Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-02-15
GHOST OF BIG BULL TUNNEL
Raising Experience of Train
men on a Southern Railroad
Extension.

Il have heard some mighty weird
ghost stories in my life said a Viz.
ginia railroad man who reached town
a day or so ago, relates the Washing
ton Star, but the most ghostly has
been told me by persons OF honest and
trustworthy character The story is
that Norfolk & Western trainmen
have recently heard some unearthly
sounds in Big Bull tunnel. which is
in the mountains OF Virginia not far
from the Kentucky line and on the
Clinch valley extension Of the Norfolk
& Western road The residents OF the
neighborhood have talked about hair
raising noises a long time, but the
railroad men did not want to yield to
these stories
"0n the afternoon Of July II a
freight train in charge OF Capt Cal
laway and Engineer Kerns stopped
just as the rear ear cleared the tun-
mel John Perry was the iagman and
be had to hasten back into the tunnel
to protect the train from collision.
/ But Peery did not stay long in the
/ hole. and when be reached the train
at the mouth be declared he had heard
! sounds in there which no human be-
ing could stand. He had the appear
/ ance Of a man badly scared. and Cal
+ laway and Kerns went back into the
tunnel with him When they reached
/ the point where Peery said he had
heard the sounds that ratified him the
trio stopped.
According to all three Of the men
they did not have to wait long They
say they never heard such groans as
those which proceeded from the side
OF the tunnel. which is bricked. The
voice was that OF a man apparently
in terrible anguish. The men felt
chllls chasing each other down their
spines and their hair raised in spite
OF their efforts TO keep cool. But
there were three OF them and the
touch Of elbows had a reassuring Ell
feet. Finally Capt Galloway spoke
@what do you want?" he asked
and the sound Of his voice did not
help make him more comfortable. The
answer came without hesitation.
Remove that awful weight from
my body said the voice, which ap
reared TO proceed from out the solit
wall. The men agree that the voice
was that of man with a heavy Loaf
on his chest, and in great torture. ]
was minute before the men coul'
whisper a word to each other Thei
the voice cried:
They are drinking my blood
..The trainmen could not stand
any longer and hastened back 70 thei
train. But before they did so the,
made a careful examination Of th
walls, thinking it possible that som
wag had found a hiding place an
was playing a practical joke. Their
was not a break in the brick whie
hid the sides and the top Of the tunne
. The three men who heard the vote
are positive that il was not the yoic
OF a live human being.
Three men, al least, have lost thei
lives in the tunnel. One OF the me
Who assisted in arching the tunne
about two years ago stoutly maintain
that II Is haunted, or. at least tina
sounds may be heard therein whic
/ are not susceptible Of explanation.
|. number OF trainmen are making a
: raneements to investigate the stor
, further and with all the care possible
!. The story that the three trainmen te
2 Is credited very generally, as they a.
I men of good reputation for truth an
' veracity. but their fellows want
!. verify il for themselves. The incldei
g has created great deal OF CONNER
!. and some excitement among the pc
: nile who reside near the tunnel"