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Ghost hunters search Bushwhacker Jail
Late Saturday night into the wee hours of Sunday morning, a group of paranormal investigators invaded the Bushwhacker Jail in search of the unseen.
Several weeks ago members of the Tri-County Paranormal Research Society of Joplin were driving through Nevada and noticed the Bushwhacker Museum's old jail. They contacted the Vernon County Historical Society to obtain permission to conduct an investigation at the site.
The group organized in February 2007 after a trip to a cemetery in Jasper County, and is basically a family group consisting of: Tom Faris Sr., siblings Ernie Faris and Melissa Fisher, and Melissa's daughter Heather Fisher with friends Shawn Essex, Kyle Cornwell, Dennis Clifford, Lloyd Gipson and Tiffany Campbell.
Melissa Fisher said, "When we decided to form the group, we did some Internet research of university sites and other reputable groups. We also contacted other seasoned groups for advice."
The group uses standard 'ghost hunting' equipment. The EMF (electro-magnetic field) reader measures electro-magnetic energy. Breaker boxes, lights, etc. will make those spike up. "If you are seeing a big jump on the EMF, and you rule out all the usual things that set it off, it could indicate ghostly activity," Fisher said. "The theory is that ghosts have to amass energy to manifest and the EMF can read that." Other equipment they use include infra-red thermometers and cameras, voice recorders, cam-corders, laptops and digital cameras.
They maintain a Web site featuring their investigations. "We have a rating system where people can give us feedback if they think things we've posted are paranormal or not," Fisher explained.
One photo posted on their Web site has received a lot of attention.
"We have a picture that I took at Prosperity Bed & Breakfast in Joplin of a woman standing in the entry door -- there was no female there. That photo is being published in a book by a lady in Arkansas," Fisher said.
They have done 15-20 investigations at different locations averaging an investigation about every other weekend during the summer.
During past investigations team members have been pushed and touched by unseen hands. Radios have come on spontaneously, and flashlights and camera batteries have been drained of power.
What is considered paranormal? "People say they feel someone watching them -- that can usually be discounted by using an EMF reader," Fisher explained. "High EMF readings of that much electrical energy around you can make you feel someone is watching you. If you see something physically move, that would be something to look into. You can debunk a lot of 'footsteps' by a house settling, furnaces, pipes in the wall, how the air flows through the house.
It would be hard for people to investigate their own place objectively, it doesn't cost anything and they can call almost any group and they will come in and help decide what's going on."
Sometimes it gives people comfort if they think a loved one is still with them."
Ernie Faris explains types of hauntings: "There are two types of hauntings. One is residential hauntings where the ghost or spirit doesn't know or care if you are there and they do the same repetitive things.
"The other type is an intelligent haunting where the ghost or spirit tries to communicate with you. As far as spirits are concerned I believe there are four types. One is a poltergeist, and it likes to move or throw things. Another is demonic -- we don't like messing with them. The last two are the residential and intelligent ghosts I already mentioned."
Faris added, "In my opinion, a spirit is a soul that is unsettled because of a tragic experience in their lives. I don't go with the 'unfinished business' theory.
"Everything in this field is theory," he said. A lot of it is personal feelings as much as analyzing the evidence. It can be 90 percent boring and 10 percent scary.
We don't use psychics, mediums, any of that. We try to stay with the scientific side of it," he said.
The group split into three teams and rotated throughout the night visiting the jail. They had video cameras and voice recorders set up throughout the jail that remained on whether a group was present or not.
Tom Faris Sr., equipment manager, said, "I told the kids to get the best equipment available to do this. Cameras can run into thousands of dollars each."
His children told him if he didn't stop spending so much money his wife might do him in.
He laughed and said, "Well, I guess they'd know how to come looking for me then." He added that there can be a dangerous side to the investigations. "You need to take paranormal investigating seriously. Ghosts (spirits) can do bodily harm. They can pick you up and throw you, scratch and hit you. Some others can play jokes on you. It's not a job for amateurs.
"People who have experienced the paranormal and want explanations should contact a paranormal group," Fisher said.
"Everyone around here does investigations free of charge. Our Website is http://www.tricountyparanormal.net."
Despite the cold, and with the benefit of several pots of coffee, the investigation continued most of the night. Terry Ramsey, Bushwhacker Museum coordinator, and Nancy Malcom, Historical Society board member, assisted the groups with their investigation.
The group will give a formal report to the Vernon County Historical Society at a future date after they have had time to review their findings.