By Kathy Murray
K is for…
Kaniskee Lake
“Kaniskee” means “lake of the spirit” and is so named for the Indian Maiden who haunts it. In life, she had heard the horrible news that her love had been killed, and decided she would rather not live without him. So, in a canoe, she rowed to the middle of the lake and drowned herself. Now her ghost can be seen, in a canoe and dressed all in white, rowing across the lake.
Kansas State University
Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this university is home to the ghost of a young football player named Nick, who died in the building in the 1950s. His voice has been heard by people and has been recorded on tape. Nick seems to like to play pranks, mostly through the movement of objects. Another ghost at Kansas State is that of a sophomore from the fraternity Kappa Sigma. He hanged himself and is now visible as a white mist that has been seen on the stairway, the roof and everywhere in between.
Kelpie
The Kelpie is said to be a vengeful spirit that haunts the rivers, lochs and streams of Ireland and Scotland. The Kelpie takes the form of a horse and grazes the land beside the water, waiting for a human to try to ride it. Once the human climbs on, the Kelpie jumps into the river, drowning the unsuspecting person. Most often, while the drowning is taking place, the Kelpies will devour the person, all except for their liver, which then floats to the top of the water.
Kinnear Park
This park in Seattle, Washington, was sold to the city by a real estate developer in 1889, for only a dollar. No one is sure why, but in the 1920’s, the sound of a baby crying could be heard all throughout the park, even when there were no children present. The noise went away after the 20’s but some say if you listen very carefully, you can still hear the faint cries of an infant.
Knocker
Also known as Tommyknockers, these leprechaun-like creatures live and work in underground mines. Most Tommyknockers are helpful, albeit a little mischievous. However, at one mine in Cripple Creek, Colorado, in the 1800’s, Tommyknockers were blamed for the deaths of many men. It’s said that they lured a group of men to a certain spot in the mine, then jumped up and down on beams located above the men’s heads until they collapsed onto the unfortunate group.
K Street
This major street in Washington, D.C., is haunted by the ghost of a man who was beheaded in the late 1800’s by vigilantes. His headless ghost has been seen by so many people, that for a time, the local papers reported each new encounter. The hype has died down, but his spirit still walks K Street, perhaps looking for his head.