In honor of Halloween later this month, here's an interesting "ghost" story from the pages of the January 31, 1907 Lorain Daily News.
WHEN "GHOST" GREETS HIM
Erstwhile Morgue is Scene of Terror to Boston Store
Elevator Boy – Hair Raising Story of Herbert Tucker
and His Experiences With Inhabitants of the Spooky Cellar
****
BOY FLEES AND FAINTS WHEN "GHOST" GREETS HIM
Erstwhile Morgue is Scene of Terror to Boston Store
Elevator Boy – Hair Raising Story of Herbert Tucker
and His Experiences With Inhabitants of the Spooky Cellar
Did you ever see a ghost, or stating it in a broader and
more logical sense, did you ever imagine you saw one?
If you have never come in contact with his ghostship then
you cannot appreciate the feelings of Herbert Tucker, elevator boy at the
Boston store, as he pushed with blanched and terrified countenance through the
store yesterday afternoon to fall limp and terrorstricken into the arms of the
clerks just as he was exercising his powers of locomotion in placing the
basement of the Boston store as far from him as possible. The young man had
fainted.
It’s a story that had its beginnings several months ago and though it reads like a
fairy tale it is nevertheless true in every particular, as young Tucker and
other employes of the Boston store will readily vouch.
The building in which the Boston store is now located was
formerly occupied by Wickens and Ransom,
undertakers, and the basement was used as a morgue. Young Tucker was apprised
of this fact soon after taking charge of the elevator and his trips to the
dimly-lighted basement were made with alacrity, mingled with awe as his hurried
vision swept the large quiet room and his thoughts reverted to the dead that
had one time lined its walls.
Several weeks ago duty necessitated a penetration of gloom
farther than had been his custom on former occasions the young lad was
horrified to see a row of white robed figures barely discernable through the
semi-darkness on one side of the basement. Thoroughly frightened, Tucker was
unable to move from his tracks for a minute, but with the return of a flash of
courage, he seized a club that was lying at his feet and hurled it at one of
the figures. Not waiting to ascertain the result of his onslaught, he fled as
fast as his legs could carry him. He returned a few days later when the cellar
had been equipped with electric light fixtures and was brilliantly lighted to
find that his ghost was a dry goods dummy covered with muslim. The club he had
wielded on the day of his fright had gone true to its mark and was lodged firmly
between the steel ribs of the imaginary goblin.
This tale had barely been imparted to one of the clerks of
the store yesterday afternoon when Tucker was called upon to perform an errand
in the basement. Descending the elevator the young man was in the act of
stepping from the cage when a cold and clammy hand closed over his and he was
greeted with “Hello, boy.”
Tucker let out one terrified yell and made a bolt for the
stairs. No time to take elevators on an occasion like this.
Tucker came to the end of his flight as he was about to open
the door leading to the street where he fell into the arms of a clerk. The
strain had proven too much for the little fellow and he had fainted. He was
soon revived and only after it had been explained to him that the hand placed
upon his as he stepped from the elevator was one of flesh and blood and the
property of the electrician who had been making some necessary repairs in the
basement, was his fears allayed. The man having just entered the basement from
the outside his hands were chilled and possessed altogether too much of that
clammy, ghoulish feeling for the elevator boy.
By the way, I did posts about the early days of the Boston Store – later (and better) known as Smith & Gerhart – here and here.
****
I tried to find out if the Tucker lad remained in the Lorain area after his fifteen minutes of fame, but was unsuccessful digging around in the city directories. I chased down one lead but was unable to determine if it was the same person.By the way, I did posts about the early days of the Boston Store – later (and better) known as Smith & Gerhart – here and here.
2 comments:
Love it
Speaking of Halloween...I remember when the downtown storefront windows would be painted with Halloween scenes around Halloween time, it was fun to check out the scenes and what school or group painted them. As a kid it got you in the mood for trick or treating. Todd
Post a Comment