A “ GHOST ” SCARE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1927, Page 4

A “ GHOST ” SCARE

STOGIES OF SENSELESS FRANKS. A f-CK LAND, Oct. 8. Down ’Wailii way there are ghosts—. at least everybody in the district dei lares that a ghost gallivants at night. So startling are the hair-raising stories that have been toid that tiio people of 1 names, l’aeroa and Wailii are locking all their doors and windows after dark.

•Host of the stories have a strong I cigar Allan f’oe flavour. Gripped by tin* ghost scale tile women and children ol Waiiii are thoroughly alarmed, and alter dark thirty or forty men. looking very bold, have paraded the town armed with vicious looking bludgeons. The police do not give much credit to the statements, although members of the force have been making searching

investigations. One story is told liy a doctor. Driving to a ease late one night lie saw a iigrue dressed in conventional “ apparition ” apparel standing majestic in the roadway. As soon as the doctor started to pull his ear up the “ghost” raced into the hush bv the side of the road. After the “ ghost ” raced the doctor, hut no trace could he found. “ Another story comes from Thames. Going home one night a man saw a tall figure standing in the roadway. The man stopped. The figure advanced. “ What are you staring at?” it asked. “ 1 think your’re this —— ghost,” said the Ilian slowly and haughtily. The figure undid a dark overcoat, at the same time raising his face.

which was masked. Phosphorus lit up the clothes tinder his overcoat and his masked face shone brightly. The man tore down the road and the figure faded away. The feature about the whole business is the fact that the “ ghost ” has never been seen by two people at the same. time. At present the more impressionable people in the district are starting in fright at the sight of a white horse or a flapping sheet on a clothes line. This morning another story came from AVailii. A woman made a most definite statement that about 3.30. after the street lights had been put out. a form appeared on the verandah o! her house. A powerful electric torch flashed through the window and this was followed by. a peculiar hissing noise like that of some mechanical toy. The apparition entered the house by the front door, which had blown open and stood at the bedroom door for r few moments. According to the woman it wore a skull cap with white streaks and was dressed in a dark suit. She was too scared to give any alarm tithe people of the house. Suspected of being responsible for tlie mad prank a young man wile works in Wailii was closely questioned by the police. A search was also made for “ ghost ” clothes. It is understood that the man indignantly denied any suggestion that he was responsible. Nothing was found.