Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-01-02
A WOMAN IN BLACK
Rhinebeck, N. Y, Has a Myste.
rious Sensation.
SHE Is GH0STLY AND VERY TALL.

Stretches Cat Her Long Arm and Makes
No Sound but a Hiss-Many See Her,
but Do Not Stop for an Interview. Which
Would Seem to Indicate That u Re-
porter Is the One THING NeedfuI In
That Region-Seems Bullet-Proof, Too.
RHINEBECK, y. Y, Jan 2-The story
as Irving tells it of the headless horseman
who spread CONSERVATION through Sleepy
Hollow IS well known by readers Now,
here is story of mysterious Woman in
Black who is exciting as much fear among
the people of this peaceful village, sixty
miles further up the beautiful valley. as
did Irving's ghost 1t is the story OF a
strange creature who glides noiseless!y
along the country roads at dead of night.
She has never been known to address any
body, although she has met many. Her
language is the language of signs. She in
Yariably halts long enough to stretch out
her long arm from beneath black veil
and make Kissing noise. She might say
more if anybody hesitated long enough to
give her the chance, but nobody has tarried
as yet.
Ghostly, Thin, and Feet 4 Inches High.
This strange apparition is described by
those who have seen it as a thin woman, at
least feet inches tall, with a slight stoop
and long stride. The Woman in Black.
as the apparition is known, first made her
appearance in RhiHebeck about six weeks
ago. John Judson, who lives in Chestnut
street, was the first to behold her here. As
he was going home late one night he heard
noise in Walter w. SMELLS front ward
lie looked around and was startled to see a
tall black object standing perfectly still
JudSon hurried home. The next day the
news was all over Rhinebeck. The women
and children shivered and.the men,laughed
but that same night as David Ackert, one
Of the best known business men in the vii
lage, was going home he met the black
robed object in Main street.
Ackert Wasn't a Bit Scared.
Ackert is six feet tall himself and he saws
he had to look up at the woman She
shrank from him with a Kissing sound, he
declares, and he passed on without saying
word or again looking around. David
Ackert's word is as good as an affidavit in
Rhlnebeck. Il wasn't scared boys" he
said to group of listeners the next day,
but l felt shivering sensation. for she
was so tall and slim and piratical-lookine.
Waterman heard Aokert's story and vowed
to capture the creature that very night
But the woman discreetly kept off the
highways and was not seen the following
night either.
Didn't Stop to Speak-Forgot.
Thomas sinclair was the next reliable
person to encounter the strange woman.
He met her on the outskirts of the village
about 10 o'clock at night. She was pac-
ing in the middle of the road with her head
bent low and her long arms clasped behind
her Next James Traster met the 1nyste-
rieus creature in a side street about 10
o'clock at night. He did not stop and
speak to her because as he says, he didn't
think of it until after she had disappeared.
Things have been running along in this
way ever since No one has taken adj
vantage of his opportunity to address the
woman, and no one, so far as can be
learned, has deliberately set about an in
vestigation.
Had Business Somewhere Else.
The first woman to see the black appari-
ton was Miss Florence Welch, the teacher
at Miller's school, mile and half from
here. Miss Welch dismissed her pupils at
O'Clock on last Thursday and then went
to call on Mrs Herman Asher. who lives
on farm near by. She remained there
until shortly after 3 o'clock, when she
started to walk home. 1t was about dusk
as she passed her school house and she
glanced through the window There sat
the. Woman in Black on one of the benches
Miss Welch remembered distinctly that she
had locked the school house door She did
not stop to see if it had been opened, but
ran for her life. She is sure she was not
laboring under a delusion