New-York tribune., 1906-11-18
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH
Incidents That Display Brooklyn as
Home of the Supernatural.

BROOKLYN together with the rest OF the west
ern end of Long Island, although the home of
a large and enlightened population, is subject
TO outbreaks of superstition and to what really
90 seem to be abnormal happenings A few
years ago hundreds of people went nightly to
one Of the entrances of Evergreens Cemetery to
watch for the spectre Of a hearse, drawn by
spirit horses and driven by spirit driver. The
apparition is said to have frequently been seen.
ON several occasions. it is reported some of the
holder spectators extended a rope across the
gateway but the apparition passed on undfs-
turbed.
Then It came Greenwood Cemetery's turn. The
spectre Of a woman appeared on the tracks of
the old Culver Road which runs from Brooklyn
TO Coney Island and Fort Hamilton avenue.
The track extends along one side of the grave
yard and the avenue along another side, at right
angles TO the track. The ghost appeared to
many motormen and pedestrians, and always.
when followed. glided over the high iron picket
fence into the city of tombs Any one who has
travelled by the cemetery late at night can well
believe that the place is productive of appari-
tons The white marble stones, MANY of which
have the form of draped figures, appear through
the darkness in manner that is highly un-
canny.
Not long ago an old man died who had spent
several Of the last years of his life hermit
IN the vault occupied by his wife's body A few
months ago workmen found human bones in the
Bedford section while digging the foundations
cenletery had once occupied the Site but the
local historians can find no records to confirm
the supposition- II IS just likely that the
territory was once used by some murderer 10
conceal the evidence of his crimes Such man
died half a dozen years ago in Williamsburg
For many years he had occupied by himself a
house on Broadway. He was an undertaken by
trade and interested IN finding an embalm-
ing fluid that would preserve the human body in
a perfect state of preservation. Certain trusted
workmen have made known since his death that
the walls and floor Of his cellar are honey
combed with vaults containing bodies with
which he experimental. He began his opera
tons before the Civil War and he is accredited
with being the cause Of the mysterious disap-
pearance OF many Of his nefgllbors and Of many
returning soldiers. TWO of the samples Of his
art which some persons have seen were wonder
fully preserved in transparent nqads One
specimen was the body of a beautiful worna
and the other the tiny hand Of a child
While Brooklyn has what many people believe
q real bona hde spiritual medium In the person
OF Mrs. May s. Pepper, who is the pastor of a
congregation OF Spiritualists which holds its
meetings in the Aurora Grata Cathedral Bedford
avenue and Madison street. it has also inha bi-
sants who appear to possess little reverence for
the tomb and the things Of the tomb A .uit
has recently been before the Surrogate In which
woman demanded satisfaction because her
friend had been buried in q dress which was in
tended by the dead woman TO go to her as a
beQuest. AS the Surrogate did not consider il
recover the garment for the beneficiary he de-
cided that the estate should make amends by
the payment Of 500.
The restoration Of gravestones that have for
half a century served as hearthstones in privat G
dwelling houses, and the unexplainable presence
OF owls, perched on kitchen ranges and glaring
at frightened servants through the gloom OF
early mornings, seem commonplace IN Western
Long Island Even the building OF the subway
through the heart Of Brooklyn has not dis
PEELED its unseen denizens. Nor has Long Island
City been exercised by either the surface or the
subterfsnean advance OF the agencies of mate
yaalistfc industrfalism.