Ghosts at Ingall's Crossing - 1899

Ghosts at Ingall's Crossing

The Morning Sun, Norwich, NY, January 21, 1899

Our readers will remember the early morning in September when the Chicago limited, a fast train on the O.&W. took a switch at Ingall's Crossing and ran into a tree and was wrecked, killing three persons.  Interest in the sad affair had about died out in the vicinity of the accident, until a short time ago, when it was revived by circumstances over which mortal man seems to have no control.

 

A flagman's cabin was located there, and a man was posted to watch through the long hours of the night, to see that all went well.  James Coe, of the section gang, was the one who first under took the lonely vigil and he preformed the duty for two nights.  On the third he asked a leave of absence for a few days on some pretense, which was granted.  Upon his return to work he refused to guard the crossing, protesting that ghosts and spirits annoyed him.  Another was detailed and he too saw strange and uncanny sights and resigned.  Another was sent, but he became touched with the cold and went into the adjacent lot, where the unfortunate trainman was found, and started to drag a brush to the shanty with which to kindle a fire.  A phantom wraith sought to prevent its being moved.  The field was left to the care of his mystic highness and the result was another watchman.

 

So the strange proceeding went on until nine men had reported there for duty, all seeing strange forms and hearing strange noises in the somber hours of the night, and all resigned. The time came when no Fulton man could be found who would go there to watch, but a man from Mexico who wanted work and wanted it badly, secured the position without opposition, and with no one to envy him he has held it for the past two weeks.  But three men were killed at the time of the wreck, but according to the number seen there, about three hundred, the place must be a ghostly stamping ground for all who get killed in railroad accidents.