Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-10-01
Excitement Prevails in Neigh
borhood of Amish Church
Near Eagle Grove
BRAVE HEARTS QUAIL BEFORE 1T
Contrary to the Usual Suicidal Tenden-
cies of Ghosts, This Nocturnal visi-
tant Seems to Be of Playful Ma
ture-cIose Watch Fails to Solve the
Mystery.
Special to Times-Republ,ean

Special to Times Republican.
Eagle Grove, Oct. 1.-Tense excite
ment and fear now prevails in the us
ually quiet ard peaceful neighborhoo6
surrounding little church building sin
milas east and north of town. where
the sedate and staid Anaish farmers
and their families are wont to congre-
gate on each Sabbath day for the pur-
pose of attending worship. The cause
of this excitement and trembling is a
real live ghost, whose fnvorite haunt
and particular station seems to be the
Immediate vicinity of that little white
church, so silent and STILL on the prai-
RE.
The ghost, or phantom. or "spook.
or "hobgoblin," or spirit or whatever
1t may be seems to be of playful ma
ture, and not at all afflicted with sui
cidal tendencies as ghosts are often re-
puted to be. This particular nocturnal
visitant, so it is reported by stout
hearted men to whom fear Is unknown.
and who have seen 1t, is of tenuous,
ethereal nature, about four feet in
height, squatty and broad. with long.
wide arms. and with big black eyes as
large. as your hand.
The ghost was first seen some time
ago by a Clarion young man who was
returning home at the midnight hour.
after having spent the evening with his
sweetheart. Arriving home he related
his experience on the following day.
Many Clarion people kept watch for
1t, but never caught glimpse of the
apparation. About a week ago some
of the good people living in that neigh
borhood. were reported to have seen
the ghost.
Last Saturday night four of our
young men. we'll equipped with muscle,
Drawn and nerve, drove out to inyesti-
gate the truth of the ghost stories and
to prove that 1t was ali imaginings of
the effeminate minded. They returned.
however, thoroughly convinced that the
ghost was the real thing.
After having drove around the church
and up and down the road in all three
directiOnS--tne ROAD UFancTeS d the
church--and not having seen or heard
anything strange or terrifying, they
decided TO return and give up The quest.
Passing the church they were startled
and Mortified to see a thing which APP
peared to be q shadow crouehing low
on the church steps. Az they approach
ed, it began to move, beckoning with its
hands for them to follow. They at
tempted TO shoot. but lust as the eye
caught the bead. the apparation would
disappear. BY this time their hair was
standing on end ami perspiration
streamed from every pore. Diving
around the building, 1t disappeared un-
der one corner. Hearing q slight sound
overhead, they beheld 1t standing on the
church roof reckoning with outstretch-
ed arms. Enough. II was more than
flesh and blood could stand. They drove
rapidly from the haunted place, salts
fed and glad to get away.
Every night since then, many OF our
brave and reckless youths, ana older
ones too, have kept a. close watch. de-
termining to solve the mystery. Many
scott and laugh at the four who saw the
ghost. but they stoutl.f maintain that
they saw 1t. and felt Its mysterious in
fiilence