More Haunting Tales of Old New Orleans from Alyne A. Pustanio

THE GHOST OF BARRACKS STREET

by Alyne A. Pustanio

In October of 1860 police were called to a home on Barracks Street, near Esplanade Avenue, where they made a horrible discovery.  A free colored-man had blown his brains out with a pistol in a one-room, detached building where he had been living; the body had been there for several days when it was found. 

Shortly after the discovery was made, and the investigation closed, residents in the area began to frantically summon the police about the ghost of the dead man appearing in the hours before midnight and walking all about the vicinity of the house where he had died.  Witnesses described him as having “a pall of unearthly whiteness” about him so that he appeared to glow as he walked about the area.

Many of the man’s friends, and even some of his relatives, saw the ghost and the bravest even approached it; when they attempted to speak to it, the ghost would shrink before their eyes and slowly sink into the earth.  There were many other eyewitnesses who were ready to take an oath that the ghost story was not in the least fabricated.  The ghost was even seen by the two policemen who had discovered the dead man at the scene of his suicide; one policeman insisted on taking a day shift, the other had his beat changed altogether.

A skeptic, who reviled even the slightest belief in the supernatural, took it upon himself to go to the location where the ghost was seen most evenings and concealed himself to lay in wait for it.  At about midnight, the ghost emerged from the alleyway near the house it had formerly occupied in life, and, appearing to pass unhindered through a solid iron fence, began to walk to and fro in Barracks Street.  The ghost was described as glowing white, with a sorrowful aspect, and wringing its hands all the while.  It looked about as if lost for many minutes before drifting along toward Esplanade Avenue where it appeared to dissipate near the old pauper’s burying ground, where his body was buried.

Not content to believe his own eyes, the skeptical observer returned to his post for several consecutive nights, bringing with him a reporter from the New Orleans Bee.  When, on the third night, the ghost was observed emerging onto Barracks Street in the same a manner as before, the skeptic seized the moment and jumped from his hiding place.  He lunged forward and grabbed the apparition about its waist, holding tight with both arms.

In an instant, the ghost was aware of the man and let out such a shriek as can only be ascribed to the deadly banshees of Ireland.  At the same moment, its entire aspect changed from one of sorrow to a look of horrible malevolence and the body of the creature became elongated, stretching to a length of almost ten feet in height in an effort to escape the man’s firm grasp.  As it pulled away, still wailing, it lifted its attacker a few feet into the air before disappearing into the dark night.

The man lay on the Barracks Street banquette blithering with fright; every hair on his head had turned completely white.  As a result of this ghostly encounter, the once skeptical man went completely insane and had to be confined to an asylum.  The reporter, fearing that breaking the story would cause panic and alarm among the residents, made the wise decision to say nothing. 

Instead, he made an appeal to the priests of St. Louis Cathedral who came out to pray and asperge the spot with incense in an effort to exorcise the troublesome spirit.  But it seemed the spirit was immune to even this:  as the priest stood praying, a gust of wind suddenly appeared and played a torrent about his robes, sweeping them over his head and finally onto the incense brazier, causing them to catch fire.  The priest returned smoking and muttering to his rectory.

The ghost of the dead man plagued residents of Barracks Street for decades and although it appeared less frequently as the years wore on, many old timers still stop to listen for a banshee-like wail or the rustling of autumn leaves under the Esplanade oaks knowing a thin, ghostly white form is sure to follow . . .

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Pustanio and cannot be used without expressed written permission this site protected ©2004-2010 alynepustanio.com - All rights reserved Alyne Pustanio's Upcoming Special Events And Personal Appearances, Lecture schedule, latest book news, and other information.   ALYNE PUSTANIO IS ALSO FEATURED IN THE MOST PERFECT ULTIMATE MONSTER COMPANION OF ALL TIMES! Real Monsters, Gruesome Critters, and Beasts from the Darkside by Brad Steiger         "The Legends of Nethiah" www.legendsofnethiah.com/   Where fantasy meets reality...   A young boy whose parents are going through a bitter divorce, is given hope and courage through the powerful stories embellished by his grandfather. The stories give the boy the inner strength and resolve to confront the inevitable challenges which lie ahead.   Starring Robert Picardo, Jared Young, Jeremiah Sayys, John Heard, Theresa Russell, Julie Michaels, Laura Covelli, Jilon Ghai. Produced by Howard Nash. 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Island of Salvation

We offer a wide assortment of materials for people interested in reaching the Spirit. Many of the items are handmade by Manbo Sallie Ann Glassman.

Sallie Ann Glassman is an initiated Vodou priestess who calls up and mediates the power of the Spirit. Sallie is internationally recognized for her lectures, art, readings and healing ceremonies.

She is one of a handful of Americans ordained into Vodou in the traditional Haitian initiation. Sallie is passionate about sharing the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of Vodou. Often maligned and misunderstood, Vodou is actually a healing and life-affirming religion. This ancient religion, currently practiced by 50 million people, speaks directly to our troubled world today. She believes that to discover Vodou is to embark on an encounter with divine mystery. Sallie owns the Island of Salvation Botanica, a store and gallery specializing in Vodou religious supply, medicinal herbs, and Haitian and local artwork. The shop was awarded the “Best of City” award by National Geographic Traveler in 2004. www.feyvodou.com

LOUISIANA STATE PARANORMAL RESEARCH SOCIETY - IS REACHING THE OTHER SIDE

LSPR-Society is a team of Paranormal Investigators whose primary goal is to document, and hopefully, someday scientifically prove the existence of ghosts. We also strive to educate the public, and help those who live with a haunting to deal with their fears and experiences. Although we do not discredit the use of psychics, we use both simple and high-tech electronic equipment to document and substantiate our experiences.

We do not use Ouija boards, conduct séances, or use divination to conjure or locate spirits. We do not charge for our services. We investigate both public places and private residences. We are a serious group of professional-minded adults who believe that skepticism is healthy, and that all reasonable explanations should be ruled out prior to declaring an experience to be paranormal in nature. Our main branch is based in Lafayette, La., and we take mainly Louisiana based locations.

Although we may occasionally travel outside of Louisiana for certain cases, we can still help anyone in need, from afar. If in need of help outside of Louisiana, we will work with a reputable team to help you with your possible haunting. If you know of a haunted site that you would like to suggest to us, or if you live in a house which you believe might be haunted, please feel free to email us here or on our website lspr-society.com, then go to the link that says “Contact Us”, and send us your contact information, such as your name phone number, email address and your location, with a brief description of your activities you feel could be paranormal. We will contact you shortly to discuss the activities, and make an appointment to meet with you. www.lspr-society.com