The morning times., 1895-08-26
One Cent 1@
Noa1esrtiss ussi isss thaa tos
Y0 0ld0 Road Ghost.
BY PERcIE " HART.
lCnpvrirht. 1893


Petrus stuyvesant and his silver handled
wooden leg ruled the destinies OF New
Amsterdam, there was a well-known place
OF refreshment in that colonial town,
known by the worthy burghers as the
Wursthaus. II stood upon the east side OF
the Old Post or Rowerie Road, not far
from the present point OF junction with
Division street.
The then suburban location of the Wurst-
haus made it and its jovial host-Hans Won
schueist-weil knownand patronized by tire
townsmen and their families and on almost
any Sunday evening a fuH score or more
would be seen sitting around the three leg
ged ables, set out under stately poplar
trees, quaffing rich home brewed ale from
quantity shaped pewter mugs. And
even on blusterOus winter nights when the
wind swept the snow in circllug wredths,
and the bclatcd wayfarer had much ado to
keep his footing, the ruddy lights and sound
OF voices within denoted tine popularity OF
the good cheer OF old Hans Won Schneist.
But a change came DER the smiling
features and jOcund laugh Of the host of
the Wursthaus when lis only son was
proclaimed an outlaw. Some boyisn indls-
cretion OF speech had been magnified by
the hearers. and coming to tie ears OF the
suspicious old director general, had re-
suited in the decree. Young Hans had re-
ceived timely warning, however, and was
supposed TO have reached the Swedish col
ony in safety.
But strange TO relate, the old couple took
their bereavement quite placidly and in a
few week old Hans was almost as smiling
as ever, and his vrouw spun the flax as
steadily rs when ste had three 10 provide
clothing for instead oftwO.
And so several months passed away and
one evening young jacob Twiller related
the following weird adventure to the wen
dering crowd gathered around the central
table n the Wursthaus garden.
II was cel-spearing in tue Fresh water
Pond last evening, and by the time the
moon was overhead had filled my creel
Wei satisfied with my success and loaded
| down with spear, oars and creel, started
| 10 walk home l had but passed the
| Wursthaus, when just ahead OF ME l spied
| a tall figure, wrapped in long, gray cicak.
| Thinking that no one except the watch
/ could be abroad at that hour OF the night,
| except with some evil purpose in view, l
suited my pace TO his, meaning TO let him
| prccede ME towards the city wall But
| scarce had we progressed in this manner
! for q few hundred yards or so, when the
| figure turned, and holding its arms aloft
| made menacing gestures, as II forbidding
| me TO approach.
| "Overburdened with my fishing traps, I
! felt powerless, and so kneIt on tie ground
| so as 10 more easily remove the strap OF
! the creeI from off my shoulders. But as I
| knceled-the ghOst-for such it surely was
| had vanished fronI sight, and tho
| hunted well about, l could find no trace, ex-
! cept niayhap a smoke, smelling strongly OF
| sulphur, which 1 breathed i'll my nostrils,
| as I came near to that part OF the ground
| from which he had vanished"
| Nothing could shake the valiant Jacobs
| circumstantial details OF the encounter, and
| tho the town cynic snesTust. the group
| gathered closer together around abe ceutral
| table and made haste home in good season
| Within a week ROelof JAMS, the popular
| butt aud scapegrace, added stiu more TO
! the mysterious tale OF his predecessor.
| While agreeing with Jacob in the general
| appearance OF the grey-CIOdkeI figure, he
furnished additional details, by which it
would seem that a long barbed tail was q
| feature in the phantom, and that it walked
! amidst belchipg clouds of smoke
And then came the climax Adam Roe
| landsen stated to the captain OF the watch
that he had encountered the Erey-cloaked
phautom-that it came out from the Wurst-
haus, but hastily turned nj re-entered
| the door, e'er he could summon up courage
| m aIy-3ucp or retreat
Here was a pretty condition OF affairs,
The habitues Of old Hans Won Schneists
place Qakcd in their very shoes at the bare
supposition that they had been drinking
TIE brewiugs OF one who was seemingly in
league with the evil one Whatmore plauSi-
ble than that their host was u agent, to
gradually destroy their integrity, aud lead
them slowly, but steadily, to eternal dam
nation.
And so it came to pass that the stout old
captain OF the watch, At the head Of bis
! little squad. came to investigate the Wurs-
thauS. 1t was the middle of the working
day % O'Clock in the mcruingl in those
early rising aud retiring times, when the
coucourSe of citizens ana soldiers were de-
scrieI by old HauS. coming along the Bow
! erie Road
For some reason, however, old Hans
did not come out to the door TO view this
novel appearance, and when the captain
OF the watch entered the big taproom hi
found mine host tightening the hoops OF
an enormous butt that stood in the darkest
! corner. The crowd Of sightSeers, at frs
. fearful of forked tongues OF flame and Other
, chronicled attributes Of the evil one, Were
timorous of entering the house; but gath
ering courage from the assembled military
and particularly impressed by the gallan
bearing of the commandant, they gradually
inched forward until very soon almost
every available space was occupied
Good morning, Herr Won Schneist, "
! spake the captain.
Good morning to you, Herr Captain
and to you, soldiers and fellow citizens,
| answered the sturdy old tavern keeper