Colorado Ghost Stories. Antonio Boone's Garcez

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      Situated north of the New Mexico state line, in the San Luis Valley, is the small town of Antonito. The area has a rich cultural heritage and history provided by the colonial settlements of the Spanish and Anglo. Additionally etched deeply in its pre-European contact is the area’s heritage of the Native American. The Cumbres & Toltec Railroad, which leaves daily from Antonito’s old train station, is a big draw for visitors.

      Antonito is composed primarily of a friendly, working class residential community, surrounded by an expanse of high desert plains. It was built by the railroad as a community whose primary function was to house Anglos, who wanted to distance themselves from the pre-established Hispanic town of Conejos, which lies just a few miles north of town. As Interstate 285 traverses its central core, in the distance to the east can be seen the Culebra Range of spectacular mountains which remain as sentinels, eye witnesses to Antonito’s agrarian history.

      Edward H. Saunders’ Story

      Edward is a character of sorts. He’s wheelchair bound, but that has not put a damper on his lively attitude to life. As we talked at his kitchen table, we were interrupted with phone calls from two friends; one being a woman who he stated was a girlfriend. My interview lasted for just about two hours, but the impression this jovial man left with me will linger for definitely much longer.

      — Antonio

      “I was born in Columbus, Ohio, 88 years ago. In 1967, my wife, Vivian, and I moved to Denver and 14 years later, after her death, I decided to move to Antonito. I’ve been living here ever since that day.

      I lost the use of both legs due to a truck accident I had while driving for a freight company. That accident happened about four years after my wife and I had moved to Denver. The odd thing about that accident was that I was not even driving the truck at the time. I was getting ready to enter the truck, when another truck came by and struck me. I was holding on to my truck’s door handle, pulling myself up and getting into the cab. After taking my first step up, the other driver misjudged his turn and scraped me off my truck, and I dropped to the ground. The injuries were to my lower legs. The accident happened so quickly all I can remember of the accident is a loud noise and nothing else. The bones in both my legs were crushed. Since that time, I’ve never been able to fully walk on my own. And since then I’ve had to use this wheelchair you see me in.

      I did get a bit of insurance money, but not much at all is left of that insurance settlement. The rents are low here in Antonito; I don’t need much in the way of entertainment and fancy food, so I do all right here. Now it’s just me and my dog Blacky. Its just me and this crazy little dog that misses me like the dickens whenever I leave her at home for any short length of time.

      So, you’d like to know about my ghost story? Well, I haven’t told anyone except for a few close friends at the senior center. And as you told me, that’s how you found out about me, one of then gals must have told you about the old man in the wheelchair who’s seen ghosts. Once I tell you my story, you’ll only be one of the few who’ll know of it.

      Well, approximately five years ago, in the early evening, about 6 or 7 p.m., I was in my backyard watering plants in the yard and filling a birdbath that was by a tree. My dog Blacky was in the house. It was not an unusual evening at all. Suddenly, I heard Blacky begin to loudly bark as if he were in danger, or alerting me to danger of some kind. I turned my wheelchair around to face the back door and I saw a large man standing at the door, staring back at me from inside my house!

      I didn’t recognize this guy, but I was able to clearly make out his features. He was about 50 or so years old, with a very thick and dark moustache. His face was big and round, and his shoulders were very broad. His overall appearance gave me the impression that his intentions were not very positive. He didn’t move a muscle when I called to him, “Who are you, what are you doing in my house?” Blacky was barking uncontrollably. Again I called to him, “Who are you?” I began to feel really uneasy because he refused to respond to my words. I felt helpless but determined to find out who this man was, and what he was doing inside my house.

      He and I both stood looking at each other, not making any movements. I admit that I was confused as to what to do next. But something inside of me urged me to stand my ground and make the first move toward him. I dropped the water hose and began to push the wheels of my wheelchair towards the house. Just then I saw this man turn and move away from the door, and move within the darkened house. Blacky was still in the house barking, but then abruptly stopped! I was instantly gripped by a fear that СКАЧАТЬ