The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE SOUL OF THE DEAD CAN BE VISIBLE

MRS. HURLEY STATES THAT ABOUT 1920 SHE WAS CARING FOR A
SICK WOMAN IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD IN SW DETROIT. AT THAT
TIME THE WOMAN WAS NEAR DEATH, WHEN THE DEATH RATTLE HAD BEGUN
MY INFORMANT STATES THAT A BLUE FLAME OF SOME FIVE TO SIX INCHES
IN DIAMETER AROSE FROM THE BODY OF THE WOMAN, THEN SHE EXPIRED.
IT WAS COMMON BELIEF AT THE TIME THAT THE SOUL OF A GOOD PERSON
COULD BE SEEN LEAVING THE BODY. THIS WAS ALSO SEEN BY 2 OTHERS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-11-1974