The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-05-09
GHOST OF A SAD SONG.
"spOOk Bird" That Makes Life n
Burden to Listeners.

At the time of night when ghosts walk,
according to Shakespeare, some sort of
a bird has played havoc for the past
few nights with the sleep of the good
people in the neighborhood of Fifth
avenue and Ninth street.
Whether the bird is of earthly origin
or whether it is the soul of some de-
parted mortal wrapped up in feathers
returned to the world to haunt the spot
where some awful crime was committed.
IS mystel which lots of people in the
ne!ghborhood in question would like to
People who have heard the strange
Weird sound say 1t is enough to make a
strong mans blood run cold.
The sound is in sort of hollow minor
key, and wanders about over several
notes and half notes something like a
clarinet might sound if played through
the bunghole of a barrel At first it
thoughtful state of mind
Though dulce and plaintive this pecu-
mar sound Is also penetrating. and the
unfortunate person who happens to hear
ii cannot but listen, no matter how
much VIII power is exercised to concen-
trate the mind on some other subject
b Ine spo9k Bro Vas Vas, originally heard
ana did not come back until a few days
ago. AT first the strange sounds did not
attract much attention. but as they
gan wondering what might be the
cause Everybody admitted having
heard the '.Spook Bird when asked
about it, and many told how they had
listened to its weird notes for hours.
The block bounded by Ninth street.
Eight street. Fifth and Sixth avenues is
where the bird makes things miser-
able for nervous people. The bird To-
Gates about half way between the ave
nues, in one of the back yards usually
in the rear of No. q West Ninth
move about uneasily from one yard to
the other. Now and then it locates in
the back yard of the Chinese Consulate
and "mourns and mourns and mourns."
MIS-. Ella Hastings, who resides at No.
q west Ninth street, has heard the
bird, and at first was very much an
noyed. but yesterday when Journal re-
porter called on her she said she had
given up worrying.
I'm sure She continued. eff it is a
lost soul, as some of my neighbors say,
rible crime committed years ago, it's no
concern of mine. I'm sure it's bird of
some sort, and ! did try to solve the
mystery after fashion, but had to give
it up
At first the superstitious people in the
neighborhood considered the weird notes
of the ''Spook Bird as an i'll omen and
said that something dreadful was about
to happen, but up to date nothing very
alarming has taken place. unless the
birth Of twins few mornings ago, not
far from the birds haunts, could be con-
sldered as such.
Several of the brayer people who've had
| their sleep and tranquility disturbed by
the bird. say they will take chances on
killing it whether it is mortal or other
wise, but they can't ind it. Not one was
ever known to have had glimpse of
the feathered disturber of peace and rest
although it has been sought for earnestly
by people with axes and bootjacks and
pistols, as well as by others who believe
II to have come from another world on
some mysterious mission
The bird sang last night, and in ali
probability will make things miserable
for number of people again tonight