Ghosts
Published June 2, 1889 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Have you ever seen a ghost?
The Sunday Post-Dispatch correspondents scour Missouri and Illinois for Spook stories.
“Ghosts have been seen and described by many veracious people since the world began, yet the preponderance of testimony, when it comes to collecting and presenting evidence on this subject in any community, seems always to weigh against the ghost. With a view to ascertaining the exact standing of spooks in this neighborhood the Sunday Post-Dispatch instructed its correspondents in Missouri and Illinois to interview as many persons as possible concerning their experiences with ghosts and to ascertain the opinions of people on the subject. The result of these interviews is here given. Many thrilling ghost stories are recited, and some new and startling information is presented. Readers of the Sunday Post-Dispatch will find the interviews entertaining reading.”
[This is the excerpt that pertained to Springfield.]
“Col. Cal Hamontree is a believer in ghosts and is famous at telling his experiences in this line. While his partner, Wm. Barton, is less radical in his views he nevertheless believes in ghosts to a considerable extent.
“Frank Mauer of the Boston Store can scarcely believe that ghosts really exist, but is often frightened almost to death at hearing ghost stories related.
“Mr. H.M. Heckart, the well-known jeweler, believes that ghosts are a thing of the past, although he frequently hears such things spoken of and often meets people about his place of business who really believe that such hideous things exist and visit people to warn them of coming danger.
“One of the few who are willing to confess their belief in spirits and specters is the popular salesman. Harry Grubbs, of the C. Bailey Clothing Co. He thinks ghosts are sent by providence and there is no way of explaining how they come or go.
“Mrs. W.C. Jones says she has actually seen ghosts in all their hideous forms and would not remain alone in the dark one hour for the whole world.
“Mrs. Nelson Small is rather a believer in ghosts and thinks while they may not exist at present there can be no doubt as to the existence of the strange creatures in the past.
“Miss Mamie Campbell says she believes in ghosts and hidden spirits, and could never be convinced that such creatures do not exist.
“Ned Grubber, the popular manager of the C. Bailey Clothing Co., relates many interesting ghost stories, and says he has been taught to fear hidden creatures from his childhood.
“J.S. Hixson of the Western Union telegraph office imagines that many of the ghost stories so frequently related are true beyond a doubt, and has met with many incidents when he thought the fatal hour had arrived and would have been willing to sell his life for a shilling.
“At the Medical Springs in Lawrence County, Lee Paris is sure he saw a real ghost, and says that he did not recover from his fright for weeks afterward. He believes in the existence of the strange creatures, but thinks they seldom make their appearance.
“August Skoog is a firm believer in ghosts and all kinds of mysterious creatures. He is little over 30 years of age but is almost entirely bald, which he claims is the result of being frightened by the appearance of strange spirits.
“While not a believer in ghosts Marcus Summerfield is well posted in ghost stories and relates a few remarkable experiences. He says that at one time he saw a real ghost, and it was several days before he recovered from his fright.
“A.J. Vroman, relates several very interesting ghost stories and is a very decided believer in spirits and specters. He believes there are few people who really do not believe in ghosts, but many are ashamed to confess their weakness.”
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