The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-19
THE GHOST or THE BARREL HOOP.


How II SchOOlbOy Frightened Resi-
dents Along the Connecticut River.
Another ghost story has been exploded.
George r. Hanchett, well known in cleo
trical engineering circles, has just told a
story which may relieve the peace of
mind of many persons in towns along the
Connecticut river These credulous per
sons have for years believed in a ghost
Why shouldn't they? Did they not see
il plainly, and did not men follow it in
boats as it floated down the river and
disappeared? 1t was a weird ghost-taH
sDirit-like, with trailing garments and
sulphur flames and strange odors floating
after it. This is what they say along the
Connecticut river 1t had scared many
the river men have watched for its re-
appearance for years. They thought ID
ought certainly to have appeared just be-
fore the late war with Spain, but it did
not, and the superstitious among them
marVeled much. But LEI them be reas-
sured. That ghost viii never again float
weirdly down the stream. 1t cannot. Mr.
Hanchett made the original ghost and
remains
at the bottom of the Connecticut-some-
where This is how It happened
Mr.. Hanchett was boy in school, fun
loving and ready to indulge in any mis-
chief 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 hut !e4geraaso trace behind
The scheme for its making was simple
and original. IL consisted of an old barrel
hoop, some stones, some pieces of Irvine
and one-half a gallon of kerosene oil
Each piece of Irvine (probably a foot long
was tied to a 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
hoated 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 fioated
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 up-
ward six feet into the air tapering off TO
an uncertain point 1t floated matesucal-
ly, fearfully, down the river. People came
and watched and talked in low tones.
Each village gave collective sigh of re-
lief when il 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? II scared village after
village; then three men in a boat went
after it. Their approach apparently
alarmed 1t, for il wavered more than ever
and hurried faster. Then the men. who
were being watched from shore gave ar
extra pull and shot up close to the ghost.
1t nodded its head mournfully at them.
gave a convulsive throb through its whole
being and dived swiftly to the bottom Of
the river The succeeding darkness was
very terrifying and the men hastily mil
ed ashore. They told the tale unwilllnglv
and contradicted each other much. The
tale has been added to since.
AS matter of fact the oil had burned
out and the hoop had burned up and the
stones sank 10 the bottom. But this ex-
PLANTATION has only Just been made by Mr.
Hanchett.