Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-11-05
GHOST OF NINE. LERoY.g
Rural niissourians Startled by the Appari-
ton of the Luckiess Aeronzut.

The residents Of Clayton and surround
ing towns in st. Louis county are all
worked up over the discovery of the ghost
Of Nine Lc Roy, the aeroraut who was
Killed while making "a balloon ascension at
the county fair grounds ut Dvye- Station,
three miles from Clayton, two years ago.
On the second anniversary of the fateful
day when the daring young parachute
leaTer fell 1900 feet through space and
crashed with terrific force into an elm
tree shcrt distance south OF the Missouri
Pacific railroad tracks a farmer driving
along the Clayton read saw the form of a
woman clad in tights and short skirt in
the selfsane tree that marked the scene
Of tie frightful accident. Such is the story
told by tire ST. Louis Republic.
Three thousand persons in attendance ut
the fair saw Nine lie Roy drop to her
death. Among then was this farmer
The occurrence made n lasting impression
on him. bat he declared that it was not
his Imagination that produced the specter
he witnessed on recent Friday night.
The face was that Of the lCcklcss Geron aut.
Her long, flowing hair was warning wildly
in the cool night bTecZcs and her arms
were outstretched-the very picture of de-
spair, so say those who allege that they
saw the ghost.
Attorney William E Fish end County
Treasurer William c. Wenglcr of Clayton
also saw the ghost. They Were returning
from the county fair when the awful
vision confronted them. They were driv-
ing in buggy and stopped moment to
convince themselves that their imagination
was not at work. Both caught glimpse
of tho figure at the same time, and both
simultaneously uttered a startled cry.
That 5 the woman who fell from the
balloon at the fair said one.
Great Scott exclaimed the other,
land it was just two years ago today, and
Friday at that,''
They didn't look again, but whipped up
the horse and drove of quickly. They
didn't stop until they got TO Clayton,
where they ted their friends what they
had seen. At first the story was laughed
at, but as others gradually came forward
with the Same tale the discovery no
longer was locked upon as a yarn. Now,
1t is said. the people out that way will not
travel along Clayton road after niGhtfall
for fear of being accosted by the shade of
Nine Lc Roy.
Mr.. Fish ard Mr. Wengler are not TO-
mancCrs, neither do they indulge in any
thing stronger than selterc lemonade and
lobster salad, and on the day in question
they hadn't lost enough on the paddles
and other f2kirs' devices at the fair
grounds 70 cause uncarny visions to float
across tEeir minds.
The farmer who was the FIRST to stumble
across the phantom has spread the news
around the sparscly populated parts of the
county, and hucllsters who have been
using Clayton road at night to haul prod
ice to Clayton and st. Louis now travel
in daylight or take another route after
dark
The accident of which the unfortunate
balloonist was the victim was one of the
most appalling that ever occurred il the
vicinity CT 81 Louis. An immense crowd
had gathered n the fair grounds, attracted
principally by the advertised feature of the
day-thc balloon ascension and parachute
leap. Some time before that Mime. lie
Roy had fallen and spraincd Der wrist,
which was 50 weak that size required u
support to hold on to the trapeze while as
ccnding. She secured n rope, made loop
and fastened one end Of il around her hand
and the ether around tho bar.
In this way she started up, amid the
rlaudits Of the ttrorg of spectators. She
had not gone far, however, when she
thought of releasing her hand for the de-
scent. she tried to unfasten the loop. but
her c1Icrts proved futile. She pulled and