A Dancing Ghost in Lewis County

Early Hot Air Balloon

In June of 1872, a Braxton County man was tending to his colts in neighboring Jacksonville, WV, just across the border into Lewis County. He was in the area of Abram's run, and while most of the town were attending church services at the nearby chapel, the unnamed man noticed what he felt was a GHOST!

A field surrounding the local 'haunted house' was currently the site of a what appeared to be a fiery, dancing phantom image. Alarmed at what he was witnessing, the man ran and got the closest neighbor, a former Confederate soldier. Unfazed by the possibility of a supernatural entity haunting this particular field, the former soldier bravely approached it and snatched it up. 

Unfortunately for the paranormal enthusiasts reading this, it wasn't a ghost. It was a balloon! Emboldened now that the threat of spooks and spirits was no longer an issue, the first man grabbed the balloon by the string, declared 'finders, keepers,' and proudly took it back home to Braxton County, showing anyone and everyone who he ran into his cool new find. 

But why was there a balloon found in a field in rural West Virginia in 1872?

The Weston Democrat, the newspaper who covered the story, notes that the balloon was a Greeley Balloon from Cincinnati, sent out as a message of peace and hope. 

The previous month, the Liberal Republican Party held its convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. Newspaper editor, Horace Greeley, was nominated to represent the party in the upcoming Presidential Election, a choice even the Democrats cross-supported. In what we'd today call a viral marketing campaign, Greeley hired renowned balloon pilot, Professor Samuel Archer King to tour the east coast in a huge hot air balloon called Colossus. As Colossus sailed over the open skies, it waved Greeley's distinct campaign flag. Apparently, smaller balloons were also released, one of which found its way to a field in Lewis County, WV....right next to a rumored haunted house. 

Ultimately, Greeley would lose the election to Ulysses S. Grant, and Professor King would have multiple issues with Colossus. It was a cool concept, but it wasn't enough to sway the majority of voters. What it DID do was cause a couple of paranormal-related scares, as those not realizing what the stunt was all about were witnessing an unidentified craft fly through the air....and occasionally finding the remnants of smaller items in unexpected places. 

The Weston Democrat
10 June 1872

TALA Tales: William Cook--Cooked Alive

Photo by Donnie Nunley
Source: Only in Your State

The summer of 1891 was pretty rough for the Weston State Hospital, also known as the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. Over the course of two months, four patients died tragically by their own hand, either through suicide or accident. I'll discuss those other patient tragedies in upcoming blogs, but for today's story, I wanted to discuss the horrific fate of William T. "Frank" Cook. 

Cook was a thirty-seven year old cigar maker from Wood County, WV who had been admitted to his second stay at the hospital on August 15, 1890. After being released the first time, he spent a few months at home before once again becoming erratic, and needing treatment. Generally known as being from a good family and being a calm and inoffensive patient, it's probably safe to say that in an overcrowded hospital, Cook was most likely not watched super closely...at least not as closely as some of his fellow patients on Ward 3. 

On Saturday, August 22, 1891, Cook was suffering from diarrhea associated with dysentery, and had become quite weak. After he had accidentally soiled himself, instead of waiting for the help of a nurse or other staff member, Cook entered the bathroom and drew his own bath. After climbing into the tub of water, it was found to be scalding hot. Too weak of mind and/or body to remove himself from the scalding water, Cook remained in the tub until, as the sensationalized headlines of the time reported, he cooked himself alive.  

Around 5pm a staff member finally entered the bathroom and found Cook in a horrific state. It is noted that when he was removed from the water, his flesh literally fell off, leaving exposed skeleton. One would imagine the shock associated with such injuries would result in a quick death, but Cook would cling to life until the next day. He died on Sunday, August 23 and was buried in the hospital cemetery. 

GHOST ALERT!

Cook is believed to be one of the spirits still haunting the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. According to the Miami Ghost Chronicles, he has been known to communicate on Ward 5 (2nd floor) by turning flashlights on and off in response to questions. His spirit has also been witnessed on Ward 3 (third floor) in and around the bathroom where his accident occurred. He makes himself known through loud bangs, dragging noises, and the sound of footsteps moving through water. 

More stories from the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum can be found at my page:

Collections: The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer 
28 August 1891

The Courier (Waterloo, IA)
29 August 1891

West Virginia Argus
29 October 1891