Find me here:
  The Paranormal Guide
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Atlas
  • Glossary

The Phantom Hitchhiker

27/11/2012

Comments

 
Picture
You are travelling along a lonely road when you see someone up ahead. You slow down, and seeing that the person is in need of help, you offer them a ride. However upon reaching your destination the hitchhiker is gone, vanished without a trace.

There are many variations to this story, and it has been shared all over the world, for generations.

Be Careful Who You Pick Up...

PictureA phantom hitchhiker awaits a ride...
The story begins with a person driving along a lonely road in the middle of the night. Along the way, they spot someone looking for a ride. They stop the car and the hitchhiker gets in. At some point the hitchhiker simply vanishes into thin air...

That is the core of the story, but more often than not, there are other parts, such as the hitchhiker leaving something behind... a jacket, a bag, a wallet. After arriving at the address, found in the hitchhiker’s possession, they are told that the person has recently died.

Also, these drivers are not the first people to have seen the family’s departed loved one!

Another variant has the hitchhiker vanish as the car passes a cemetery. When the driver stops to see if the hitchhiker may have fallen out, they will notice one of their own possessions hanging on the cemeteries gates.

Quite often the hitchhiker will impart a piece of advice, something personal for the driver that will come into play within a short time of the experience.

At other times, a prophetic vision of world changing magnitude is shared. An upcoming war, the second coming of Jesus Christ, a huge storm or earthquake et cetera - all manner of strange prophecies are told.

History of Vanishing Hitchhikers

PictureCould they be victims of road fatalities?
The Phantom or Vanishing Hitchhiker is an urban legend that has been shared from person to person for centuries. One of the earliest accounts can be found in the New Testament. An Ethiopian chariot driver picks up the Apostle Philip, who baptises the chariot driver then vanishes (New Testament Acts 8:26-39 )

Do you think the legend is based on fact?

What if it is not a legend at all, but rather the spirits of people who have lost their lives along our roads, and are looking for a way home?

With the massive boom of automobile affordability in the 1930's, and the subsequent increase in road mortality rates, is it little wonder that stories and witnesses to the Phantom hitchhiker increased at around the same time?

As with a lot of stories and folklore, the Phantom Hitchhiker probably has a seed of truth.

'Resurrection Mary'

PictureResurrection Mary is a famous phantom hitchhiker.
It was in the late 60's and early 70's that the story got a massive boost of popularity. However, the story was popular enough before this time for folklorists to start collecting accounts. One of the more famous Phantom Hitchhikers is that of 'Resurrection Mary' found in the Chicago area, Illinois, USA.

(The following is an extract from an online source)

“The story goes that Mary had spent the evening dancing with a boyfriend at the Oh Henry Ballroom. At some stage during the night, they got into an argument and Mary stormed out. Even though it was a bitter winter’s night, she thought she would rather face the cold walk home, than spend another minute with her boyfriend.

She left the ballroom and started walking up Archer Avenue. She had not gotten very far when she was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver, who fled the scene leaving Mary to die. Her parents found her and were grief-stricken at the sight of her dead body. They buried her in Resurrection Cemetery, wearing a beautiful white dancing dress and matching dancing shoes. The hit-and-run driver was never found.

Jerry Palus, a Chicago southsider, reported that in 1939 he met a person who he came to believe was Resurrection Mary at the Liberty Grove and Hall at 47th and Mozart (and not the Oh Henry/Willowbrook Ballroom). They danced and even kissed and she asked him to drive her home along Archer Avenue, exiting the car and disappearing in front of Resurrection Cemetery.”

The story of Resurrection Mary is one of the most famous of all Phantom Hitchhikers, and even this one legend comes in many different flavours. She has been seen and reported by taxi drivers, truckies, police officers, ministers and of course paranormal investigators.


Do you think the legend is based on fact?
Have you heard of The Phantom Hitchhiker in your local area?

Where are some of the places it takes place and what are the variations to the story that you have heard?

(I would particularly like to hear from taxi drivers who are said to be the people who have the most frequent experiences with this phenomena.)
Ashley Hall 2012
Comments
comments powered by Disqus

    The Paranormal Guide Articles

    Here you will find all of the articles written for The Paranormal Guide on all things paranormal, strange, dark, macabre, weird, strange and bizarre!

    All photos with the blog posts remain the property of their respectful owners. If one of your photos is featured here without attribution please leave a comment on the blog and full credit will be given.

    Categories

    All
    Bizarre Experiments
    Conspiracy
    Cryptozoology
    Cursed And Haunted Objects
    Curses Demons And Exorcisms
    Earth Mysteries
    Fakes Frauds And Hoaxes
    Ghosts And Hauntings
    Ghosts Ghouls And Demons
    Interesting And Inspiring People
    Investigations
    Miracles
    My Paranormal
    Paranormal Photos
    Paranormal Vocabulary
    Phobias And Philias
    Post Mortem Practices
    Psychics Predictions And Seers
    Questions And Discussions
    Reviews
    Spirituality And Miracles
    Spirituality And Miracles
    Strange And Macabre Places
    Strange And Tragic Deaths
    This Week In Dark History
    Tragedy
    True Crime And Punishment
    Ufos And Aliens
    Unsolved Mysteries
    Urban Legend Superstition And Folklore
    Weird Odd And Bizarre


    Ashley Hall -
    The Paranormal Guide

    Ashley Hall explores The Paranormal, True Crime, Strange Deaths, Dark History, The Weird, The Strange and The Bizarre! Fact or Fiction? You decide!

    Picture

    Contributors

    Picture
    Matty Sweeney
    Picture
    Peet Banks
    Picture
    Nic Hume

    Picture
    Check out The Paranormal Guide Podcast and join three paranormal investigators and researchers for honest and raw discussions on all things paranormal, strange, dark and macabre HERE!

    Archives

    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Please note that dates are from when the article was originally made.
    The Paranormal Guide does have posts all the way up to the current date.


    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.