Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-05-19
GHOST OF THE BARREL HOOP.
How o AIischieVous Boy Frightened
the People Residing ON the
Connecticut River.


Another ghost story has been eN
ploded. George 7. Hanchett, wei
known in electrical engineering circles
has just told a story which may relieve
the peace of mind of many persons il
towns along the Connecticut river
These credulous persons have for years
believed in a ghost. Why shouldn'i
they? Did they not see it plainly ano
did not men follow it in boats as II
floated down the river and Disappeared
It was a weird ghost-tan, spirit-like
with trailing garments and sulphur
flames and strange odors floating aftel
it. This is what they say along the
Connecticut river. 1t had scared many
poor children out OF nights rest, and
the river men have watched for its re-
appearance for years. They thought
it ought certainly to have appeared
just before the late war with Spain, but
it did not, and the superstitious among
them marveled much. But let them be
treasured. That ghost will never again
float weirdly down the stream. 1t can
not. Mr.. Hanchett made the original
ghost and sent it on it's wild career. Its
remains are at the bottom of the Con-
necticut-somewhere This is how it
happened:
Mr.. Hanchett was a boy in school
fun-loving and ready to indulge in any
mischief, in or out of bounds. One day it
was decided to make a ghost, one which
could be seen but not touched; one
which would scare, but leave no trace
behind. The scheme for its making was
simple and original. 1t consisted of an
IL l. e+@
pieces of twine and one-half a gallon
of kerosene oil. Each piece of Irvine
(probably a foot long) was tied to
stone. Then the other ends of the
pieces of Irvine were tied to the barrel
hoop at equal distances apart. This
contrivance was thrown into the Con-
necticut river. The wooden barrel
hoop ioated on the surface of the
water, the stones weighing it down
just enough to steady it. The kerosene
was then poured into the hoop. The
oil naturally f1oated on the water, and
the hoop kept it from spreading. The
boys set fire to this oil and then came
ashore. 1t was night.
A weird, uncanny, blue flame shot
up from the barrel hoop. The wind
caught the flame and set it wavering
uncertainty to and fro. The blue flame
reached upward six feet into the air,
tapering off to an uncertain point. 1t
foated majestically, fearful1y, down
the river. People came and watched
and talked in low tones. Each village
gave a collective sigh of relief when it
went safely by. 1t might have come
ashore, you know, and taken up its
abode in anybody's house. Who could
have stopped pale blue ghost that you
could see through 1t scared village
after village; then three men in a boat
went after it. Their approach appar-
emily alarmed it, for it wavered more
than ever and hurried faster Then the
men, who were being watched from the
shore, gave an extra pull and shot up
close to the ghost. 1t nodded its head
mournfully at them, gave a convulsive
throb through it's whole being and
dived swiftly to the bottom of the river.
The succeeding darkness was very terri
flying and the men hastily pulled
ashore. They told the tale unwillingly
and contradicted each other much.
The tale has been added to since.
AS a matter Of fact, the oil had
burned out and the hoop had burned
up, and the stones sank to the bottom.
But this explanation has only just been
made by Mr.. Hanchett.-Detroit Free
Press.
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