Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-06-30

NtleTu S1OAIuau, JOHN DOW, u IcilOW VI
generous associations with whom | had nc
difficulty in forming an ae luaintanee. With
this person | made arrangements TO visit
and remain night in the haunted house.
We took seats at the table 10 talk the
matter over. l soon found that Stow like
myself, did not believe in the existence OF
ghosts and hobgoblins. There is to some
a source of delightful participation arising
from the luxurious indulgence of the inc
briating bowl. My friend was an ardent
admirer of the rosy god. For consdera-
tion, McCrory furnished US with some ci-
gars of an inferior quality, and quart Of
uncommon bad whisky; with these, while
awaiting the time of night proper for US
to visit the haunted house, We whiled away
an hour or two, in social conversation upon
the various events of our past history.
Previous to leaving the hotel l carefully
examined my pistols. 1 had two, one large
horse pistol, and colts six shooter-they
were all right. 1t has been my habit for
twenty years to carry side arms. Lest the
thing should touch the moral sensibilities
of my religious friends, l would solicit
them to stretch their imagination, and fan
cy carry arms more by mistake than 9TH
erwise.
On the 18th day of May, 1853, about
ten o'clock at ight, Mr.. McCrory took
Stow and myself in thing he called a
wagon, and left us at the haunted house.
The building has for years been tenantless,
and is free to be occupied by any one who
wishes to reside in it.
Of course there was no one TO deny us
admission TO the house. 1t was cold
dark night. As we stepped from the wag
on, McCrory spoke not, but grasping me
by the hand shook his head ominously,
which indicated no good but rather ILL.,
We parted for the night without saying a
word, he for his house, and Stow and :ook
up our abode in the haunted house. There
was one man, who of all men else, did de-
sire with me then, and that was Brown,
local editor of the Plain Dealer.
The solemn but certain hour of mid
night was rapidly approaching, my friend
and | were quietly smoking, when at once,
we were startled from our reverie by the
appearance of a ghastly looking object in
the shape and form of human skeleton.
We were seated on the floor at the time,
but soon sprang to our feet as the spectre
entered the room.
Ii seemed TO US like the bones of hu-
man being without any flesh on them. |
ordered it to stand, at the same time de-
manding to know the object of its visit.
But the phantom did not pay the least
attention t. me, and continued TO advance
toward where l stood, but stopped in the
centre Of the floor directly in front OF me:
Stow having, according to previous un-
standing, taken his position in an opposite
corner of the room. This arrangement
was made that we might be better prcpar-
ed to make defense against any attack,
should such thing be attempted.
! confess that it was my opinion that
there was some trick about the whole af-
fair, and gotten up for the occasion. My
mind was made up to punish the parties
with proper severity had l been fortunate
enough to have captured them.
The only light We had was the faint
glimering afforded by the burning of few
pieces of boards in the fire place.
The phantom advanced toward me l
raised one of my pistols, carefully elevating
it on level with his breast, and fired
with as much steadiness as l was able, but
it faltered not, and as quick as thought 1
discharged another barrel, but it still con-
tinued to advance, until it came Within
reaching distance of me, when it raised its
bony arm in the direction where stood
and motioned my attention. During these
few moments of suspense, | closely scruti-
nized the figure; determined if possible, to
satisfy my mind in relation to It's mysteri-
Gus actions. Making signal to Stow, we
exchanged places, meanwhile, keeping an
eye on the object before me. l must con-
fess my inability to explain, satisfactorily,
concerning this curious object.
Stow still asserts that it had no flesh
and that he could see nothing about it but
bones, which be even heard rattle when l
fred.
The ghost walked toward the fireplace,
turned around, and again passed back to
the centre of room, occupying the same po-
sition, with its front in the direction to-
wards me. It again raised its hand, and as
it did so, uttered in sepulcheral voice the
following words: "Give ear to me and mark
well the words that 1 shall reveal to you.
Ny name is James Syms, was born in
Augusta, Georgia, and was with General
WAYNE, when he fought and defeated the
Indians on :he skirts of this forest, and at
the time Of my death was sixty weight years
of age.'
/ interrupted him here to inquire if he
was murdered in the house in which we
were then; to which be replied: "Ask me
no question
The ghost continued bis story: .On the
approach ofevening, in December, 1s41, |
put upat this house, kept at that time by |
a man by the name of Cleves. After re-
firing to my room for the night, | was
startled from sleep between morning and
midnight, by blow in the side Of the
head, with bludgeon, in the hands of
Cleves. | Immediately sprung to my feet |
and attempted TO grappie with my assail-
ant, but in doing so, received another blow
on my left temple. 1t was this blow that
killed me, being dead before | struck the
floor $500 =
The spectre had presented his skull to
my view, and true enough it was O confir- |
nation of his statement; the skull present.
ed large fracture. He continued. up |
on the int1ictiop of the laet blow mat mem |