The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1858-07-16
s. 6op0 5tatq.
From The Fremont Messcngcr.l
The Haunted House Of the Black
Swamp.
A GHOST STORY or THRILLING INTEREST.
--toi ----
nY MAJOR wARD.


]
nv MAJOR WARD.
|. --io;---
In lonely and uufrequeuted spot, far
from any habitation. in the black swamp,
on the road rs you approximate Fndey
from the Maumee, between Portage and
Van Buren, is an uncommonly large,
odd fashioned house; in the language OF
the Dutchman. "oue Of the old and bestest
kind" Itis extensively known through.
out Northern Ohio as tho Woodbury.
house, and has been reported for many
years, rs the haunted house Of the black
swamp. AT what period it was erected,
tradition fails to tell us but aside from
the narrative, there is no doubt that il
was built in tho year / 500, or thereabout;
but IL has changed owners so often that
it is even difficult TO tell who is It's present
Landlord. Dr.. DuLcau, late member Of
Congress from Cincinnati. deceased, and
one Mr.. Gibson, Of New York. seem some.
what strangely mixed up in its ownership
at one time, but whom is present owner
or owners may be is unknown. The Glib
son here spoken of is no relation to "Wil
liam Gibson, one Of the institushuns Of
the city Of tinin"
The building still remains as a melan-
choly instance Of one Of the blackest deeds
ever perpetrated by the wickedness Of man
IA deed Of blood
About the year lS4o, the house was
occupied by one John Cleyes. who, ac-
cording to the ghost, committed the muir
der Of tha ancient podler, Syms. Clves,
although suspected, was ever puni ,hed
for tho murder Of the old pedlor, as he
was called.
But murder will OUT a secret ven
geance seemed to follow him. lie was
caught in tho act Uf committing the crime
Of incest with his own sister, convicted
of it, and sentenced for a number of
years to the Ohio state prison.
Cleyes was discharged from prison at
the expiration Of his sentence, and was
for some time though his present where
abouts is unknown, wandering about
Toledo.
There is, within a few miss Of the
Woodbury. house. an old rookery kept as
tavern, and tenanted by singular
looking old fellow, who calls himself
McCrory, who could, if he were inclined,
tell a thing or two concerning the old
house that might throw considerable light
on the subject, but for reasons best known
to himself, he relrains as much as posi-.
bic, from any allusion to tbs curious mys-
terry that seems to enshroud this deserted
ruin.
McCrory is a man with strangely
marked eountenance. In the "slang" oil
the Snowman, ho hasa "rummy" nose;
as the negro preacher says, il is too large
for one man, and not large enough for two
To use an expression Of Gray, of che
Plain Dealer, McCrory is rather "ques-
by gug,"
l would state hero, that our business
through the country, was to buy up tho
old silver coin, coined before the year
1858, aud, also, the bank notes Of mos
Of the deprecated banks throughout the
country. This necessarily brought US ia
contact with all classes Of persons who are
TO be met with IN business operations, q,
At McGrofy's tavern / net with the
veteran shoWmSn, John Stow, a fellow o.
generous associations. with whom had
no difficulty in forming an acquaintance
With this person / made arrangements Il
visit aud remaiR night in the haunted
house We took seats at the table to tall
the matter over / soon found that Stow
like myself, did not believe in the exis
tence Of ghosts and hobgoblns. There Il
to some q source Of delightful participa
ton arising from the luxurious ndulgencl
Of the inebriating bowl. Ny erriend wa
an ardent admrer of the rosy god. Fo
consideration, MeCrory furnished u
with some cigars Of an inferior quality
and quart Of uncommon bad whskey
with these, while awaiting the time o
night proper for us to visit the haunted
house, we Whiled away an hour or two
in social conversation upon the varou
events of our past history.
Previous to leaving the hotel care
fully examined my pistols. had bu
two one large horse pistol. aud Colt
''six shooter"--they were all right
has been my habit for twenty years {
carry side arms. Lest the thing shoul
touch the moral seusibilities Of my relig
ious friends, ! would solicit them
stretch their Imagination, and fancy tha
I carry arms more by mistake than Other
wise.
On the 9th Of May, 1883. about te
o'clock at night, McCrory took Stow an
myself in a thing he called a wagon. an
left us at the haunted house. The builC
ing has for years been tensntless and
free 20 be occupied by any one who wisl
es 20 reside in il.
OF course there was no one % deny /
admission to the house. It was co.
dark night.
AS we stepped from the wagon, M
! Crory spoke not, bat gFasping me by q