1886 - A 'Ghost" Story

“A ghost story is startling what few superstitious people there are in the east end of the city. The ghost was first seen last Thursday night prowling around the eastern terminus of Jackson street and on Wellington street.”

Hamilton Spectator.   September 21, 1886

Readers of the Spectator who did not live in the immediate neighborhood of the far east end of Jackson Street East or Wellington Street South, south of Main street, might have been startled to read on a Monday morning that a ghost had been seen on streets in east Hamilton during the previous Saturday night.

In the column it was pointed out that police veteran, and holder of Badge #1, Peter Ferris reacted when he heard shots fired, reportedly at the ghost:

“Saturday night it was fired upon, and Constable Ferris, who lives in the vicinity, hearing the reports, went out to arrest the disturber, but could not find him.”¹

¹ “A Ghost Story.”

Hamilton Spectator.   September 21, 1886

      

By the next day, rumors of a ghost haunting the neighborhoods mentioned had spread all over the city:

“Sunday night, hundreds of people walked around in the vicinity until nearly midnight but could see nothing out of the common.

“One young lady, though, became so frightened that she fainted and had to be taken home in a hack.

“If the alleged practical joker who is making a fool of himself by trying to frighten timid women is caught, things will be made uncomfortably warm for him.”¹

It only took a few days before the story behind the ‘haunting’ was discovered and why the’ ghost’ was acting as he did:

 “People in the east end of the city are getting more excited everyday over the ghost story that has been referred to in the Spectator in the last day or two.

“Tuesday night again, several hundred people stood around the corners of Jackson and Wellington, and Jackson and Spring streets. They three stones at the tannery, and shouted and howled around in a supremely idiotic manner. The patrol wagon went down with a posse of seven or eight policemen, and the wagon was followed by a small procession of carriages.

“The ‘ghost’ did not put in an appearance, however, and about 10 o’clock, the crowd dispersed.

“To those who know the real state of affairs, the whole thing is eminently ludicrous, and the free people who are in the swim, are having a quiet laugh at the expense of those who go there expecting to see something mysterious and terrible.

“The fact of the matter simply is that a young person of the female persuasion, who lives in that locality, is sought after by another person of the male persuasion, who happens to be married.

“For various reasons, best known to himself, the married man prefers to keep his identity secret, and when he clandestinely meets the young woman, he disguises himself in a long coat and a slough felt hat. Being very much afraid that people will notice him particularly, he does all he can to attract their attention by walking in a stealthy and mysterious manner, dodging around trees, hiding in alleys and doing other things equally idiotic. Some people saw him, of course, and started the little ghost story which spread and has caused all this trouble.²

² “The East End Ghost : A Romantic Little Tale That Unveils the Mystery”

Hamilton Spectator.    September 23, 1886.