Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-11-02

tHc blldloe d l')Vdi dllCe-
"'Colone,' he said, it's hoodoo
This railroad scheme and its pro-
moters will die suddenly. Sare'
81 laughed at his fears, and we
lay down to rather restless night.
The work in this section was not
completed next day in time to re-
turn to the main camp, and half a
dozen times in the course of the
work Buck spoke about the ghosts,
as he persisted in calling the phe-
nomenon, and he was even more
muddled than usual in his manipu-
lation of the transit. Finally his
slowncss caused night to come on
before our task was completed, and
we therefore returned at dusk to the
same camping place as the night be-
fore.
after we had eaten supper Buck
said: Colonel, | never want to see
that internal light again. Ghosts
or no ghosts, it's no good, and no
luck will come of it,
"The words were scarcely out OF
his mouth when, apparently not
more than hundred yards away,
the huge ball of fire appeared like
q flash, dancing up and down and
seemingly coming dead toward US.
Now Buck became almost beside
himself with terror. Let's go, and
the quicker the BETTER shouted my
now thoroughly alarmed companion,
but suddenly, as on the previous
night, the light vanished. Buck
then recovered some portion Of his
equanimity, and, though he was
still anxious to return to camp,
finally persuaded him that there was
danger that we would lose our way
if we ventured out on the desert aft
er dark, while if We remained there
was nothing to be afraid Of. Noi-
Their of us slept much, however,
for | must confess that had sort
Of creepy sensation myself, and we
were up early next morning, COM
pleted our work and got an early
start back to camp.
"While we were OH the road Buck
said: Colonel, | don't want to dis
courage you, but the people who are
at the head of this scheme to build
competing railroad will die sud
denly, and this work will stop. In
fact, / wouldn't wonder if you and
| both went over the range with
them to keep them company. Bat
they are going, sure
"How little you know | replied,
and | could say no more, as ny
hackers were then unknown.
"Now let me tell you the strange
sequel. The very same week that
Buck made his prediction the Bar
ings failed. Early in November
Henry D. Minot, the leading spirit
and financial head Of the enterprise,
was killed in a railroad accident
while returning from Washington,
where he had concluded the pur-
chase of General Beale's ranches in
every detail save the passing Of the
papers and paying the money, the
intention having been to subdlyide
that immense estate Of 2G4,OOO
acres.
"On Thanksgiving day of the
same month came orders to close the
work, discharge everybody and
break camp. The following year
Allan Marvel, president of the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Re
road, died after a brief illness, he
having been the second hacker OF
this great enterprise, and soon fol-
lowed the death Of Mr.. Magoun of
the great banking house Of Barring,
Magoun Il Co., the third and last
of the promoters of rival railroad
to the Southern Pacific system"
"What became Of Buck" | asked
as the colonel paused.
"Buck? Just read that clipping,
and the colonel took from his peck
etbook a worn bit of newspaper and
handed it to me. 1t read as fol-
lows:
Bagdad, Colorado Desert. Jan. IL. 1889
An old Inspector and surveyor known as
Buck Pomeroy disappeared mysterlously
from his camp at this point three days
ago. and no trace Of him has been found.
He was IN company with two friends and
was apparently In good health and spirits.
They all retired. as customary. early In
the evening, but In the morning Buck was
missing. and dlligent search has failed to
find him. He went away just as he was
rolled I'm his blankcts-baTefooted and hall
dressed One OF the men said he thought
he heard Bucks voice In the night saying
something about some ghosts being after
him, but he thought II was dream and
80 paid no attention to 1t. Buck has evil
IDENTIFY Joined that innumerable caravan
OF men whose bones whten the remote
sections Of the desert and will doubtless
remain forever without burial.
folded up the clipping and re-
turned it to the colonel. He put It
back in his pocketbook without a
word. San Francisco Call.
Treasured.