The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-04
ELYTON CEMETERY GHOST
 MAKES A VISITATION
After Bondage of More Than Sixty Years in Spirit Land Finds an Opportunity Disclose Great Secret Which Is
 Unfortunately Interrupted by Untimely Cock Crow.
BY CHARLES FELL.

The belief in the occasional appearance of ghosts has existed In all countries through all ages, and the common concep- ton Of the misty figures which we call ghosts Is that of the spirit of human returned to earth, or in more proper sense an apparition or a departed hu- man made semi-visible to the living eye. II these strange apparitons have ap- peared to men and women in every coun- try on the globe and through all the ages is 1t not really possible for the souls of some men to have the power of making themselves visible? Then 1t Is not necessarily absurd that some soul which has passed out of the body, through death, should be able to return and visit a person who is still in the flesh
 That bold and strange intruder of the old Elyton cemetery. where nearly all of the illustrious pioneers of the Magic City were inferred, has aroused the suspicion and curiosity of many of the innocent and peaceful inhabitants of the old town, and when the attention of the writer was called to the vistatios of the departed one the thought arose that 1t might have some mysterious and important message which had been brought from that bourne from which no traveller returns"
 So it occurred that the matter might bear investigation, and an over-curious "cub" reporter decided to make an at l tempt to interview the strange, white rooed individual of the cemetery, if he may be called an individual
 Spool1s are not released from the prison l In, ntbf aI, Crfp warden until after the hour of midnight, ana 1t Is absolute folly to talk of sec ing them earlier than 12 o'clock. If per sons talk of seeing ghosts before 59 min utes and 59 seconds after Il o'clock, they are untruthful.
 So, it happened that the white tomb- stones of the old. old cemetery came into view, after making the turn in the mac adamized road, shortly before midnight and all was quiet beyond expression in the rear of the graveyard, where stand was taken.
 Half past 2 o'clock came, and no ghost wi,h it and time went on for 15 minutes or more. With drowsy feeling, l lean back on an old oak which stood a few feet from tall tombstone Soon d chilly
 
 blew, and as I gazed fixedly at the white marble shaft a transformation came The stone took that strange misty form, and the air grew perceptibly cooler The misty matter took vague form and with breezy llgatness the ghost stepped forth onto terra firma.
 l Though ar almost uncomfortable an ticipation of the interview came to me, the fear which the strange appearance of the figure frightened me terribly With out hesitation, much to my surprise, the mls.y figure approached me, the long misty arm extending forth in half raised position evidently intending to carry the meaning of Peace be with your
 When l had mustered up courage enough to speak I arose from the ground and questioned the figure.
 Who are you and what is your mes sage?" said l.
 The long arm then took a perfectly perpendicular position, the index finger pointing heavenward.
 Swear" spoke the ghost.
 By what oath should I swear?" was my answer. The finger came down point ed at me, and then raised again to the first position.
 Swear" spoke the thing again
 'T swear" answered !, shivering.
 Spoken like spook," spoke the spook.
 The thing approached and for tire first time took definite form; that of a young sailor. stalwartsand handsome. "The mes sage" he said, which I have to deliver is one which binds me to this torturous human world. and upon the oath which you have just taken l shall relate it to you on the condition that you spread 1t among men, You are the first human who has not run away when I appeared in the last sixty years"
 'I agree to tell it to men, l said, and he began:
 Sixty years ago." he started, T was tho soul of a young sailor jovial and happy as the ghost of Caesar is in Spirit land tonight. In that youthful happiness I was bound by the ties of friendship 10 two other sailor boys, and happy as the birds we went to sea. But there was