A Most Haunted Fort
Part 2
by A. Raby
An article from the April 2017 Star Beacon
In the December 2016 issue of The Star Beacon, I wrote the first part of
this article. Here I continue with more reports about hauntings on Fort
Leavenworth, Kansas.
A. Raby writes from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and is
editor/formatter of the institute’s publication, The Passing Times.
Another well known story is about the ghost of Catherine Sutler. Her family was
passing through the fort on the way to the Oregon Territory. One day, Catherine
sent her two children, Ethan and Mary, to go fetch firewood. After they did not
return after a reasonable amount of time, search parties were immediately
formed.
After three days of searching, the children were given up as dead. Of course,
Catherine never gave up. She became a familiar figure as she was constantly out
searching for the children. She eventually caught pneumonia and died that
winter, and was buried in the cemetery on the fort.
Her husband, Hiram, returned home to Indiana. The children reappeared in the
spring. It seemed they had been swept downriver while searching for firewood and
were rescued and taken care of by a tribe of Fox Native Americans. The children
were returned to their father.
Despite this sad story, it seems Catherine does not rest easily. People have
reported seeing a woman wearing a calico dress, usually during the fall, walking
with a lantern above her head, calling for Mary and Ethan. Apparently, no one
told her the children were found.
However, according to research, it was found that Hiram Rich was the sutler for
the fort until 1862, when he died. His wife’s name wasn’t Catherine, but that of
his only child, who died in infancy. This means the apparition is still
unidentified.
Another story involves the "Lady in Black" at 16 Sumner Place. Reportedly, she
is seen wearing a black dress and shawl, and is known for helping with various
household chores. She is also drawn to children and she tries to calm them when
they’re upset.
One report relates a family's child told his parents that a nice lady would read
stories to him before he went to sleep, and they found a book in the child’s
room they didn’t remember owning.
However, after one family was scared by her appearance, they consulted with the
base chaplain. He suggested an exorcism. This only managed to send her to the
next house over, 18 Sumner Place. People still report seeing her look out from
the attic window.
The currently active United States Disciplinary Barracks (USDB) has only been
around since 2002. Still, in just 15 years, it has seen a lot of pain. There
have been a few deaths of prisoners within the walls, even though the policy is
no one is prounounced dead within the facility. People have claimed to see odd
occurrences, but nothing overtly ghostly.
However, there is a piece left over from "the Old Castle" as it is called.
The Trusty Unit (TU), a place separate from the main facility for prisoners who
have shown impeccable behavior and maturity, has been in the same buildings for
50-plus years.
One prisoner related he was in the bathroom of one of the "bays," as the
different units are called in the TU, doing his laundry.
"I had been told about something of the ghostly goings-on in the bay, but I
hadn't experienced them myself yet. People told stories about walking into the
bathroom and all of the faucets would be running. One night I was in there,
doing my laundry, just pulling my clothes out of the dryer, when a nearby stall
door just slammed closed. I knew I was the only one in that bathroom, but I
grabbed my clothes and backed out the door. It was creepy," Bob* said. Talking
to a few other prisoners confirmed the stories had circulated about this
particular day for a long time.
There are dozens of other small tales about various sightings and hauntings on
post. The Frontier Army Museum runs a Haunted Homes Tour every year. For those
interested in ghost tourism, they can look for more information on line at
http://www.ffam.us, or they can call the museum itself at 913-684-3767.
Until next time, keep an eye out and share your ghost stories!
* Name changed due to facility rules
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