The "Power to the People" Ghost(s)

It is perhaps the most haunted part of our downtown tour -- where bodies reportedly lie, digital recorders capture ghostly voices, and apparitions are sometimes spotted. The photo below was taken in this Hall of Spirits, more publicly known as The Presbyterian Memorial Garden. What makes it all the more tantalizing is that the horde of Presbyterian paranormal treasures is guarded by a wizened, cantankerous Keeper of the Spectral Trust.

Gee whillikers. It's a public place. Other than the occasional arse momentarily gracing one of their benches, we don't touch a thing. We're there all of 1/10 of an hour. It just shouldn't be this hard. But, for some reason, it is. As we craftily spin tales and flash our cameras, Mr. Cranky has burst forth from the church to yell at us. He's threatened police. (Pardon this show of Southern hospitality, oh esteemed guests of our fair city. Not to mention the curious lack of Christianly tolerance and niceties.)

But now it would seem the ghosts have taken sides.


He must have been lying in wait Saturday night, for as soon as one tennis-soled foot touched the garden bricks, flying from the doors he winged -- shooing us with cartwheeling arms and an invisible apron. The gate clanged shut and was locked in our faces.

It was the only lock Mr. Cranky would turn this night. The ghosts were not amused, locking Mr. Cranky out from the safer confines of his Church. Repeatedly swiping the key did him no good until, in disgrace, he had to come back through the garden and wind his way through our tittering throng.

So now we know: There's at least one ghost at the Presbyterian Church who believes in Power to the People!

Ghost Blamed for Punching Wife

There's something spooky about this excuse.

Rather than say "The Devil made me do it," a Wisconsin man arrested on domestic abuse charges told police that a ghost punched his wife, authorities said.

Police responded to the disturbance call at approximately 8 p.m., Sunday, according to a Fond du Lac County Sheriff's report obtained by The Smoking Gun. At the scene they found 41-year-old Michael West and his wife, who told cops that her husband twice attempted to strangle her and struck her in the face when she attempted to contact 911.

West told authorities that his wife sustained injuries as a result of several falls, The Northwestern reports. When an officer pressed the issue, West allegedly changed his alibi, opting instead for a supernatural excuse -- "A ghost did it."

"It must not have been Casper," HyperVocal quips. "He's way too friendly to do such a thing to a working woman with a drunk, abusive husband."

West is charged with domestic abuse, strangulation, battery, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. He remains in custody in lieu of $1,000 bail.

The Back Seat Ghost

Fourth in a Series of Famous Paranormal Photographs.


Taken in 1959 by Mrs. Mabel Chinnery, this photo was taken while Mabel was visiting the grave of her mother. She'd brought along her camera to take photographs of the gravesite. After snapping a few shots of her mother's gravestone, Mabel took an impromptu photo of her husband who was seemingly alone in the car waiting for her. When the film was developed, the couple discovered that Hubby had not been alone in the car after all ... A figure wearing glasses clearly appeared to be sitting in the back seat of the car. Mabel immediately recognized the figure as her mother –- the woman whose grave they had visited on that day.

A photographic expert who examined the print determined that the image of the woman was neither a reflection nor a double exposure. "I stake my reputation on the fact that the picture is genuine," he testified. Altering photographs was much more difficult in the 1950s. Does anyone have any ideas as to what methods were available back then to "fool" any wannabe believers?

Defining Shadow People (Pt. 2)

There are no current scientific tests to prove the existence of shadow people or what they might be. There are , however, many theories attempting to explain the phenomenon. These include:

1. Optical Illusions? Brought on by physiological or psychological circumstances, drug use, side effects of medication, schizophrenia or sleep deprivation. The brain incorrectly interprets random patterns of light and shadow as familiar patterns such as faces and human forms. (See 5.10.10 blog entry: Do You See What I See? on matrixing).

2. Time Travelers? Could people from the future have found a way to time travel and be visiting us in the form of shadow people?

3. Ghosts? Shadow people may be only one more type of ghostly manifestation along with ectoplasmic mist, orbs and apparitions.

4. Demons? Accompanying feelings of malevolence and darkness lead researchers to theorize that shadow people might be possible demons.

5. Astral Bodies? Author and lecturer Jerry Gross claims we all travel out of our bodies when we sleep. Could shadow people be the essences or shadows of people having out-of-body experiences?

6. Hypnagogia? Also known as "waking sleep," hypnagogia is the physiological state when a person is between sleep and full consciousness allowing for subconscious perceptions which could include the "seeing" of shadow people.

Next Up: Ghost Hunters of Asheville Tours' experience with the shadow person phenomenon. Coming in Defining Shadow People (Pt. 3)!

Shadow People Defined (Pt. 1)

Haven't we all seen something move out of the corner of our eye -- only to turn and look ... to see nothing? Paranormalists term this as a shadow person phenomenon. Commonly described as black, human-like silhouettes, shadow people are called thus because they appear as, well, a shadow. Sightings have been reported all over the world (most frequently in Rhode Island and North Carolina in the U.S.) and most commonly in homes. Shadow ghosts of animals have also been reported.

Shadow people are dark in color (shadow-like), appear vaporous, and although lacking details in appearance, can have glowing red or yellow eyes. Observers of shadow people say these forms appear at the edge of their field of vision for only a brief second.

On our Ghost Hunter of Asheville tours, shadow people have been captured on film in building windows. Because of their density, light will not pass through them and they can cast a shadow which shows up in a photograph as demonstrated above and below.

Next Up: An intriguing theory and what a TAPS investigator had to say. Stay tuned for Shadow People Defined, Pt. 2!

(Note: These are unverified photographs.)

NC Ghost Hunter Killed

In my blog entry on foiled ghost hunters (Busted! But Not by the Ghosts! July 10, 2010), I got a few responses from people who had personally met up with the law whilst searching for the spiritual realm. The cost, however, can be much worse than a fine and a night in jail. Look at what happened a few weeks ago in North Carolina. Video link and text included here.

Video Link: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/27/north.carolina.ghost.train/index.html?ref=nf


'Ghost Train' Hunter Killed by Train in North Carolina * By Phil Gast, CNN, August 28, 2010 2:38 p.m. EDT

(CNN) -- The facts: On August 27, 1891, a passenger train jumped the tracks on a tall bridge near Statesville, North Carolina, sending seven rail cars below and about 30 people to their deaths.

The legend: On the wreck's anniversary, the sounds of screeching wheels, screaming passengers and a horrific crash might still be heard. You might also see a uniformed man with a gold watch.

Shortly before 3 a.m. Friday, on the 119th anniversary of the Bostian Bridge train tragedy and at about the same time, between 10 and 12 ghost hunters were on that approximately 300-foot long span.

They were hoping to hear the sounds of the crash, and perhaps see something.

Instead, a real Norfolk-Southern train -- three engines and one car -- turned the corner as it headed east to Statesville, about 35 miles north of Charlotte, authorities said.

The terrified "amateur ghost watchers" ran away, back toward Statesville, trying to cover the nearly 150 feet to safety, said Iredell County Sheriff's Office Capt. Darren Campbell.

All but two made it.

Christopher Kaiser, 29, of Charlotte, was struck and killed, said Campbell.

A woman who witnesses say Kaiser pushed to safety fell about 30 to 40 feet from the trestle and was injured. Her name and condition were not known Friday night. She was being treated at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

"There was no way out," said Campbell. "They almost made it."

The engineer of the train, which was traveling at its customary 35 to 40 mph, hit the horn and "stopped as fast as he could," Campbell said.

Campbell, 38, is from the area and has heard all the stories, although he said he knows of no one who has ever seen or heard the "ghost train."

On the 50th anniversary of the Bostian Bridge incident, a woman said she witnessed it all again. In 1991, hawkers sold T-shirts and other memorabilia, and there were an estimated 150 people waiting for the train, according to the Charlotte Observer.

There are occasional reports of railroad crossing arms dropping without cause, Campbell said.

The ghost trip on the anniversary has become an annual tradition of sorts.

A woman who did not want to be identified, but who was part of the group of onlookers, told CNN affiliate WCNC, "We were there looking for what people say happened. You hear the train wreck or hear people screaming. We were just watching."

Kaiser's mother said the family was too distraught to talk about the incident, WCNC said.

Campbell said most of the ghost hunters, who were from out of town, have been interviewed. Many fled because they were trespassing on railroad property, he said. Campbell said there were no patrols near the bridge early Friday.

Although the investigation is continuing, Campbell said the incident appears to be an accident.

At least two blogs that cover the phenomena, N.C. Ghost Guide and CreepyNC.com, detail the 1891 wreck's legend. While accounts vary somewhat, a man with a gold watch reportedly was first seen on the first anniversary.

According to CreepyNC.com, Hugh K. Linster was a baggage master for the Asheville-bound train that crashed into Third Creek that August of 1891.

"Hugh Linster never made it to retirement," the blog reads. "His body was found in the wreck having been killed immediately upon impact with a broken neck."

One year later, a group of people at the bridge said they saw a man in a railroad uniform, holding a watch.

Legend has it, he vanished before their eyes.

Not Even a Full Moon

It's different every night when The Ghost Hunters of Asheville Tours hit the streets. You never know what paranormal activity will be out there. You never know what photographic evidence will be captured. You never know how the group will gel -- or not. You never know if a pop-up rainstorm will suddenly appear. You also never know what unusual, non-paranormal experiences may occur. But if I assure you, if there is such a thing as the Ghost Tour from Hell, the following one qualifies:

* A clean-cut youth approached the group, begging us for LSD. Are you kidding me?! For such a stupid move with a .00000000000000001% chance of success, he'd already had too much of something for such lack of judgment.

* Another guy was running alongside the smallest toy Chihuahua I've ever seen. “Hurry! Hurry!” he kept yelling in hopeful encouragement. Sorry, dude, but those 2" legs can only move so fast.

* A woman asked me to drive her to Weaverville (you bet, will abandon this tour right now) because her son had been in a car accident with an ex, blah, blah, blah. There was no extra charge for satisfying our group's soap opera fix.

* The group was approached by a man in mad search of a restaurant that he was standing right in front of.

* We were approached by a suited-up gentleman claiming to be an attorney and owner of a haunted building on the tour. "Treat it with respect," he implored us. What does that mean? Dim the lights on our camera flashes? Speak in hushed tones as we impart the building's sordid history?

Yes, folks, it was a wild night on the Asheville streets that night. And it wasn't even a full moon! Thankfully, the group had a great sense of humor. And despite all the extra-curricular excitement, we STILL got plenty of those guaranteed paranormal photos!