The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-05
vlneIand People Were Badly
Frightened by Il.
DIDN'T MIND THREATS SHOOT
Wh,n Policeman Took II Into Cuit,dI The
Sp,tk Was Found 10 Be a Deaf and
fsehIs-MIadei Vienna.

New York. July 5.--A ghost" with a
club eight feet long over its shoulder ter
rified many young people on the fashion
able driveway Of Vineland. n. j.. late
THURSDAY night and then stalked boldly
into town and scared the mayor and the
entire night police force.
The "spook' was first seen by the
Misses Hulda Birklard and Marie Quar-
Ion and escorts. William Bishop and Ben
net Jane, while walking along lands ave-
nue. sometimes called Lovers Lane"
IL was large ghost clad In pure white
gown with q large white robe thrown
over its shoulder togu fashion. It's feet
were white ana as big AS snowshoes and
over It's shoulder IL carried club eight
feet long The spectre so frightened the
young people that tho girls screamed and
ran breathlessly into town. with their
male escorts closely following them.
When he heard OF the snost' Dr. John
s. Halsey. with his coachman, drove hur-
riedly toward the scene. He found II
standing like a statue OF marble In the
M die OF the road
THREATENED TO SHOOT.
"If you move a step l will shoot you in
the legs" cried the physician. levclling
his revolver. and the negro driver with
But the white apparition, with its club
over It's shoulder, remained as silent aud
as immovable az the sphinx and the ply
sican. greatly terrified wheeled his morse
about and dashed back to town.
AT midnight the ghost stalked boldly in
to town and along the main thoroughfare
with it's long club held threateningly
and its white robe frightened hoodhke
about it's head. The spectre created
panic among a bevy Of young women go
ing home from a party. and scattered late
pedestrians down side streets and into
the nearest alleys. Clubmen. who met
the ghost while going home ran back to
their club houses and breathlessly told OF
meeting the 'spook." They were
promptly pronounced crazy by their
friends
Meantime the "spook" continued on its
stately march toward the centre OF the
town where II encountered night marshal
William II. Rohrer, who ordered IL to
stop.
When the ghost ignored him. Rohrer
pulled his pistol and levellng II again
commanded the apparition TO stop. but
the ghost kept on. ON second thought
Officer Rohrer decided not TO fire until
further investigation he says he
jumped out of Its way and hunted up Of
ficer Spence. Both officials. with clubs
drawn. then approached the ghost
WHICH I1u Stppptu III tit Sh'tt oht h"a
resumed its former staturesque pose.
They endeavored TO get Il to talk. but
the spectre refused to become acquainted
and remained as dumb as II carved out OF
stone.
PINCHED THE GHOST
Finally. after a whispered consultation
with Officer Spence and other timid per-
sons standing by. officer Rohrer ad-
vanced and grabbing the ghost by one
arm. pinched II 10 see II II was real
To the astonishment OF all the spook
uttered a cry and dropped the club. The
officers then removed the outer cloak and
saw the features Of comely woman.
Then they marched the "spook' TO the
drug store OF Mayor Conwell.
On investigation II was discovered that
the "spook' was an escaped inmate OF the
state home for feeble minded. one mile
from vineland The woman had fed from
the institution In her night gown after
wrapping white sheets around her feet
and throwing a white bed cover about
her shoulders. A carriage was quickly
summoned and she was taken back TO the
Institution. The woman was deaf.