This story a part of the True Ghost Stories page on Obiwan's UFO-Free Paranormal Page. Please do not copy or distribute without permission from Obiwan and/or the original author!
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 10:03:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: "BOBBY G. THOMPSON" (bgthom01@morehead-st.edu)
To: ghost-discuss (ghost-discuss@aurora.cdb.com)
Subject: 1st coal mine story. (history)
This story did not actually take place in a coal mine, but it is related to the industry.
22 mine road. A legend has risen about the road that your car will be pushed up it if you stop. (This is bull.) That is just one of the urban legends that has risen up around the true story of the mine road. The story:
22 mine road is located between Williamson, West Virginia and Logan, West Virginia. This is how the legend was told to me by my grandfather.
During the twenties, coal was mined by hand. Cola miners would drill holes in mine walls and fill them with dynamite; then, they would scoop the rubble into carts.
One day, John (made up, of course) was late for his shift, so he kissed his wife and ran out the door. Looking at the kitchen table, his wife, Mary, noticed that he had left his lunch sitting there. She took it upon herself to take it to John.
Mary wrapped herself in her best coat and left the house, determined to catch John before he went underground. She walked for some time, unable to find him. By now, she was at the base of 22 mine road.
Knowing that John had already started work, Mary stalked up the hill, hoping to find someone who would give her dear husband his lunch. She never made it.
A rumbling shook the mountain path. Mary knew that this was a dynamite blast and was not worried. She was familiar with them. Ahead of her, she saw a cloud of dust. Again, she was not worried.
Seconds later, two mules with fully loaded carts came hurtling down the mountain. Mary was in their path and could not get out of the way.
Later, as John and the other workers came out of the mine (in search of the mules that had been spooked by the blast) they found Mary's coat torn and bloody in the middle of the road. They did not find Mary.
This ends the history of 22 mine road. The Story will be sent later today, as I have to go to class.
BOB
At least, in monotony, there is order
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 13:46:57 -0400 (EDT)
From: "BOBBY G. THOMPSON" (bgthom01@morehead-st.edu)
To: ghost-discuss (ghost-discuss@aurora.cdb.com)
Subject: coal mine story (prt 1)
This is the story as it was told to me this morning by my grandfather. I cannot verify the story, but I don't think grampa would make it up.
My grandfather used to drive a coal truck for a living. He had no place to park it at home, so he would leave it locked up on 22 mine road and drive his pickup home.
One night, he did this. He was cruising down the road when his pickup died. He was near the base of 22 mine road, so he decided to go back and take his chances with parking the coal truck. One problem, he had no flashlight.
He started up the road and noted a glow against the trees in the middle distance. It was green and it was moving towards him. Grampa thought it was a car, so he didn't think twice about walking towards it. Soon, he found out how wrong he was.
The light, grampa found, was coming from a sphere that floated a few feet of the ground. Not being afraid of much, and curious of what this was, grampa took step towards it.
The sphere moved back. Grampa stepped forward again. Again, the light moved backwards.
Grampa ran towards the sphere and still, it kept the distance between them. (BTW, the light was bright enough to light the path.)
This continued for sometime, until Grampa found himself looking at his coal truck. The Light faded and Grampa never had an experience like this again.
Was this the ghost of "Mary", leading my Grandfather to safety? Or was it a guardian spirit or angel? He does not know. (Actually,he doesn't care, if he can't touch it, he doesn't believe it.)
Hope you liked it. I'm currently looking for somebody who can tell me more about Mary. Her ghost is supposed to wander the road (I think) And if I find a story about her, I'll post it too. (If anyone is interested.)