The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-25
4 Well known Figure Gone.

A well known figure In Landau ca
thedral In former days has just passed
away. at the ripe age of SS years Mar
garet John had filled the office of church h
cleaner for the heightened period OF
forty years and more, and until Il recent
date she might have been seen. with
brush or duster in hand. Following her
occupation or conducting visitors over
the ancient cathedral. She had much
to tell of the changes she had seen--how
she remembered the ruined fame, as 1T
was when Bishop Ollipant came to be
enthroned, and when the worshippers
could be easily counted. Quaint and
humorous she was. and quick to reply
to any observation that was made. \
party of Roman Catholic divines once
said to her. You know that this cathe-
dral belonged to us once" And it
might have been yours now If you had
been faithful" was the prompt and dry
rejoinder. A high church clergyman.
coming to officiate at a funeral. was re-
minded that Roman Catholics were not
allowed to come into the church. Stand
ing by the tomb OF Vicar Pritchard. his
son, the late architect of the cathedral
said, pointing to the crucifiX on the
tomb. Margaret, that looks ritualis-
tic" Yes" she said, but there is no
ritualism inside" From Monday until
Saturday she was found in the cathe-
dral. but on Sundays she worshipped
in the Wesleyan chapel adjoining her
own little home. She retained her love
for the church to the last. and many
times before her death she requested
that the vicar would read the service
and the choir boys sing at her funeral.
Another Ghost in the Mines.
Mr. William Thomas, one of the best
known coal men In South '. ales, whose
home is at Bryn Awel Aberdare, tells
the following ghost story:
Some twenty-five years ago, when 1
was in charge of Cwmaman colliery, 7
had fireman there who was one of
the best. most truthful, and conscien-
pit-a man named William Lewis. Late
one evening he came to my house. and
asked to have word with me private
ly. His wish was. Of course at once
compiled with. When we were alone
he told me his story, whicn was. short
ly, as follows: While making his ex-
animation of the working of his dis
trict the morning Of the previous day.
he heard report. and felt the effects
of an explosion. and instantly turned
aside to the mouth Of stall to shed
himself from the effects of the blast
He remained there some time, when the
slamming of an air-door further on,
and nearer the face of the workings. at
tracted his attention. knowing, as he
did. that there was not a human being
in any part of his district---all the night
men having gone out, and the day men
not having come in-he became much
disturbed. However. on he went, and
just as he reached the outer door of a
pair of air-dOors that We're on the main
heading, not far from where he had
sheltered himself. 1t was opened by a
person whose name he gave; then came
a haulier at the head of u morse. fol-
lowed by a tram, In which were several
dead bodies. all of whom, as well as
the haulier and the men who followed
the mournful cortege he we'll knew,
being persons who worked In his
district. He for q minute or two. dis
cussed the accident with these men, and
told them to tell Inc. should they meet
me coming In. that he had gone on to
the face to make sure the air doors were
all right. and that no old timber or
brattice-eloth was smoulderlng there.
On reaching the working faces, how
ever, he found all In order. and that