Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-06-30
Ghosts in Lumber Camp.

The iumbermen who have been en-
camped 10 the fields to the north Of town,
winch are being cleared Of the timber BY
the Bessimer Limestone Company for the
purpose Of making crossties for the new
railroad switch to the limestone and iron
ore feds, have become 50 alarmed at the
uncanny surroundings and the ghostly
noises that they have positively refused TO
remain at the place after dark.
When Mr. w. c. Leonard. the manag-
er ofthe business for the company, went
10 the saw mill at ten clock Saturday
morning he found the half dozen lumber
men sitting around talking with frghten-
ed expressions upon their faces. Mr.
Leonard was at first somewhat angry at
seeing that no work had been done that
morning, but when he learned the cause
Of the cessation of work he could not
help bur give way to his anger to other
feelings.
The truth OF the matter is the men
were really scared. Among the corwd
Of lumpermen, is the well known sawyer,
James Moran, were too scared 10 work. so
frightened that they could do nothing but
81, around and chat and wonder at what
mad taken place the night before.
1t was in the J. v. Kearney field, now
owned by Mrs. Bnster, where the strange
occurrences took place. The company has
purchased the timber on it for the purpose
Of making crosstles and lumber Tor the
new buildings they are soon to erect. In
the field near the place where the saw
mill stands are several trenches in which
dead soldiers are buried This is what
gave rise 10 the uncanny feelings in the
breasts OF the lumbermen IN the camp.
Every night since they have been there
they claim they have heard ghostly noises
Cf every description, beginning at ten
O'Clock and ending al midnight. They
SAID they were with difficulty able to stand
it until Friday night, when the climax was
reached That night beginning at about
ten O'Clock they could hear axes chop
ping, trees falling, the saw mill going at
Jul speed and the engine door opening
and shutting at intervals. They looked
outside the tent, but could see nothing,
no ghosts, nor falling trees nor the saw
mill in operation. This noise continued,
however.
The lumbermen said it was about all
they could sand and they hudded about
in the tent and prepared for the worst.
Thoughts Of the dead soldiers buried at
their teet added to the uneasiness of the
situation. Atmidnight the noise ceased an
the men managed TO hold out until morn
ing.
AT daylight they went to investigate,
bur they gould see no signs of fallen trees
.or where the mill had been in operation
at night. Right there the men decided
not To do another stroke of work IN
that field and 1t was in that m cd they
we're III when Mr.. Leonard found them.
He finally prevailed upon them to finish
out the few trees that were left and they
are now working there during the day
and spending the night somewhere else,
Mr.. Leonard and Mr.. L. w. Robinson
approached the men again about the
ghosts and they still cling to their state
ment that the place is haunted and de-
clare they will not 90 near it after dark.
The men are all good, steady men. but they
all told tle same story IN all seriousness.
Since this has come to light, other peo-
pie living in that vicinity, VINO have held
back for fear that their listeners would
laugh at them, are coming forward ana
telling what strange things they have
heard and the whole neighDorhood is be-
coming alarmed