The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-03
a SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPH.
Wheeling Turns Up With Bona Eide
Spook Picture
From the PhiIadelphia Press


Wheeling, w. Va, Nov. GA most re-
markable case of spirit photography
came to light here to-day. The most
wonderful thing in connection with the
phenomenon is that the person who made
the picture is neither photographer nor
a believer in spiritualstic manifestations.
A good likeness of a young man who died
more than a year ago is plainly visible in
the photograph, and stands, clearly dis
cernable, looking over the shoulder of his
sister, who was one of the group of NOR
tails at which the camera was shot
Two weeks ago MIR. a. A. Wheat, of
this city, decided to visit his wife's
father, Capt. Robert Haase, at his home
in the country, ten miles from Danville,
Va. He took with him snapshot
camera of the "press-the- button" variety,
intending to take few pictures of the
surroundings of his wife's former home.
The camera was loaded with forty plates
and ready for use.
During their say at Capt. Haase's house
Mr.. Wheat shot at nearly everything in
the vicinity. One day Miss Mary Hal
colin, a neighbor of Capt. Haase and an
intimate friend of Mrs. Wheat, called on
her. After dinner Mr.. Wheat asked
Miss HalcOlm to stand for picture. She
and Mrs. Wheat, her brother, Charles
Haase, Capt. Haase and Mr.. Wheat went
to the front of the house to make the pic
ture. All the party except Mr. Wheat,
who manipulated the camera, ranged
themselves on a small front veranda. Mr..
Wheat stationed himself about twenty
yards distant, and when all were in posi-
ton pressed the button.
Before returning home Mr.. Wheat sent
the camera to the factory to have the
plates developed Yesterday he received
the pictures by express. They were de
Hvered at the store, and not having time
to open them at once, handed the package
to clerk with instructions to open it.
Miss Jennie Baird, who was a friend of
Mrs Wheat and acquainted with the
scenery surrounding Captain Haase's
home in Virginia. and who had also met
Miss HalcOlm and her brother Charles
during one of her visits, hadpened to be in
the store when the package of pictures
came. Mr.. Wheat, knowing of her proba-
BILE interest in the pictures, called her to
look at them. AS the pictures were taken
out she passed comment upon them till
this particular picture came to view,
when she almost tainted, and cried out:
"Oh! Mr.. Wheat; here's a picture of
Charley HalcOlm.N
Sure enough, in the picture, the taking
of which is described Dove, was a per
feet likeness of Mr.. Halcolm, standing
Immediately back of his sister, and show
ing the head and part of the shoulders.
He was attired as usual in life, wearing a
lay-down collar, stiff hat, slightly tilted,
and smiling, the teeth showing slightly.
His head is about four times as large as
the other heads in the picture, when, in
accordance with the rules of photography,
his should be smaller, as he is further re
moved from the camera. Mr.. Halcolm
died over a year ago of typhoid fever.
Neither he nor any member of his family,
nor any person in any way connected with
the family, has any spiritualistic gifts,
nor has any of them knowledge of such
matters.