Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-24
.AN"ASTRAL"pICTURE
CHARLES hALcoM APPEARS IN A
GROUP A YEAR AFTER DEATH.
His Photograph Taken with Living Reia-
tiyes by o kodait-strange Event That
Occurred Near DanyilIe.
Especial telegram to the Dlspat m,

tcptCidi tel'bTttin W lioIoe-'+'
WHEELING, w. VA. November D.
The appearance OF the astral or. spirit
encasement OF man who had been dead
more than year. in a photograph, made
with 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 a lot OF photographs
OF people and things about the home OF
his wife. near Danvile. Va. and had
sent them 10 the kodak factory to be
developed, and received them back to-
day. Among the lot was group COM
posed OF his wife, his father-in-law, Cap
tain Haase, formerly Of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad Miss Maud Halcolm,
and his brotheT-in-law, Master Charles
Baase The picture was taken at the
home OF Captain Haase. about ten miles
from Danville, and was made by the
usual pressure Of the button about three
weeks ago. When II was taken the
party were ranged about the veranda
OF Captain Haase's residence, the sun
shining brightly. and Mr.. Wheat. VINO
operated the camera, was stationed about
forty feet away.
TALKED ABOUT HIM.
Miss Halcolm. who lives near Captain
Haase's residence, and who IL frlend
Of Mrs Wheat, called on the day IN
question, and as Il was the first time she
and Mrs. Wheat had met since the death
Of Miss HalcOm's brother Charles they
naturally talked about him considerably.
After dinner the party repaired to the
veranda 10 make the picture. Nothing
Kxr
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 he found per-
feet likeness Of Charles Halcom standing
Immediately back of his sister on the
veranda.
THE PICTURE.
The figure of Mr.. Halcolm and his head
are four times as large as those OF the
other persons IN the picture, although ne
Is further away from the camera, being
I'm the extreme background. lie wears
the clothing which he wore in 1ie' SUN
hat. tilted back to show his forehead as
was his CUSTOM a turnover collar win
a small black bow; black coat. ana white
shirt. ..e appears to be coming out
Of the double doors at the back OF the
veranda. although the picture shows the
doors TO be closed. He Is smiling. and APP
pears To be in the best OF humOr.
Mr.. Halcolm died under ordinary CIR
cumstances Of typhoid-fever a little more
than a year ago. lie was not spiritual
istlc believer, nor was he interested in
such things. His family were not spiritu-
alistic people, nor is Mr.. Wheat or others
who were present at the time the pic
ture was taken.
RECOGNIZE IT.
Mr.. Halcolm was well-known among a
certain set in Wheeling, and nearly all
Of them have seen his picture to-day,
and all recognized It. Hundreds Of others
have seen the wonderful picture to-day.
and several photographers who have
been called in are unable to give any eX-
PLANTATION Of the phenomenon.
Mr.. Wheat. who made the picture Is
the head Of the firm OF Wheat q Hancher,
the leading jewellers OF the city, and
man or stability and merit He is not
photographer. and merely took the cam
era along on his recent visit to get some
views Of his wife's homestead. The mega
tive plate If in his possession, having
been sent back by the people who de-
veloped the pictures. 1t shows the same
figures as the photograph.
The fact that the figures OF the dead
man IS so much larger than the others
IS one OF the mysteries.