The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-10-07

SoMsAMsyLrsK = Thrilling Incident. An
incident of thrilling and almost terrible in.
terest, combining in itself all the papitating
ohanses of hair breadth escapes aad the
strange romantic ventures of that wierd SEM
bline OF life, somnaMbulisin, lis thus rel ated by
the Detroit Free Press as having occurred in
that city few nights ago: -"
The scene was on Catherine street, at the
residence Of Mr.. Israel Moreton. At about
halt-paSt two a. m. he was awakened by. a
knocking at the front door, and found man
on the steps, who. in very incoherent and
excited manner, requested him to walk across
the street and look at the top OF bis house.
He declined, and was, about retiring, suspi-
eious Of foul play, when his eye caught a
meving shadow on the front of the opposite
house. ltiadicated that some moving, liv-
ing thing was walking noiselessly along the
narrow ridge of his roof An. indescri sable
chill crept over him. The shadow stole
acgosshhe front of the, opposite building, and
was lost for a moment in the darkness, and
taen-crept into the view again, returning in
al opposite directionj with the same slow,
gliding motion. His companion had regain
ed the opposite sidewalk, and stood gazing
up in silence, seem ingly, struck speechless
with horror and with trembling steps Mr.
Moresoh gained his side, when bis gaze fell
upon form, shrouded from head to foot in
atong white nighttdfess, aboutwhich a mass
OF long hair fell iszssi lid confusion.
' The spectral form paced slowly to and fro
on the narrow rid gs-board which covered the
apex of the roof, approaching ip frightful
proximity of the abrupt termination at the
ends, and calmly tsrning about to retraoe
tag. distance, The house was high one land
misstep or step too, far would have plung-
ed the night-waiSer down to certain destruc-
tl4p.i The walker occasionally raised her
hand to her head, las though engaged in
taonght or troubled with pain. The head
always maintained the same position. A
chimney stood directly in the middle of the
roof, around which She passed with ease,
placing one hand upon its top, and walking
down the sloping, roof to get around. Once,
In this spectral walk, she paused at the edge
of the roof, and looked straightforward. -.
A waving movement of the right hand &C.
companied the act, when the walk was again
renewed. The came spot was reached again
few moments after, when the figure again
paused and again gazed out into the darkness,
and then, with slow motion, stretched out
hand, and with ,eutsppead hngers elutched
at something which bad no existence except
in the fevered mind Of the sleeper. The 9TH
err hand was then extended In like manner,
and the body went forward in such a way
that the upper portion hung over the abyss,
while the 6ngers reached out, until there
was no further reaching, and then clutched
again vita a fquick, convusiye snatch, and
were withdrawn. The firm was motionless
moments and then commenced its walk g.
gain, continuing as far as the middle of the
roof, when it turned toward the rear of the
house, and moving dowa the sloop Of the
Roof, was lost to sigh s.s1 a '1if ef1 r. v
Mr.. Moreton recognized che FEATURES and
form Of his servant girl, about l8, named
IA
aroused his wife, and went with her to the
girls room, and found her sitting on the side
of the bed, wide awake, and in a state of
mind bordering on distraction. She had no
knowledge of the occurrence, but had been
awakeaed by the noise OF her employer en-
tering the house, and found herself standing
in the. middle Of. her own room in the eondi-
ton described. The girl had been suffering
from a. brain fevers from which she'was
gradually nreeogering. sa.Y u, 10 s3lssss
o. - 4 10. lf. ~