8 December 1899
Brooklyn Eagle

SMITHVILLE'S  GHOST  HUNT

SMITHVILLE South. Long Island
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A Night Walking Spectre that Frightens Villiagers and Defies Capture



Transcribers Note:
	Previously known as Smithville South, North Bellmore is a hamlet (unincorporated area) 
in the east-center section of the Town of Hempstead. 
	Beginning on the north and moving in a clockwise direction, the Hamlet of North 
Bellmore in the Town of Hempstead is bordered on the north by the Hamlet of East Meadow; 
on the east by the Hamlets of North Wantagh and Wantagh; 
on the south by the Hamlet of Bellmore; and, 
on the west by the Hamlet of North Merrick.


 This place is greatly excited over a ghost which has been seen in different parts of 
the village nearly every night for a week or more and last night a company of men and boys, 
armed with revolvers and shot guns and re-enforced by several good dogs, started out in 
search of the spook.  The company was led by William TRISCH, keeper of the Smithville Hotel, 
and John COMBES, who carries the United States mail between the Smithville and Bellmore Post 
Offices.  He is also a member of the choir of the East Meadow Church and has had several 
exciting experiences with the ghost.

 COMBES says he first saw the spook on Saturday night, when he was returning home from 
William SMITH'S about 11 o'clock, where he had been for choir practice.  He says the spook, 
which was white and looked as if wrapped in a sheet, came from the edge of the woods through 
which he was passing, and stood on the side of the road waving its hands and groaning as if 
in great distress.  COMBES crossed to the opposite side of the street and as soon as he had 
passed the ghost returned to the woods and was not seen again until Sunday night.  Then COMBES 
saw it again near Benjamin CARMAN'S place, as he was returning home from a Sunday night call.  
The spook was in a corn field near the road and acting in the same manner as on the night 
previous.  COMBES put the whip on his horse and soon left the goblin in the rear.

 Miss Lillian ZONE was also badly frightened on Sunday night when she was returning home 
from church.  She says the specter came out from under a bridge and crossed the street ahead 
of her.  She ran the balance of the way home and told her parents, but they did not consider 
it enough importance to investigate.  It has also been seen by scores of others, among whom 
is an old Negro known as Aunt Peggy, who says it walks around in her yard at night.

 The hunters have failed to locate the ghost and some of them irreverently suggest that 
a joke is being played by someone just for a little fun.  Others believe it is a real ghost, 
among them Detective Joseph SMITH, who says if he locates it he will know what it is.


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