Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-10-15
A FUNNY PHANTOM.
The Ghost Of a Giant Goat Ter.
rori4es Mississippians.


Three miles west of New Albany the
Rocky ford road crosses n creek 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 hey ond this is an
other run called Mud croeE, which
stream is grown up with thick and
heavy underbrush, and on cloudy nights
the blacxness that surrounds the trav-
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 shying to one
side, and when he looked ahead was
confronted by a monster goat of white
color rearing upon his hind feet as il to
annihilate the animal and rider. One
look was sufficient, and. making sud-
den turn, he gnlloped out CT 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 target for the jeers of a sus-
picious public, he held his counsel and
heard or saw nothing more OF the weird
appartition for some time.
About year later his Goatship was
again on the warpath and confronted a
gentleman of known soLric,y, who, not
daunted, urged his III nal fci~ arc! de-
spite the warlike attitu,i" Of IL glios;ly
visitor. The goat kept n T. dale of
the road, and when the snail bridge
was reached disappeared - d stciious-
" as he had appeared. IL Gentleman
related his experience. y Aica came
noised abroad and gave ocG:a@c u the
man who had first sighted The vcpory
animal to relate his cSrci, 90. ara the
two conceded SO Veil t,iat = lfo9le le-
gan to give them cisdi, for J.. .rg seen
something to disturb IL = iteS oi
mind. The story Was riNNn enough
credence to cause an IL; Nc. Il ING 10
enter the mind of the t.a. 81 + who
crossed the bottom a. rs It, and cause
chill to ramble up ard DIV n his spinal
column as he passed the siot here the
ghost had been seen.
Last year Mr.. -, who IS not be
lever in things uncanny u. AL, and ha!
Contt i-.'.tt w i.o AA''.
seen spoolss, had been IeyoIG the creel
harvesting hay, and WIS defined unit
after nightfall on his return .!cn.a. Thu
night was intensely dark AID Sigh
rain was falling. As * drcN : through
the impenetrable gloom, t. ing to th'
instinct of the mules t,.2t drew TIN
rake which he was asia ide to find tn
road, the misty and uncertain form o
the giant goat suddenly { pcalcd in Tia
road ahead of him. Tho iati!es renre'
and plunged, very nearly upsetting th
rake. Leaping to the ground to graspe'
the bits and was gratif' d 10 see TIL
phantom recede us the team moved FOR
ward. The mules, trembling in ever
nerve, carried him along. and when tn
bridge was reached he Disappeared a
on former OCCASIONS much to the II
lief of the gentleman who did not be
lieve in spirits or unnatural appar
tions.
Since that time number of thorough
ly reliable witnesses have been place
in positions to vouch for the truthful
ness of the existence of the phantol
goat. Persons who travel that road
and from town make their arrang'
ments to pass that spot before nightfal
and very few have the temerity to IL
wade the territory of his goatship aftt
darkness has fallen. - New Alban
Missy Gazette.