The Lincoln Ghost Train

The following undated newspaper article was found pasted in a late 1860s scrapbook:

 

A PHANTOM TRAIN

THE DEAD LINCOLN'S YEARLY TRIP OVER THE NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD



A correspondent in the Albany (N.Y.) Evening Times relates a conversation with a superstitious night watchman on the New York Central Railroad. Said the watchman: "I believe in spirits and ghosts. I know such things exist. If you will come up in April I will convince you." He then told of the phantom train that every year comes up the road with the body of Abraham Lincoln. Regularly in the month of April, about midnight, the air on the track becomes very keen and cutting. On either side it is warm and still. Every watchman when he feels this air steps off the track and sits down to watch. Soon after the pilot engine, with long black streamers, and a band of black instruments, playing dirges, grinning skeletons sitting all about, will pass up noiselessly, and the very air grows black. If it is moonlight clouds always come over the moon, and the music seems to linger, as if frozen with horror. A few moments after and the phantom train glides by. Flags and streamers hang about. The track ahead seems covered with black carpet, and the wheels are draped with the same. The coffin of the murdered Lincoln is seen lying on the centre of the car, and all about it in the air and the train behind are vast numbers of blue-coated men, some with coffins on their backs, others leaning on them.

It seems then that all the vast armies that died during the war are escorting the phantom train of the President. The wind, if blowing, dies away at once, and all over the earth a solemn hush, almost stifling, prevails. If a train were passing, its noise would be drowned in silence and the phantom train would ride over it. Clocks and watches would always stop, and when looked at are found to be from five to eight minutes behind. Everywhere on the road, about the 27th of April, the time of watches and trains is found suddenly behind. This, said the leading watchman, was from the passage of the phantom train.

The route taken by Lincoln's funeral train, in large part, still exists -- marked by ancient railroad beds and towns. New Yorkers who commute daily from bedroom communities along the Hudson River, north of Manhattan, don't realize that they are traveling the same route as the 16th President's funeral train. So it is for thousands of unknowing railroad passengers.

[Taken from Bloody Crimes by James L. Swanson]

Our Top 20 Horror Films

Everyone who reads this blog undoubtedly appreciates a good horror story. Here is a list of our Top 20, taking into account that we're biased against zombie flicks, lean towards psycho-thrillers and have certainly missed some good ones along the way. (Those are on our "To Be Seen List!") The following are in no particular order.

* Friday the 13th (1980). The first time that freakish twist(ed) ending was used so dramatically. Well worth the scream and jump from the chair.

* Halloween (1978). Considered the first slasher film. Jamie Lee Curtis' break-out movie.

 * Psycho (1960). The movie was based on a real-life murderer.  Director Alfred Hitchcock used chocolate syrup for filming the blood in the shower scene.

* The Amityville Horror (1979). There is still controversy as to whether this story was based on true events or an entire sham concocted by a family greedy for fame and fortune.

* The Exorcist (1973). What kind of parents allows their 13-year-old child to star in such severely disturbing movie?!

* The Omen (1976). First in a 3-movie trilogy. Multiple deaths and serious incidents happened on the set, leading many to consider the movie a cursed endeavor.

* Rosemary's Baby (1968). Director Roman Polanski showed genius in weaving a complex tale disturbing on many levels.

* The Shining (1980). Filmed at the Timberline Lodge in Mt. Hood in Oregon, Director Stanley Kubrick would strangely call Stephen King at 3:00 a.m. to inquire if he believed in God.

* Poltergeist (1982).  Real cadavers were used as props in various scenes of Poltergeist and Poltergeist II.

* When a Stranger Calls (1979). Who wanted to babysit after watching this?!

* The Sixth Sense (1999).  Haley Joel Osment got ripped of an Oscar. Amazing acting, uber-creative script, surprise ending. Truly a treat of a film.

* 1408 (2007).  Always liked John Cusack's acting. Always enjoyed Stephen King taking me places I was scared to go. Cusack + King = What's not to like about this film?!

* Silence of the Lambs (1991). The character, Hannibal Lecter, was a composite of 3 real-life serial killers: Ted Bundy, Ed Gein and Gary M. Heidnik.

* The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974).  Despite claims the movie made, the story was NOT true. Director Tobe Hooper defended the lie by saying "the government lied about Vietnam, the oil crisis, and Watergate too."

* Jaws (1975). Not the stuff of typical horror film fare but, at 13-years-old, I was petrified and millions of Americans were afraid to go in the water for a long, l-o-n-g time.

* Salems Lot (1979). Not as good as the book by a long shot, but at least non-readers got the story. I wore a cross 24/7 for months.

* The Others (2001). The delightful twist at the end made it all worthwhile.

* Ghost Story (1981). Haunting at the viewing, haunting for days afterward. A cautionary tale of youthful indiscretion.

* It (1990). You will thank God on bended knee for your comparatively La-La Land childhoods.

* Carrie (1976). A whole new take on the possible consequences of bullying!

Honorable Mentions:,
* War of the Worlds (2005)
* The Blair Witch Project (1999)
* Seven (1995)
* Interview with The Vampire (1974)