Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-03-16
A Ghostly Experience
By Sam Davis

4 of seeming intelligence could de-
Nberately sit down and write ghost
stories merely as literary diversion
and for the sake Of narrowing the
feelings OF the reader.
A ghost story. no matter how en-
tertafning Il may be, IL pure fab
rication. has no business IN print for
the world is full of people so credO-
lous in disposition that the most abb
surd things. IL told with = serious
air, are apt 70 be accepted as the
truth. and the grOssest errors. foist-
ed upon the public by careless inven-
tion. become Perpetnsted as esta9-
EsSed facts.
make these observaticnh that the
reader may become acquainted with
my views. upon subjects supernatural
1T the beginning of the narrative
The txus was winter. and the scene
OF the manifestation n lonely moor
lying between the city OF Carson,
which is the capital OF Nevada, and
the small farm where for some years
Fast have raised hay. cattle and
small family.
A political function had kept me
out rather late, aud I was driving
hOra< after midnight
The night vos clear and starlit.
with snow on the ground and the air
somewhat nipPing in it's disposition
When about half way home. hav-
tny still two miles 20 go. gradually
became aware that something had
happened 20 nay bugEy, for IL seemed
60 run With less noise than usual In
Nevada the wheels of vehicles shrink
from the. dryncss OF the atmosphere.
coupled with the indifference Of their
owners, and mine were no exception
60 the rule. There was always more
or less space between the tire and
the felloe. and the wags of the city
had a way OF saying that my APP
proach vas always heraided by an
internal clatter which betokens a
careless man with all his buggy
wheels out OF repair.
II seemed to me suddenly that
something like IS per cent. Of the
usual clatter of the vehicle had
ceased. and was at loss TO un
derstand why. The feeling came
over me so strongly that something
unusual had transpired that / hest
tated 70 ascertain the cause. An III
defined feeling Of dread was upoI
we. and. I blush TO confess IL, real
iY feared 20 look around Finally. ,.
q strong effort. summoned m,
courage. and. glancing back, was as
Sonished 20 discover that the of hin'
NEheeI Of my buggy had disappeared
What was more, the vehicle di
not seem TO mind IL. but ran As leve
rs ever. The cessation OF the cla'
ter which that wheel always pre-
dueed was now explained. but the cor
tinued level running OF the bugg
was not. An awful. creepy feehn
oow came over me that almos
amounted 20 a pain. and in the mids
of my woadernnent the noise OF al
other wheel stopped. and I knew ths
q had fonoyyel its predecessor. I'll
two hind wheels were gone. deli
erately tnxned about and invest
gated. Nsere was running along @
an even keel. nAuticaliy speakin
with nothing but my two froi
wheels to GO on
AS WAs Considering the probah
tty Of toe others going. noticed
din. hszy thing hanging TO the HI
OF my OF front wheel. I speak in
dorsey se6se. after the manner of II
lowers Of the turf. for in reality Il
wheel was s4in on-. The outlines
the thing alluded 20 gradually
eAma mcre distinct and resolv
itself into the figure OF q human
Ing. and as sure as I wns alive IL W
trying 10 take. on the nut of I
axle. More fully 60 illustrate the i
pndence Of the shsdowy individr
In question. will further state IN
my nut wrench was missing. and
had evidently takea il to remove {
wheess OF my own buggy
watched him now with more
Terest than fear. for IL occurred
me that after two wheels were 90
~ did not matter much about I
Others, and I determined to see I
incident 10 the end.
In less time than ! have taken
tell IL this ghostly thing actually
moved the nut before my eyes, q
then. throwing its weight on
wheel--if I may be allowed TO ma
use of the word weight in such
eonneetion--the wheel and the gh
rolled over together in the sa
hrush. In spite Of the weirdness
she situation I was obliged to &
vent to little chuciSle. the first
tfnzation had given the ghost of
knowlsdge OF his presence.