http://www.internationalliving.com/bin/v/v/halloween103106.jpg
~~ SuzQ ~~
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 11:39 AM
Subject: Phantoms
Ahhh ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Phantoms
International Living Postcards--your daily escape
http://www.internationalliving.com Hallowe'en, 2006
Montreal, Canada
Dear International Living Reader,
Some say Montreal is scary even without ghosts. Most of its citizens
insist on speaking French. They eat poutine--a gruesome mess
of fries, curd cheese, and gravy. And if that doesn't frighten you, just
hang around Bagels Etc on Boulevard Saint-Laurent. When he's in town,
it's a favorite haunt of the "Godfather of Gloom," singer-songwriter
Leonard Cohen.
But for some real spine-tingling, follow me. Plug your eardrums into
Cohen's Death of a Ladies Man and explore Montreal's creepy history.
--- Advertisement --
Discover 46 countries on six continents for under $40…
We asked our network of 200-plus seasoned travelers and expatriates to
spill their best-kept secrets, and they obliged. The result is a rare
glimpse into 5,102 of the world's most fascinating places to go and things
to do ever assembled…
From the sites you shouldn't miss…to the things you might unless
you know where to look for them: hidden mountain monasteries in Bulgaria,
exotic markets in China, raucous nightlife in Brazil, dirt-cheap dinners
in Central America, and unspoiled coastlines everywhere…
Sample the best the world has to offer, without
the jetlag and airfare tab, today.
-----------------------------
Dorchester Square is a good start. In the 1800s, it served as a cemetery
for cholera victims. Rumor tells that not all who were interred had shuffled
off this mortal coil. To prevent the disease spreading, burials were speedy...sometimes
too speedy. Heavily dosed with morphine (thought to be a cure), some of
the sick lapsed into unconsciousness and were promptly buried alive.
I hadn't time to check if French soldiers' ghosts gathered around Fort
Stewart on St. Helen's Island, but Vieux (Old) Montreal's Rue Saint-Pierre
proved inexplicably spirit-free. Although said to be haunted by executed
prisoners, not one passerby had a noose around his neck.
One well-documented gallow's tale is that of Angelique, a black slave
accused of setting fire to her furrier master's home on rue Saint-Paul
in 1734. The fire spread and burned down much of the colonial city. Angelique
initially denied the crime, but after having her legs crushed by torture,
she confessed.
On route to her appointment with the hangman, Angelique wore a white
chemise emblazoned with the word incendiaire (arsonist). As she
was also forced to carry a torch symbolizing the crime of arson, you'll
easily recognize her unquiet spirit.
Rue Saint-Paul also claims to have a phantom carriage. Along with horse
and driver, it vanishes when anyone tries to climb in. How to tell if
one of today's horse-drawn carriages is really the ghost-mobile? I don't
know, but to ensure your money doesn't vanish too, best leave paying until
the ride is over.
Doubting IL would fund expensive carriage rides over Vieux Montreal's
cobblestones, I instead headed to Chateau Ramezay. I'd read this museum
displayed an iron cage which had been erected at a crossroads to hold
the decomposing corpse of Marie-Josephe Corriveau. Hanged as a witch in
1763, legend tells she returns to the cage tonight.
Sadly I couldn't find the cage...and the receptionist had never heard
the story. A crone-like guide who looked at least 200 years old was summoned
from the museum's depths. She didn't know the cage's whereabouts, but
explained all about La Corriveau--who had dabbled in murder as well as
witchcraft. She freed herself of two husbands by pouring molten lead into
their ears. I assumed their restless wraiths were prowling about somewhere,
too.
Montreal's most infamous apparition is Mary Gallagher, the headless "supernatural
sex worker." Before fate intervened, she'd plied her trade as a lady
of the night in Griffintown, a rough-and-tumble Irish neighborhood. In
June 1879, Mary's decapitated corpse was discovered in a house cornering
William Street and Murray Street. Her head was dumped in a bucket. The
murderer wasn't a client, but a fellow prostitute called Susan Kennedy.
Apparently they had picked up a certain Michael Flanagan, indulged in
a lengthy drinking binge, then argued who should claim the prize. (By
this time in a stupor, Flanagan was undoubtedly not a wonderful prize.)
Anyway, the argument was settled by the axe-wielding Susan.
Every seven years, Mary's ghost is said to wander the area where the
dastardly deed occurred. But while William and Murray Streets still exist,
little remains of traditional Griffintown. Wandering out this way, I found
it's now mostly car lots and an industrial park...and the last Mary sighting
was in 1928. However, maybe the scent of fresh blood will tempt her to
return. Some old Griffintown warehouses are being converted into apartments...
Spooky Harvey
Ghost-finder General, International Living Related articles:
International Living--There's
more...
Unsubscribe
or Change of Address
IL Print
Subscribers:
To cancel or for any other subscription issues, write us at: International Living Order Processing Center Attn: Customer Service P.O. Box 968 Frederick, MD 21705 Copyright 2006, Agora Ireland.
5 Catherine Street · Waterford · Ireland Tel. 888-884-7792 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Website: www.InternationalLiving.com Nothing
in this e-mail should be considered personalized investment advice.
Although our employees may answer your general customer service questions, they are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular investment situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized investment advice. |
||
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
[RobsList]
A progressive group that is part of http://robwire.com
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RobsList" group.
To post to this group, send email to Robslist@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Robslist
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
