Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-04-24
tFrom cat Home and Abroad. u
A Supernatural Visitation.


cannot close this chapter without. irving
one more authentic ghost story--to which, in
my opinion, the same explanation will apply
to those have related in the preceding ar
ticle. A gentleman (permit me to withhold
his name, station, and the date of the occur
renee was once travelling in the interior Of
Sweden. On a raw evening, in October, he
arrived at large country town, where fair
was being held. All the inns were full, and
he found It no easy matter to obtain lodgings
for the night. He was weary from a long
days journey, and, after applying at the
third or fourth, without success, he announced
to the landlord his determination to remain
there with or without bed. BE procured
some supper, smoked his pipe in the guests
room, and finally, feeling inclined to sleep,
demanded to be shown some place where he
could lie down. ..... ....'...... .rL
"Have you no sofa, or bench, or bundle of
hay vacant 2" he asked the landlord.
mo-" said the latter mot one; but"
here he hesitated-"there is room with a
bed in it, in a small house at the back of the
| court, only"-dropping his voice TO a whis-
per-'the place is haunted; and nobody dares
to spend the night there"
"IOh if that is all, +" laughed the traveller,
''giye me the room at once. | don't believe
in ghost or demon; and, Pm far too tired to
be troubled with anything of the sort" The
landlord still hesitated, az If doubtful whether
he should expose his stubborn guest to such
dangers; but, finally, gave orders to have a
fire made in the ill-omened room, and fresh
sheets put upon the unused bed.
Taking his saddle-bags on his arm, and his
sword in his hand, the traveller followed the
servant across the courtyard, and entered
the building. The room was low and bare,
the winows closed by shutters, whose rusty
bolts showed that it was long since they had
been opened. A ruddy fire of pine wood
was blazing on the raised hearth, in one cor
ner, but there was no furniture, except mar
row bed and two chairs. The servant, having
placed the candle on one of the chairs, made
haste to leave; but the traveller detained him
q moment saying . -.. ....
"You see my sword-and here are two
pistols loaded and capped. If anything dis
turbs met night, man or ghost, Ishall imme-
diately fire upon it. Unless you hear shot,
leave me alone"
, He did this from suspicion that the ghost
/ might be some person connected with the inn,
who for purposes of his own, was concerned
t in banishing all nightly visitors from tho
house. .0. ..-...
After the servant left, the traveller heaped
more wood on the fire, carefully examined
the windows and door, and after locking the
such o manner that the least movement
would cause it to fall. He then undressed,
with the exception of his trowsers, placed tho
chair with the candle at the head of the bed,
the pistols under the pillow, and lay down,
with his sword beside him en- the bed-clothes,
within reach Of his hand. He then blew out
the candle, and composed himself to rest
As he did not feel the slightest fear or trepi-
s dation he soon fell into sound sleep.
9 About midnight he was suddenly awakened
r by feeling like that of rush of cold wind
. over his face. Opening his eyes, he found the
room quiet as before; but the candle by his
: bedside was burning. He distinctly recol.
d lected having extinguished it, but neverthe.
e less persuaded himself that he must have beer
mistaken-got up threw more wood on the
Y fire, examined the door and windows, anc
s after having returned to bed, snuffed the can
Y die short, that there might be no mistake thil
time.
It Half an hour after%ard he was agar
e awakened by the same rush Of cold wind
a The candle was burning once more
; This inexplicable circumstance made hin
: feel excited and uneasy. He extinguishe,
# the candle and resolved to lie awake, and se
/. whether it would be lighted q third time
/ Another half hour had elapsed, and his heav,
], eyelids had closed in spite Of all his struggle
ia to keep them open, when the rush of win,
D. returned, more violent than before Tn
Re clothed in long, heavy gown, with a hoo,
E. falling forward so as to conceal the fac,
stood in the center of the room. An icy chi
l. ran through the travellers frame. He al
s. tempted to oseZ re his sword and pistols, but hi
Is frame seemed paralysed and his arm refuse
" to obey he direction of his will. Step b
' step the figure advanced toward the bed
m reached the bedside: it slowly lifted its arm
enveloped in the wide sleeves OF the gown
r and, with an awful deliberateness, bent dow
,ir toward the travellers body. In the frenzy
ly terror, he burst the spell which seemed {
er confne his limbs, seized the snufers whiC
On lay nearest his right hand and stabbed, agai
=. .AA I. e H. IN.
ct was the last thing he remembered He WI
yo recalled to consciousness by loud knockin
o. at the door, followed by the fall Of the Ike
from the latch, and heard the servants vol,
", calling. ..r.....
:" "Open the door, if yon please, sir; hay
come to make the fire.
He was lying, not in bed, but upon Il
NJ floor, in the middle OF the room. The smut
to ers were still in hand; but the long ste
ro points were bent double.