A WILD WEIRD GHOST STORY---GARNETT JOURNAL, December 1896 Transcribed and submitted by Ann Lambert, (c) October 2000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- KSGENWEB INTERNET GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY COPYRIGHT NOTICE: In keeping with the KSGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- A Wild Weird Ghost Story Midway between Greeley and Garnett, about 25 miles from this place is a nice farm house, situated on a fine farm that is, it is reliably said, ready to be deeded to anyone who will live in the house and till the farm. It is said to be haunted and the stories emanate relative to it are of a character to cause one's blood to congeal. A few months or years ago a gentleman purchased the property and moved into the house, accompanied by a handsome lady whom he said was his wife. After living there sometime with the wife, it is given out, had gone on a visit. Soon the man had disposed of the place to another party and he, too, dropped out of sight. the new owner took possession, but in a short time moved away and rented his place to various parties at various times, none of whom remained any length of time. Soon stories began to circulate that the house was haunted. Finally no one could be found to take the farm until an Irishman, hearing that the owner would deed the place to anyone who would live in it, moved in. He had no family and was not lacking in nerve. He maintained that he was not afraid of dead people half as much as live ones so he took possession, determined to withstand any amount of ghostly visitations. The first night he retired to his room, after carefully locking all doors and feeling rather nervous, he refrained from retiring, but sat up and read. Soon the performance commenced. In the upstairs part of the house he heard a lady singing and that man said he never in his life had heard such beautiful melodies or such a musical voice...No prima donna had ever bewitched him with her voice. Rich, melodious and of wonderful power and compass the notes that rang out as never heard by a mortal before. shortly the singing ceased and such a racket as he never before heard was raised, the same as if several persons were tumbling downstairs. The door of his room, which had been securely locked, suddenly opened and in stepped a form robed in woman's wear, but headless. and there it stood, a ghastly spectacle which completely overawed the man. The Irishman, as quick as his legs would bear him up, darted past the headless creature and fled. No amount of money could induce him again to occupy the place. What causes these manifestations is beyond the power on conjecture of the people of that section, but there are many who believe that the man who lived there first, and whose wife was supposed to be away on a visit had murdered his wife who again appears to influence the people present to search the premises, and bring her murderer to justice. If there are any Osawatomie people who want a good farm free this case would bear investigation-------Osawatomie Globe === Source: Garnett Journal newspaper, December 1896, Garnett Kansas Disclaimer: With only minors changes, this article was transcribed exactly as it appeared.