Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-04
:SPOOK PHOTOGRAPH
Remarkable Story by Assistant
State Librarian Emery.
Graphically Told by an imaginative
Newspaper Scribe.
Tale is Weird and Uneanny but Very
interesting.

and "slants" are scarcer still, Col. HI
liott G. Dill. the Augusta representative
Of the Lewiston Journal. digs up SOM
| weird and uncanny tale when IL
springs upon an unsuspccting publi'
with an aplomb that Is simply admir-
able. The following story is the lates
from his pen:
Most of you have heard of spooA
photographs, but they were sinpl,
fixes. made by double exposures and
hat sort of thing.
So far as known, there was never but
ONE genuine spook photograph made
that IL. the photograph of genuine
spook, q spook which was we'll au'
thenticated and did not depend for its
existence on the wild story of some
nervous woman scurrying home by the
graveyard at midnight.
That photograph was made by Mr.. T.
W. Emery. the assistant librarian in
the State library, and ne has the photo
graph as a6ded proof that his story Is
as he tells il.
! In the first place. it will be necessary
to identify the spook before Mr.. Emery
can take the stand to testify regarding
his photograph.
| This was back in the days of the Old
| library" said Mr.. Emery. in telling the
| tale. The library was then located
where the State assessors now reckon
IN how much you and l ought to pay
for the privilege OF teing governed.
| The reading-room of the old library Is
no." their office. The reference books
and the work-room of the library were
IN The hnvs. raacha1 hxy
and stairway which has since been
closed and papered over. The only en-
trance to the old Work-room Is now
from tho stairway leading to the
cupola. In those days the entrance
from the cupola stairway was never
used, Up above the work-rOom there
was and is today. a small room into
which the sunlight never enters. 1t is
q room without windows and only one
door. In the old days we kept there the
patent office records.
Soon after came into the library an
old man began coming there to look
OVER these records. He had an idea
.i!atshe had an invention that would
bring him fame and fortune and he
wanted to see if there was anything on
the books of the patent office which
would bal him from getting patent.
Day afterday no used to come and ask
IN . meek, mild voice II he might be
permitted TO search the records.
would lead the way upstairs. light the
gas ana leave him To pore over the big
volumes at his lelsuF. When it came
time ~, close would tell him that the
tIIne was up. help him on with his
things, turn OFT the gas ana lead him
down the stairs.
fecaHe7 SO used to his footsteps
that ISeouids tell his step as he came up
the stairs to the outer office. He wasn't
sr.y foo strong when he first began
ming and as time went on he grew
weaker. I would notice that he halted
"A the stairs as he cams up, pausing
for strength IT. continue. yet he was as
courteous and unobtrusive in his ways
I Us eyer and seemed worried lest he
should bother US with his many visits.
Toward the close of his coming he
Would bring his lunch with him and
lspend the whole day In the little closed
bin room.
/ zone night he didn't come down at
closing time and when l went up to tell
! him that we we're going to close ] found
him bowed over a big book. his head
on his arms, unconscious. l almos:
Thought he was dead but it was only ex-
haustion and glass of water brought
| him to.
| He didn't come to the library the
next day. nor the next and when asked
about him from someone who knew him
| | was told that he had gone over the
Il -. ~
Ipatents and worry is unknown.
missed the dear old man more than l
| can tell you for his gentle countenance
Twas a tcnediction and we all Of us
loved him.
"3ut after that there was an mex
lplicable presence in the library. Many
IL the time | have looked up from my
desk. expecting 10 see our old friend
standing patiently at my side asking If
he would he permitted to go upstairs
and cxa mine the records. At those
times could have sworn that as
had worked ! had heard him come up
the stairs and enter the room. l often
used to hear him moving round among
TIE shelves in the upper room. his foot
steps echoing on the uncarpeted floor
Several times found myself halfway
upstairs on my way to tell him that Il
Was closing time. 50 nneonsciously GER
tain was ! that I had heard him come
in and go up to his old place. 1 dom,
claim to believe in the esoteric to any
tex;enu and for the most part l coun
myself As hard-headed as the next mar
when II comes to the supernatural
But that the spirit of the old man USED
! tn come back and pore over those vol
umes | have not the slightest doubt
often found some of his favorite book
opened on the tables when l coult
swear that no one had been into tn
room since had put every volume bacl
in its place in the cases"
So much for the spook itself. l thin
you will agree that it has been fun
authenticated. Now for the photo
Igraph.
, 1.-THE Photographic features of tn
d casa is the most startling and remark
% able of ALL" continued Mr.. Emery. 81
!, did not happen till long after the add
!! ton to the State House had been but
ard the library had been moved 10 Il
: present quarters. ! became a Gamer
enthusiast ard not having goo
chance for a darkroom at home.
utilized a closet in the corner of the oil