The sun., 1895-03-03
THIS GHOST WAS LIVELY.
TILED CLARENCE 0ERARD AN BI-
CITING NIDNIGHT RUN.


us Feet cot Too Chiiiy to wair on water.
but sped Overinud-It Threw Its Shroud
st Its Psr-usr nnd Thus Disclosed tie
Form or n Msu-ISIa Idsntity suspected.
PATCHOGUE. l.. l., March THE Lakeview
Heights ghost that has been soaring some
people for the past three nights In tho Episcopal
graveyard, came near being made = subject for
grave last night. Yesterday afternoon one Of
the sailors who was frozen to death in awrecked
vessel two weeks ago was buried alongside or
his three companions. IL was around these
three graves that the ghost usually wandered.
Last night. therefore. was locked upon as a good
night for the ghost. and several young men
started out TO see what the ghost would do about
the now grave made In the cemetery since no
left IL tho night before
Eight o'clock. o o'clock. 10 o'clock passed. but
tho ghost came not. As the men left their posts
and started down West Main street to FIRE up
their courage at hotel for longer watch, they
discovered the ghost moving gently across the
shallow stream cnst OF the graveyard. and they
started on n run In the opposite direction. They
had expected to dotho ghost battle II they had
found him upon land. but when It came to chas-
Ing ghosts that walked upon tho water, that was
another thing entirely.
The excited crowd related what they had seen
10 Clarence Gerard. Patchogue's sandow.
Young Gerard went to Harry Payne and James
Johnson and told them that II they would follow
him lie would have that ghost before midnight
n he could catch him. Gerard and his two sec
onds started for tho graveyard at about IL
o'clock. As they neared the brook the ghost
was seen walking in the stream again. Slowly
he moved his arms and headless body. Gerard's
compan mons shook in their boots until their
teeth chartered, but Gerard was cool and coll
lscted. He told his companions to lie down upon
their stomachs and not move muscle until he
called for them.
The brook Is lined with a thick growth OF
bushes. excepting space of several feet. In the
open space Gerard seated mis- muscular figure
and waited for tho ghost to come out or the
water Hat the ghost knew better than to come
out and when 1t began to rain t>r watchers be-
came uneasy But they stuck to their posts,
evidently trying TO freeze the legs Of the ghost
IN the icy waters. Just at midnight, the ghost
showed disposition 10 come ashore. but Hppar-
ently II didn't want to come ont in tho opeE
space. Finally It, worked its way out through
No sooner had Gerard given tho ghost n
chance to get u good firm footing on dry land
crack sprinter, and his friends followed at his
heels. Ghosts, 1t is said, do not generally run
from human foes though they have W been said to
terribly pressed. and either lost the magic power
OF self.tran nsf0rmation or became ratified. There
hot pace however. When It reached the
graves of the sailors it halted.
Keep on moving, old rnttlebones: I'm after
you this time" Gerard shouted. shake your
self or III have you in minute"
O1 started the ghost. Win Teraru not oUU Ieet
behind Gerards companions had deserted him
when they reached the cemetery. Around tomb
stones and cedar trees the spectre and Gerard
played hide and seek. FINALLY the ghost made a
run for Wavcrly avenue. When once in tho
middle OF the avenue II ran as IL never ran be-
fore. Gerard fan us he never had run before. and
IN few minutes the ghost might have fet-if
ghosts feel-Gcrarl's hot. painting breath upon
the back OF its neck.
Then came n change in the tactics OF the head
less wrath that ratified Gerard, but only for a
moment The ghost divcsted itself Of the white
gown that had enshrouded it OF nights for the
past week and threw it in Gerards face It
staggered Gerard for a moment, but he was
soon after the ghost again.
The ghost had put on his head as he threw Off
his robe, and now, in the form OF man. ran cas-
fly. Too easily for Gerard, who lost his track
finally.
An Inspection OF the robe showed it to be made
IN the shape OF night gown. excepting that the
part where the open space for the neck should
have been was seweh up tight Along the top OF
the gown undor the muslin was stick that had
been used to keep the gown in shape When
the robe WAS worn the stick had rested on the
top of the wearcrs head. This gave the appear
ance of the ghost being headless, while he had
arms.
In the three nights that the ghost held forth
at the graveyard he was seen by crowds OF peo-
pie who walked past 1t to see just what ghost
looked like.
The identity OF the man who played the part of
the ghost 10 believed to be known. He Is be-
loved to be against whom several COM
plants have been made of late for having
frightened several women at Lakeview Heights.