The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1897-04-08

keep bis word, and am really sorry fol
him, that he has so little influence with
his own administration"
Is IL n ssGobitn I'm mn,d..
North Yakima has a ghost, at least the
young people, and many old ones, are
very much agitsted on the subject 1t is
known to some as the Woman in Black
and to others as the Hog Devil, although
the former name is the most common.
1t made its first recorded appearance on
the night OF the Penny social near the
residence OF Miss Meyer, when it gave
chase to Miss Zenovia Fulkerson, who
ran screaming to the house. The phan-
tom is described as tall, dressed entirely
in black, and moves nolselessly and with
the swiftness OF wind. BY many it is
supposed to be a man dressed in WON.
ans gown, while others think it is some
poor demented creature whose vagaries
OF mind account for its strange actions.
1t has been seen by many but that it is
a ghost with marrowless bones there is
no question OF doubt to the boy who re-
marked, after an encounter with the
mysterious being, "Well you may say
there are no such things as spooks, but
when you put yonr hand out and it isn't
there, that settles it."
On the night OF its first appearance
others saw it besides Miss Fulkerson and
it took its course around the alley back of
the Meyer residence. Mr.. Ed Mullgan
says he has tracked the apparition and
found that it wore the shoes OF woman.
Its favored haunt is on Natcheez avenue
and in the vicinity of the churches. 1t
usually assumes STOPPING posture and
trails along in the shade of fence. On
Monday night while Edgar Gum and
Arthur Englehart were talking together
on A street they noticed the figure familiar
to the youthful mind sitting on the stoop
of the Presbyterian church. 1t rose and
came towards them rapidly with Gid
ing motion and when opposite them put
hand on each and emitted a peculiar
sound as of sharp and forcible ejectment
of breath, and then before they could
fairly realize how frightened they were it
had disappeared. The poet Butler says
"some have mistaken blocks and posts,
For spectres, apparitions, ghosts,
With saucer eyes and horns and some
Have heard the devil heat a drum "
But here was an actual occurrence as can
be testified to by a couple OF lads with
minds very much awake. OF course the
news OF this encounter rapidly spread
and the following night quite a number
OF boys made search for the "phan-
TOM" They came across it on Natcheez
avenue and it fed with the swiftness of a
scorcher, followed by the boys. 1t took
refuge in the basement that is being con-
structed for Mike Schorn's new house,
where it was surrounded 10y the boys who
dispatched couple of their number after
Officer Grant. Mr.. Grant arrived with a
lantern, but although the hiding place of
the mysterious being had been closely
patrolled, no trace of it could be found.
Barber Jackson, however. says it passed
him on the road while the boys were in
pursuit, going at very rapid pace, but
he can give no definite description of it..
The next night the searching force
numbered about hundred but they saw
nothing of the spectre. They were around
with sticks and clubs and had they en-
countered real live ghost the chances
are that it would have required very
powerful medium to recall its spirit to
earth. Many others besides these men
toned have seen the goblin" including
Mrs. VIM. Lewis and lady companion,
and it is claimed that George Stenweg
witnessed it chasing his horse around
vacant lot. lrvy Bounds says that while
he and Max Boyle were out near the
bridge last night they encountered the
ghost which gave Boyle shove and
ripped the buttons off from his (Bounds)
coat. They grabbed for their assailant
but their hands closed on nothing
Whatever it is Officer Grant is thoroughly
aroused and says that if it doesn't quit
soaring women and children he will have
it in the "skookum house" before many
nights have passed.