The Lost Souls at San Miguel Mission

San Miguel located north of San Luis Obispo in California was one of the oldest missions secularized when Mexico won their independence from Spain. In the early 1840s the Mission system began to collapse at which point San Miguel was left to crumble. In July of 1846 Petronilo Rios and his business partner William Reed bought the Mission for a few hundred dollars. 

Reed then opened the Mission as a lodging and trading post. Reed demanded all his trade be done in gold and that all his guests pay him in gold. The reason for this was California was not yet apart of the U.S. so currencies from Mexico and the U.S were considered worthless. Besides, gold was plentiful because this was at the beginning of California’s Gold Rush.

As his business grew Reed who lived at Mission San Miguel with his family unfortunately bragged openly that he had amassed a small fortune from this new enterprise. He foolishly told many that he had his gold hidden within the mission walls. On the afternoon of December 4, 1848 six nefarious men arrived at the Mission. 

These men were Joseph Lynch who was a deserter from the US Army. Pete Raymond who had killed a man and escaped from jail. Another two, Pete Remer and Peter Quin were both deserters from the warship Warren. * And a man named Sam Bernard who was accompanied by an Indian named John from Soledad.

Lynch and Raymond had murdered two other travel companions on their way from the gold fields to Soledad. Once at the Mission the men sold 30 ounces of gold to Reed for $30 per ounce. They left the mission the next morning and headed south for San Marcos Creek. But knowing the stories about Reed’s hidden gold their greed got the best of them and they then returned to the Mission.

During the evening of December 5^th they brutally killed everyone at San Miguel. Bernard returning from fetching firewood hid an axe among the wood. He hacked at Reed several times with this axe then the Indian John finished him off by stabbing him with a knife. Bernard and the others then proceeded to Reed’s rooms and killed most of the women and children. The group then stalked the rest.

Besides Reed ten other people were murdered including Reed’s wife Maria Vallejos Reed who was pregnant and their four-year old son. Reed’s brother-in-law Jose Vallejos, Maria’s midwife Josefa Olivera and the midwife's fifteen- year old-daughter were victims as well. Martin Olivera’s grandson was killed along with a Negro cook, an Indian sheepherder and his young grandchild. Four of the victims were young children--including Maria’s unborn child. 

The murderers piled all the bodies in the Carpenter’s shop and then sat down and drank some of Reed’s good wine. They spend time looking for Reed's gold but didn’t find it. The few valuables they did find were not worth much. **

The killers left the Mission that night, a posse caught up with them two days later near Santa Barbara at Rancho Ortega. Unbeknownst to the group the same night they committed the murders a mail carrier, James Beckworth had found the bodies. Shocked, he quickly rode to Monterey to inform the military governor. 

A posse was immediately gathered to track them. One item that helped them was an earring known to belong to Maria Reed which was found near San Luis Obispo, the first place these men had camped for the night after the murders. When the posse caught up to them a fight ensued. 

Sam Bernard was shot and killed. Pete Raymond jumped into the surf in an effort to escape and drowned. Peter Quin was wounded and captured after killing a member of the posse. Joseph Lynch and Peter Remer were also captured and later they confessed to their roles in the murders. The Indian, John had parted ways with the group before they reached Santa Barbara--he was never found.

The three men that were captured were executed by a nine-man firing squad that was sent from Monterey on December 28, 1848. Reed’s partner Petronilo Rios helped bury the murdered victims at the Mission. They were all placed in a mass grave. The sight of the dead children disturbed him for years to come. 

This grave is located near the rear door of the Mission’s sacristy. Since, many people have seen the ghost of William Reed at the Mission wearing his winter pea coat--this was one of the items the murderers stole. Another ghost that is seen is felt to be Maria Reed she is seen wandering the Mission grounds wearing a white dress. Other witnesses have heard muffled screams coming from the chapel. While some have seen the apparitions of two young boys at the Mission.

Recently, the young granddaughter of a woman who has worked in the Mission gift shop for 35 years was alarmed when she told her grandma, “I saw an Indian boy and he couldn’t talk. He has an owie on his neck.” Another recent witness saw a man step out of the wall on the south side of the Mission church. He was described wearing a navy blue pea coat.

*  It was not uncommon for men during the Gold Rush to jump ship and head for the gold fields.

** William Reed's hidden gold has never been found.

Scotland’s Green Lady Ghosts

A traditional ghost found in many Scottish homes and castles is the Green Lady. Most Green Lady ghosts are benevolent in nature. They are similar to Irish Banshees in that they protect a specific home and family. 

But unlike the Irish Banshee which moves with the family Green Ladies stay in the home and protect the next family that moves in.

Green Ladies are unique to the United Kingdom since they are not seen in other parts of the world.

These Lady ghosts are considered “lovely.” They are described as a young woman who wears long green gowns that reach the ground. They also have long golden hair. 

Sometimes they are associated with water. One legend states that “water” is connected to how these ladies become attached to a home or castle. For they often arrive at a home dripping wet asking for shelter to warm up and dry off. If welcomed, they stay and become that home’s protector.

Over the years many Scottish farmers claimed to have Green Ladies as protectors. It was often stated that Green Ladies would protect their cattle, herding them into barns or shelters when a storm was about to hit. It was also said they protected animals from being stolen by enemies during conflicts.

Because of their long hair Green Ladies are often called, "Gruagach," which are similar to brownies, both of these are household spirits. 

Unlike brownies, Green Ladies are rarely considered evil in nature. * It is said they do tend to enjoy practical jokes like brownies, but any mischief they may cause is always negated by all the good they do. 

One famous Green Lady is connected to Crathes Castle located near Aberdeen City. This Green Lady ghost appears by a fireplace in the castle. She is seen picking up a ghostly infant--then they vanish together. 

Centuries ago as the castle was being renovated, her bones, and those of a baby were found buried beneath where she is seen.

Another famous Green Lady ghost story is connected to Skipness Castle near Loch Fyne. This ghost has protected this castle and its family for hundreds of years. 

One story about this ghost recounts how she helped the castle while it was under attack. It is said she cast a state of “confusion” over the enemy as they attacked the castle. Because of this, they had to retreat. Once these men regained focus, they tried to attack again, but as the enemy marched toward the castle, they became confused once more. 

In the ruins of Caerphilly Castle just north of Cardiff in Wales yet another Green Lady has been seen. This ghost hides in the ivy that surrounds the castle. 

The legend states that if you watch closely, you can see her move ever so slightly. Once this Green Lady knows she has been seen, this ghost will emerge and extend her hand if she likes you--then she just vanishes.

As stated above, many castles in Scotland have Green Ladies. Dunstaffnage, Fyvie and Huntingtower Castles all have their own Green Ladies. 

A couple of castles that have been converted to hotels still have Green Ladies in residence as well. One of these, Tulloch Castle Hotel states their Green Lady is connected to a portrait that hangs in the castle.

*  There is one darker legend about a Green Lady being a demon. It is said her green gown covers her hairy goat-like body. In other stories, she is cursed with hooves for feet, and her long dress covers them.

The Haunted House and Other Spooky Poems and Tales

This Scholastic book, The Haunted House and Other Spooky Poems and Tales, published in 1970, includes 80 pages of pure delight for the young and not so young reader. 

It has some of the best poems written about death and ghosts, I have ever read. They all are very creative, plus many of them are scary, which makes it even more fun.


This book is excellent entertainment for the whole family. It is no longer published, so some copies in good condition are going for a high price. I think this is because so many people remember this anthology, with such fondness from their childhood. 

But you can still find paperback copies on Amazon for a reasonable price.

In 1970, when the book was published a companion album, and then later a cassette was also released with the text under the same title. This recording is also really well done. 

I have included these recordings at the bottom of this post. Both the book and record are mostly poems, but it also includes several traditional scary stories, two of which I have shared in other posts--The Velvet Ribbon (sometimes published under the title, The Green Ribbon) and The Cradle That Rocked By Itself.

Here are just three samples of the quality of poetry that is included in this book:

The Haunted House

Not a window was broken

And the paint wasn’t peeling,

Not a porch step sagged--

Yet there was a feeling

That beyond the door

And into the hall

This was a house of

No one at all.

No one breathed
Nor laughed, nor ate

Nor said "I love,"

Nor said, "I hate."

Yet something walked

Along the stair

Something that was

And wasn’t there.

And that is why weeds

On the path grow high,

And even the moon

Races fearfully by--

For something walks
Along the stair--

Something that is

And isn’t there.

By Vic Crume

It isn’t the cough
That carries you off;

It’s the coffin 
They carry you off in.

Anonymous

Dust

Agatha Morley 
All her life

Grumbled at dust

Like a good wife.

Dust on the table,

Dust on the chair,

Dust on the mantle

She couldn't bear.

She forgave faults

In man and child

But a dusty shelf

Would set her wild.

She bore with sin

Without protest,

But dust thoughts preyed

Upon her rest.

Agatha Morley

Is sleeping sound

Six feet under

The moldy ground.

Six feet under
The earth she lies

With dust at her feet

And dust in her eyes.

By Sydney King Russell

Here are the recordings of this book:

China: Chiang-Shih

This traditional Chinese Chiang-Shih folklore legend is about dead bodies that were according to ancient belief able to come back to life because of improper treatment at the end of life or during or after the burial process. 

A common reason this happened was the soul or "po" that, returned was a person who experienced a very violent or painful death. 

Other reasons given were they became angry because their family members failed to provide them with the proper respect due to them after their death or they returned because they were buried in the wrong spot * or their grave was disturbed or moved.

The Chiang-Shih were sometimes known as “hopping ghosts” because of the tradition of burying bodies dressed with their feet bound together--the result when they came back to life they had to hop to move about. These corpses were considered very dangerous when they became reanimated. 

These animated bodies were blind, so they had to rely on their ability to sense the breath of their prey to track them. 

In traditional Chinese belief, the Chiang-Shih could suck the breath out of their victims, they were described as having gale force breath. 

In modern Chinese stories, they are just as likely to suck the blood of their victims--for this traditional legend has evolved, today Chiang-Shih are sometimes considered vampires.

Other legendary supernatural powers that the Chiang-Shih had include: sword-like fingernails and incredibly long eyebrows that they can use to lasso or bind their enemies. 

They also could shape-shift and fly. 

Despite their evolution today into more scary creatures, I prefer the traditional stories about the Chiang-Shih--they are scary too. The following story is one of my favorites.

The corpse in this story was not buried in a timely fashion. Therefore, it became a Chiang-Shih because of this evil spirits were able to enter it.

Four male travelers in Shantung arrived at an inn in the middle of the night. The innkeeper told them no rooms were left but taking pity on them, he led them to a little shack in the back of the inn.

Early that day the innkeeper’s daughter-in-law had died but he was busy had not arranged her burial. The four weary travelers bedded down not realizing her corpse lay on a plank behind a curtain in the same shack.

Three of the men fell asleep immediately but the fourth feeling a sense of impending danger couldn’t relax. He froze as he saw a boney hand draw the curtain aside. 

A monstrous corpse emerged surrounded by a green mist. It had glowing red eyes. He watched in terror as this apparition bent over his sleeping companions and breathed a foul stench of death upon each. All three now lay dead.

The fourth traveler pretended to be asleep and held his breath as the Chiang-Shih breathed on him. As soon as the corpse returned to its plank, he ran out of the shack. 

Hearing him leave the apparition chased him. The man in a panic hid behind a willow tree. But the Chiang-Shih found him.

She lunged at him shrieking. Overcome with fear, the man fainted. This saved him once more for the Chiang-Shih missed him, and her claw-like nails became embedded deep within the tree. She couldn’t extricate them. 

The next morning the innkeeper found her lifeless corpse no longer animated by the evil spirits. The traveler lay unconscious nearby.

*  This notion comes from the belief in feng shui.