The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-02-10
The Deaths Head.

The following ghost story is translated from
late French journal. 1t smost decidedly French
in its detailsi
Some time since, in garrisoned town near Pa
rls, an addition to the barracks was in process Of
construction. The ground that the new building
was 10 occupy had formed part of an ancient
cemetI,y, and the workmen, in sinking the neces-
sary foundations, each day turned up large
quantity Of bones, which were carried away and
thrown into an immense ditch, dug for that
purpose, at some little distance from the spot
! One evening some soldiers Of the garrison, as
sembled in neighboring tavern, were convers-
ing Of this incident, some lightly and in mockery
others with marks Of superstitious awe
Among the 'esprits forts" were brigadier and
trumpeter.
adler, ON wager that you, who mock at the
dead, dare not go and fetch me q head at mid
night, from the ditch -
'.What viii you wager?"
''Beer at discretion, for US all"
''Done! atfive minutes past twelve the Death'I
| head shall be there on the table, TO see US drink
to your health, and at your expense"
''We shall see, replied the trumpeter, with
confident air
Some blamed others applauded the impious
brayado. Midnight strikes; the brigadier leaves
the tavern, and advances in the deep shadow
toward the ditch, which served as n receptacle
Of these sad relics of mortality. At length he
reaches the spot. provided with n small ladder
which, firmly adjusting among the bones beneath,
he slowly descended TO the bottom Of the trench
The night was dark and stormy: thick clouds
obscured the sky; the wind swept mournfully
along the earth, with wall like that for the
departed In the deep obscurity he distinguish
ed nothing; STOPPING with outstretched hands
he meets with only disoiBted and crumbling frag-
ments, here thigh, leg, rib-bone or other
portions of the human frame. At length advan-
cling a step, he stumbles against something and
falls; he stretches out his arms TO find the
cause of this accident, and feels beneath his
hand the Deaths head; eagerly be seizes upon
it, and passes his fingers in the cavities of tho
eyes and nose, and seeking out his ladder, as.
cends, crying boastfully aloud, ''Wel, if that's
all !" but scarcely had he reached the top than
a strange dread voice rises from beneath:
"Wretch! why dost thou with impious
hand to violate my remains Profane, give me
back my head"
The brigadier stops, more in surprise than awe;
but suddenly he feels the ladder agitated beneath
his feet.
''Give me back my head give me back my
head 20 repeats the lamentable voice, and the
ladder is more violently shaken.
''Well, then" cries the brigadier ." there's
your head - and balancing it at arms length
he launches it with all his force to the bottom of
the ditch.
a terrible cry responds to the shock The
brigadier feels his courage deserving him he
leaps upon the bank and flies with all his speed
Arrived pale and covered with cold sweat at
the tavern, where his friends await the issue Of
the expedition, he rc-counts the frightfdl occur
renee. Some try TO laugh, and accuse the soldier
of hallucination, deceit.
''But where is the trumpeter?" some ono
asks He who, by his wager, had caused the
sacrilegc, was no longer there.
bah, is the reply. " lie was afraid Of
paying the wager; he's gone" And thereupon
no one thought of fdrinking more; for the emotion
Of the brgadier had communicated itself to all.
They separated for the night The next day,
at the hour Of commencing the works, the
trumpeter was foud dead at the bottom of the
ditch. The brgader, in launching the Deaths
head, had split the head Of the sacrilegious in
! truder.