The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-06
THE BALD EAGLE GHosE.
a Red Light That FlagRed Trains in . Lionel
Cut ON the Beech Creek Railroad.

Sut IN INC beech SFeek EsuiIroous
ALTOONA. Pa. Feb. Sit is not often that n
nineteenth century ghost can live for years on
its reputation as did the Bald Eagle ghost of the
Beech Creek Railroad. Almost everybody in
this section has heard of the Bald Eagle ghost.
It was none of your sheeted night providers in.
habiting a tumble-down country house. The
Bald Eagle ghost was an up.to-date spirit. 1t
was simply a red light.
Ordinarily. there is nothing extraordinary
about q red light; but when the red light APP
pears on q railroad, that is a different matter.
Had the Bald Eagle ghost been content to exer-
else its functions in tho ~fastness of the noun
tains. in all probability it would havo continued
to enjoy it's incorporeal existence indefinitely.
But the Bald Eagle spirit was unreasonable. 1t
insisted on making a spectacle OF itself just
where 1t Wasmost out OF place and unwelcome.
Bald Eagle ghost was born. The midnight ex-
press was bowling along through a gap in the
light fared out on the track. The engineer,
seeming danger. reversed the engine and stop
the train had been tagged, The train steamed
off finally. month or so later the express was
e esasa COULD a"Sdeqb be- 0s assigned sinya Sf for 0t the as pr SeaassiI NO.
After this tho signal was seen at irregular IN.
tervals, always In the lonely gap. Tra,inmen at
length began to entertain a superstitious fear
orthe red light and In time 1t became generally
known as " the ghost Old hands at the brake
watchmanw who had been killed at the spot where
it generally appeared.
skepticsl superintendonts lay in wait for the
ghost. Extra watchmen were employed to
patrol the district. but to no avail. It was no
reckoned without Jesse Pates.
Pates had long meditated an attack on the
Bald Eagle ghost. and one night after his train
luton reached the point OF action. Going down
to the village store he preached his scheme to
Any q you follows like to go ghost huntin'
II. .
young fellow dcmanded:.
Well. where's your ghost ~
eb msxh p bs a .hs me some T W iho t erow Ba sbiv Easl0
but Pates went on: There's a shining mark
for a good ghost hunter. ! don't believe in this
after him. need about three good men, Wi,
bettcreach have a gun. TOO, in case Of accidents.
Any of you fellows go alongf'
young fellows volunteered to accompany him.
1t was arranged to start on the following even
met. ana At 81 th tn Sa apgSsstPPa at ass di ste gsaatoesdd h hhn mas
along the accustomed scene Of the ghosts per-
ambulations and awaited results. Crouched in
a clump Of bushes he himself lay for hours I'M
disturbed except by the sound of passing freight
trains. Shortly before the time for the midnight
express he heard a whispered conversation off
Have you got the lantern, Pete r. some one
IT. " Sst ri z second Sssn h yeiP lid SoP P1i | ,s sI'E yss get Ss her
"Its a dead easy thing" the first voice went
on. blow the light out and throw IT in that
clump OF bushes before you jump on"
Pates saw through tho whole scheme in n
second. CirclinR around. he signalled to his
companions to close in, and in a short time they
had the men with the lantern surrounded.
Throw up your hands and show your light"
the ghost hunter ordered.
In an instant out came the light and up went
three pairs of hands. Tho hunters found them
selves gazing at a trio OF dirty. grinning tramps.
$50 you're the ghost that has been walking
here all these years T. Pates asked in disgust.
I'VE never said we was no ghost" ono
answered.
well. what In blazes have you been fagRin'
trains here for ten years. them" Pates con-
tinued, angrily.
~ guess, since we're caught, VIC might as we'll
give the snap away" one of the trainps said,
with u grin. You SEQ we come over the hill
from the Pennsy. and not carin' to walk more'n
IL necessary We got on to the graft of faggin'
tho trains and baggagln' 10 the end of the divis-
ion. 1t was a great snap, but We ,spOilt IL now.
Every hobo on tho road know about this easy
mark; We KEEP a lamp there in the bushes
especial for the occnsion."
"Well. I'm iiggered," Pates remarked, "if
that amt tho coolest piece OF nerve ever heard.
Now look here. Drop that lamp an git. and n
ever hear OF this hero ghost walkin'a theren
be a hobo walkin' In his future homo before his
time. Git, and spread tho news that the Bald
Eagle ghost is dead. Git, l say, for we're goin'
to shoot after we count ffty.'"
h But before Pates finished the tramps had dis
appeared and the Bald Eagle ghost hasn't
ID"