The Washington times., 1895-02-17
WAS 1T ALL A pKBAN7
GhostIy Eisitations That Occur on the Al
niyersary OF Murder
rom the Chicago Tim

nlyersary OF Murder.
from the Chicago TimesI
"Its hard to make folks believe NOWADAYS
that Indiana once had waterway OF eonsid-
cradle Importance" said James L. Smith, Of
Carroll county. at the Palmer, yet in ths
old days OF the Wabash and Erie Canal there
was large commerce. comparatively speak
ing. carried on that raging canawl,' and the
mule was an important factor in the life OF
the people.
Many evidencess9remain ofthe greatness OF
that day ali along the line and railroad oc-
cup.es Ior long distance its Oil beti. hut the
most interesting relics of that almost forgot
ten age in the history Of the West are some
OF the ancient mariners who still live TO tell
over again tina thrilling tales OF Iong-ago e1-
leriences. There is one pleasant OLD eharac-
ter VINO HEeS AT Lockport. in our county
you note the name OF the place suggests that
II was place OF Importance, in canal days.
HIS name Is Dill-'Bill' Dill he is ealled-and
Tor many years he was on the canal. starting
III as steersman, and finally attaining the
exalted position Of captain.
He Is now an OetOgeHarian andIivine out
DIS brlef day within forty feet OF the deserted
dltch, once bis pride and glory. To hear old
Bill Dill tell Of the days gone by is a treat.
Dut ne tells one story Of recent experience
OF his that recalls an incident OF those times
10 way that makes a fellow shiyer And he
tells II so graphically. but with so much sin
cerity and confidence, that the listener is
compelled TO believe him, though every one
may please himself ahour believing il a
dream or real re-enactmeEt of a fearful
tragedy by the participants in the spirit.
Here IS the story as he tells it: few nights
ago, Hr. Oil says. he had sat up until a lafs
hour. going over in memory the scenes and
incidents OF his younger days. Suddenly he
was aroused by the striking OF the clock,
which announced the midnight hour
AT the moment a great food Of light
poured INTO the room. which be had Just
darkened by extinguisDing his lamp. He
hastened to the window, ahd there in glare
OF unearthly light be saw the LOekport of
forty years ago. There were the houses az
he knew them. but which the ravages Of time
had long before destroyed. There WAS the
canal full OF water, and there were two boats
approaching in the canal, the drivers urging
theIr mules that the goal might srst be
reached. The figures of men clothed in the
garo OF old were seen running 70 and fro
upon the decks, throwing their arms about
wildly and evidently greatly excited The ST.
/ Ienee was painful; the panorama was fear
FULLY distinct. and Mr.. Dill was strangely dis
turted.
suddenly the boats came together. Imme-
d1atelY the crew from the boat coming Up the
canal leapsd upon the deck OF the upper one,
and then commenced a free-fOr-aM fight.
The aggressors were successful in the passage
OF arms. and the crew OF the upper boat wers
forced slowly toward the stern, where one by
one they leaped upon the canal ank. The
captain was the last to go. As be started 10
| jump one Of the assailants rushed up from be-
/ hind and buried an az deep in the captains
/ brain, and the murdered man fell in the water
/ of the canal
''Old Bill Dill was paralyZed for moment,
then hasten NJ from the window ne called for
/ other memi ers Of his family to accompany
him TO the scene Of the tragedy, never doubt
/ ing for moment he had been witness 70
! murder. But the light mad faded and the
| ditch was dry and bare.
| Bat the strange part of it is that upon in
| vestigatiOn it was found thar lust forty-fvs
years be ore that night, and just at the mid
night hour, the captain OF the eanal-boas
| Clipper was killed in Just the same manner
/ old Bill Dill had seen it so graphically re-en-
aeted.''