Ghosts of the Connecticut River

Apparently the group had found a tour guide. Seeing the “retired school teacher” with her hand in the air, made me smile. I joined the group, and a man from the bus whispered, “This guy is good! He really plays the part well and knows a lot of detail.” I nodded, and regretted arriving late but was immediately drawn in as he spoke. “John Hinson, a sly, ornery, elusive character, who could talk his way out of trouble as fast as he found it, was the mine's first prisoner. December 22, 1773 a winter storm dumped two feet of wet, heavy, snow over the entire area. Tree branches broke and the snow fell so fast you couldn't see more than six feet .”Collectively the tour group was spellbound as the costumed tour guide continued. “Prison guard, John Viets closed the tavern and spent the evening in the guardhouse calling comments about the weather, down the shaft. Viets and Hinson debated whether the climate was better on the surface or in the dismal, cavern forty-feet below.” Viets heard a noise which he thought was a breaking tree branch.He called down the mine shaft to Hinson, but there was no answer.He unlocked the trap door and with a club and a lantern he descended the forty-foot ladder. Hinson's personal possessions were gone and his bed was empty. Viets frantically searched every inch of the underground tunnels and caverns. His prisoner had escaped.