Weird Light Is Seen

Mirror de Oxford Junction (Iowa), Thursday, May 17, 1906
s1ghost light, Iowa, 1906, Magonia Exchange, 2007-07-16

Ghostly Light in Monticello Grave Yard Causes Sensation

Cascade.  The town of Monticello, near here, is in the throes of a great excitement over a ghostly light which has been seen repeatedly by residents in the neighborhood of Oakwood cemetery. The apparition frightened a German farmer who was passing by the graveyard, and he returned to town and related the wierd [sic] tale. He did not venture home until the following morning.

The Chaloupka boys were riding by the place one night when the mysterious light appeared over the gravestones. They used all possible haste to get home, and now when they are obliged to go home that way they gallop their horses past the scenes of the ghostly visitant. A farmer named Morris also saw the apparition.

A crowd of boys under the leadership of L. Locher went out to lay the ghost. They jokingly boasted of what they would do with him, but when they reached the cemetery their gaity [sic] and bravery vanished like a breath. In the midst of the tombstones they saw an unnatural illumination that almost frightened them to death. Trembling[,] they followed it, until it crossed over to a nearby field and disappeared in the darkness. The next night a still larger crowd went out to fathom the mystery. They returned after having a good scare. On the next night about forty young men and boys went out to the graveyard. They did not stay long, for as the mysterious light raised [sic] in a menacing manner over the field of graves they rushed home. No reasonable theory has been advanced for the strange light in the cemetery.