The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-10

In the town. women and children DO not
now dare step out OF doors after dark un-
attended. When II was first reported that
there was a spook In Centre Morchcs, most
folk laughed. Now they believe It.
Senix avenue runs from Main street south to
Edwards Point About midway between Main
street and the Point. the avenue Ia met at right
angles by Lake avenue. No part OF SeniS ave-
nue. is thickly settled. and there are plenty Of
big trees and bushes along either side OF It.
That part OF Lake avenue nearest to SeniN Ia
also lonely road According to all accounts
these two thoroughfares have been chosen by
the spook for its stalking ground.
According to the most authenticated stories.
the spook was frat seen on Senix avenue two
weeks ago last Monday night. shortly before
$3.50 O'Clock. Two young women whose
families are known by the villagers were re-
turning from bicycle ride. When the first
one reached point in front OF what is known
as the Vanderbilt place, figure which looked
to the girls to be about twelve feet tall moved
out from behind tree few feet in front OF
her. The girl screamed and her companion
echoed the scream. The figure reached out.
grabbed the first bicycle and held 1t. according
to the story. as long as n minute. Perhaps it
was because the young woman promptly top
pied OF the seat that the spook did not hold
her instead OF the wheel. The girls gave
series OF resounding screams and the figure
vanished
The young women made for home as rapidly
as they could paddle their wheels and told
their mothers what had happened. They de-
scribed the thing that frightened them as
wearing long. light wrapper which covered
its supposed head and it's arms. Upon the
head was a continuance that looked something
like sun bonnet. and seemed to the girls to
be made out OF the mating that comes on tea
boxes. Before sunset the next day everybody
in Centre Moriches and most people In East
Moriches knew OF the spook. A night or two
later. a young man and young woman were
walking along Lake avenue. Suddenly their
promenade was interrupted by tho appearance
OF the figure directly in their path. The
young woman screamed, and rs in the case OF
the bicycle girls. so soon as the spook had sue
ceeded in frightening the pedestrians 1t dis
appeared in the darkness. with out n ound
Such occurrences continued nightly. to last
Monday night.
Shortly before 8 o'clock on Monday evening
Mr.. and Mrs +. Frank Penny. accompanied by
young woman. were returning home from an
evening call. The Penny live in Senix ave-
nue.. about three-quarters OF a mile from Main
street. They had reached point two houses
south Of the Vanderbilt place and the young
woman was talking about the spook Mr.
Penny remarked that he wouldn't mind meet
ing the village terror lust about that time, II
for no other purpose than to get such specific
information about 1t as could only be obtained
from personal contact Hardly had Mr. Penny
made the remark before the spook stalk ed out
from behind big oak tree. Both women
clutched Mr. Penny and screamed after the
usual manner whereupon the spook turning
about as military man turns parade. dis
appeared through a corn field to the west OF
the road
Mr.. Penny wanted to follow II up The
women said no. They wouldn't dare stand in
that road alone they said. for the sixteenth
part OF second. Mr. Penny took them home
and then organized a searching party OF half
a-dozen men. each provided with bicycle
antern. They proceeded to the place where
the spook had appeared and followed the direc-
tion which Mr.. Penny said it had taken Mr..
Penny told Sun reporter today that he and
his friends found the spook's tracks in the
corn field. The tracks were made evidently.
by a boot about numbe eight. which seemed
to be fitted with rubber sole. Mr.. Penny
says that the tracks were followed to the
western edge of the corn field and then were
lost in the grass. His description OF the figure
corresponds to that furnished by everybody
who has seen 1t. but Mr.. Penny assure that 1T"
was man dressed up in a long wrapper with
something like a sun bonnet on his head
Since Mr. Penny's meeting with the spook it
hasn't been seen. This may be accounted for
on two grounds. 1t became common report
about the village on Tuesday TINT Mr. Penny
decided to take walks by himself at night
thereafter. his only companion being good
serviceable revolver. 1t also became known
that Mr.. Penny had induced several OF his
friends'to take nightly promenades with similar
companions. Some say that is the reason why
the spook hasn't appeared since.
The other reason given for It's non appear
ance is that the annoyer In spook form has
been positively identified as q well-known
young man living here. II Is said that GER
tain woman saw the follow In question put on
his ghostly apparel and walk away from tho
residence OF a summer cottager where he Is
employed. The woman is very positive in her
story. and what is more to the point. a relative
Of the young man accused him on Tuesday az
ternoon OF being the guilty one. The young
man Indignantly repudiated the charge. but it
is said. nevertheless. that he is greatly per-
turbed. However that may be. the men Of Cen
ire Morches are now walking arsenals. and 1t
is safe to say that II the spook is seen again
there will be some shooting done.