The Deal Is!

Senator Henry M. Jackson ghost appears in window

The strangest phenomenon happened on Tacoma’s west side on Halloween night. As darkness fell, the streets filled with trick-or-treaters, jack-O-lanterns were lit, porch lights were turned on, and a startling, eerie figure was seen by many, as it peered out from the window of one house in a University Place neighborhood.

Crowds gathered, pointing to a second-story window at one home, and agreed that the figure resembled one of this state’s best known political figures of the past. Those that could make out the face of the man or “ghost”, said it was the late Senator Henry M. Jackson. Jackson, known affectionately as “Scoop”, was born in Everett, May 31, 1912; graduated from the law school of the University of Washington at Seattle in 1935; admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Everett, Wash.; prosecuting attorney of Snohomish County 1938-1940;  elected to the United States Senate in 1952 and reelected in 1958, 1964, 1970, 1976 and again in 1982, serving from January 3, 1953, until his death on September 1, 1983.

The figure in the window appeared to move only slightly, closer to the window as crowds grew larger. At one point, the crowd gasped, and someone stammered, “He’s waving to us”.  The ghostly figure appeared to be gesturing to the crowd, as a candidate or political figure might wave from the podium during a speech. The picture (inset) has been enlarged to show, more clearly, the figure which bears the uncanny resemblance to Jackson.

This apparition appeared to on-lookers for  approximately four minutes. This was enough time for a sizable crowd to gather and some photos to be taken. After this very short period, the vision of Jackson dissolved in the blink of an eye.   The pictures tell the story. Clearly, someone or some thing, resembling Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson, watched trick-or-treaters gathering at dusk throughout the neighborhood. Was this an omen of some sort prior to election night? If nothing else, it was a ghostly experience that many who witnessed it will tell their friends about.

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