Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-06-04
A FUNNY PHANTOM.
The Ghost Of Giant Goat Ter
rorizes 1Iississippians.
william Hsnry's spooi Rampantly
RoaIns His Native Heath, Dispens-
ing Cold ChilIs aud Thrills
or Terror.

Three miles west OF New - ,any the
Rocky ford roac crosses. a q x which
was originally named Big creek, but
was more appropriately named Hell
creek by persons who have been com
PEELED to cross the adjacent bottom in
recent years. just beyond this is aa-
other run called Mud creek. which
stream is grown up with thick and
heavy underbrnsh, and Ola cloudy nights
the bIaclness that surrounds the tfav-
eler could BE Sliced into chunks and
sold for ink. The bottom or lowland
adjacent to the stream is of unusual
width for one SO small, and at the best
is exceedingly uninviting.
Some years ago a gentleman passing
through the bottom at night was al
most thrown by his horse shyipg to one
side. and when he looked ahead was
confronted by monster goat of white
color rearing upon his hind feet as il 10
annihilate the animal and rider. One
look was sufficient, and, making a sud-
den turn. he galloped out OF the bottom
at the risk of his life, swearing that he
would drink no more New Albany blind
tiger liquor. Not wishing to put him
self up as a target for the Jeers Of sus-
picious public, he held his counsel and
heard or saw nothing more Of the weird
appartition fer some time.
| About year later his goatship was
again on the warpath and confronted a
gentleman of known sobriety, who, not
| daunted, urged his animal forward de-
| spite the warlke attitude of the ghostlv
visitor. The goat kept in the middle of
the road, and when the small bridge
was reached disappeared as mysterious
| ~ as he had appeared. The gentleman
related his experience, which became
noised abroad and gave courage to the
/ man who had first sighted the vapory
animal to relate his experience, and the
/ two conceded SO well that the people be-
/ gan to give them credit for having seen
something to disturb their piece of
mind. Tile story was given enough
4 credence ~ cause an uneasy feeling tc
enter THE mind Of the traveller who
/ crossed the bottom at night, and cause
/ q chill 70 raRble mp and down his spinal
1 column As BE passed the spot where the
1 ghost had been seen.
s.
lever ia things tneanny al an. and has
! a supreme contempt for o man who has
seen spooks, had been beyond the creek
/ harvesting hay, and was detained until
/ after nightfall on his return home. The
J night WAS intensely dark and slight
! rain was falling. AS he drove through
the impenetrable gloom, trusting to the
/ instinct of the mules that drew the
! rake which he was astride to find the
road, the misty and uncertain form of
the giant goat suddenly appeared in the
road ahead of him. The mules reared
and plunged, very nearly upsetting the
rake. Leaping to the ground to grasped
the bits and was gratified to see the
/ phantom recede as the team moved for
ward The mules, trembling in every
nerve, carried him along. and when the
| bridge was reached he disappeared as
! on former occasions, much to the re-
/ lief of the gentleman who did not be-
! lieve in spirits or unnatural appari-
| tons.
Since that time a number of thorough
! ly reliable witnesses have been placed
| in positions to vouch for the truthful
! ness Of the existence of the phantom
/ goat. Persons who travel that road to
and from town make their arrange
ments to pass that spot before nightfall,
and very few have the temerity to in
wade the territory Of his goatship after
! darkness has fallen. New Albany
| (Miss.) Gazette.