The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1916-01-04
STARTLING SIGHTS
IN A HAUNTED Mine
FIGURES FLOAT IN VAPOR-LIIxE
CLOUDS. A PARTY LONG
MISSING is RECALLED.
FEW PEOPLE 60 THERE NOW
Those Who Venture Near Enough the
Mines to See the Weird Sights Flee
in Terror and Are Reticent About
Telling of Things They Witness.


| PETEAU, Okla.-Near this sleepy
little town, which is in the extreme
eastern part of the state, are numer-
Gus coal mines, many of which are
not being worked at present. For
several weeks strange rumblings have
been heard, which seemed to come
from nowhere in particular, but
which were analysed as coming from
the general direction of some of these
abandoned mines. The strange noises
could only be heard in the night
time, and after much speculation a
tour of investigation was planned
and volunteers asked to join the ex-
ploring party.
The weirdness of the thing was so
great and puzzling that most of the
party refused to go again, although
the next night the rumblings were
heard again as usual. However, sew
eral of the more venturesome made
a very steaIthy march toward the old
mine, which is several hundred feet
deep, and the depths of which have
not been explored in years, and when
nearing it concealed themselves in
the underbrush and awaited develop
ments. About the time they reached
their place of concealment the louder
sounds almost ceased and whisper
ings and murmurings began to be-
come audible.
Human-Like Forms in the Air.
The mouth of the mine was in view
of the party except for the darkness
which enveloped everything, but
when the whisperings began
strange apparition appeared to
emerge from the mouth of the pit
and spread round about in the form
of a luminous cloud, or fog, which
was a very strange pale green color
and seemed to be constantly CULVER
ing and glimmering with an unsteady
motion. About this time the whis-
perings became more and more dis
tinct and at the same time light
spots began to appear gradually in
the nebulous vapor, and after few
moments assumed forms not unlike
human ones, but as if suspended
about two feet from the earth and
after they had become quite visible
as to their outlines they began to
float gracefully about in the vapor,
or whatever it was.
After watching the mysterious per-
fr,,r1o tiD1n tho
struck witnesses attempted to steal
away, but just as some of them be-
gan to move the apparitiOn, as a
whole, took on a violent commotion
not unlike a whirlwind, the figures
| fading into obscurity, the whole mass
gradually disappearing into the
depths of the subterranean dungeon.
| The party took a sudden depart
ure for town and the journey was
made with dispatch and without con-
versatiOn, each one being too con-
| founded to speak. Those Of them
! who would have reached their homes
! only by travelling some distance alone
remained in the company of others
until morning. 1t was with many
misgivings that the story of their
strange experience was whispered
about, and as might have been eX-
pected they were not believed at first.
Curiosity, however, was aroused
and next night several of the more
daring of our tOwnsmen ventured to
| the spot, although no one of the party
of the night before went with them.
Within an hour they were seen bur"
riedly returning with blanched faces
Their story was similar to that OF the
first party, but all vowed they could
not be hired to visit the mine again.
Stranger Comes to Town.
On the following Monday travel
| ing man arrived here, and with him
burly young negro as body servant
While being shaved at barbershop
| he overheard something of the mat
| ter from some bystanders, and at
once became interested and soon mad
! the whole story. Thinking the p1ct-
! ure overdrawn or that there was a
| hoax somewhere in connection with
| it he decided to visit the mine MINI
self.
! He was given careful instructions
! Just how to proceed and with his Sus-
picious negro accompanying him ne
set out for the mine. Just what he
| and the negro saw has never DeGu
learned. Within an hour he returned
| hatless and coatless and with ex-
irene terror written on his face and
depicted in his every movement. Like
the others, he was reticent and could
mot be induced to speak, although he
sat up all night When questioned
as to the whereabouts of his negro
servant 10 peevishtly,r re 'tcl, Don
ask me: | don't know
Next morning searching party
Went 10 icok for him and when he
was f3unl he fed like d wild man
When al efforts TO get near nm ha1
failed a couple of COWBOYS mouIte1
on ponies captured nIm with lariats
He fought viciously until his master
approached him, when he became
calm, but at the slightest suggestion
of the mine and its mystery he would
become wild with terror. The sales
man and the negro left town without
Interviewing clstOmeis.
Colds Need Attention.