it. Hundreds of others have
seen the wonderful picture, and several
photographers who have been called IN
are unable to give any explanation Of
the phenomenon.
Mr.. Wheat, who made the picture, is
the head of the firm of Wheat & Han
cher, jewellers of the city, and man
of stability and merit. He is not
photographer, and merely took the
camera along on his recent visit to get
some views Of his wife's homesGead.
The negative plate is in his possession,
having been sent back by the people
| who developed the pictures. 1t shows
the same figures as the photographs.