This story is from the March 10, 1913 edition of the Pittsburgh Daily Post and it reads almost like an episode of Scooby Doo! What was this horrific half-man, half-beast that was seen in the mines and why was it so intent on getting the miners to leave? Was it a warning of a potential mine accident...or just someone playing a prank? I absolutely love mine folklore and ghost stories and will be delving more into that area in the next few months, so make sure you keep checking back here and on Facebook at
Theresa's Haunted History.
KITTANNING, Pa., March9,--Tales of a ghost having been seen in the Chickasaw coal mines were rife a few days ago. Scoffs at first greeted the story when it was told in the little mining town on the Pittsburgh & Shawmut railroad in Madison township. Later men rushed from the mines with terrifying stories of an apparition, half-man, half-beast, carrying a luminous dinner pail and going from room to room, ordering them to quit work. The men did not need a second warning, but are reported to have dropped tools and fled. It is said the wraith took possession of the motor, ordered its driver to depart and then took the trip of loaded cars to the pit mouth. On arriving outside, however, the trip was discovered by the tipple crew to be without its motorman, and it was taken in charge by the crew. The miners refused to work for several nights but tomorrow all are expected to return.
*Article found on
Ghost Hunt and Paranormal Research
