The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-11-08
yond mere curiosity, in the following strange

yond mere curiosity, in the following strange
narrative.
There is not, perhaps, a country moro rife
in legends Of haunted houses than Germany.
No province but has its store of them Many,
drawn by tradition from the obscurity Of the
past, have lost, If they ever possessed, any
claim TO be regarded except as apocryphal.
But others, OF recent date and better at
tested, cannot be disposed of in 80 summary
. manner.
In furnishing a specimen Of this latter
class, depart from rule which think it
well to observe in regard to original MARIA
tives Of character 50 marvellous 10 record
such. namely, only when they can be pro-
CURED direct from tho lips of the witnesses
themselves. This came to me second hand.
had no opportunity Of cross questioning
the actors in the scenes narrated. Yet had
the story from a gentleman of high respec-
liability: the principal Secretary Of tho
-- Legation at Naples: and his sources
Of information were direct and authentic.
In the southeastern portion Of Pomerania,
At no great distance from the frontier Of the
province Of West Prussia, and in the vicinity
Of tho small town Of Butow, there stood,
not many yenrs since, an ancient chateau.
II was the ancestral residence Of an old
Pomeranian family of baronial rank; and
the narrative Of its destruction, with tho
causes that led thereto, is curious and re-
msrkable.
Its former owner, the Baron Won Putkam.
msr, after leading wild and dissolute life,
had expired within its walls. For years
previously, many mysterious story, fraught
with dark hints of seduction and infantioide,
had been whispered over the surrounding
country; and when at last death arrested
the Baron's profigate career, some reported
that he had been strangled in rcquital Of
outrage committed, Others that the Dovil
had taken home his own, as they had long
expected.
His estate went to 4 relative Of the same
name, who granted the enjoyment of it to his
eldest son, heir 20 tho title. This young
man. after a time, arrived to tako possession.
He found in the chateau tho administrator
Of the deceased Baron's estate.
It was late, the first night, before he went
to bed. Yet he was scarcely undressed,
whsn he heard, through the stillnoss Of the
night, the approach Of carriage, at first
rolling over the sharp gravel Of the avenue,
then entering the paved courtyard This
was succeeded By the noise Of tho front door
opening and the distinc, sound Of step. on
the principal staircase.
Young putkammer, surprised al this un-
scasonable visit, yet supposing it some friend
who had heen benightcd. hastily donned his
dressing gown, and, with light in hand,
stepped to the lending. Nothing could be
| seen there! But he heard behind him tho
opening Of door leading into tho principal
gallery Of the chateau---a long hall which
for some timc had boen out of use. II had
been employed by the former owner Of the
castle as bnnqueting-r room, was hung with
old family portraits, and. as the young man
had noticed during the day, was so complete
~ incumbered with furniture, which had
been temporarily stored there, that no one
could pass through H.
lie returned in great surprise, which wns
much increased when he found the door of
the gallery in question closed and locked.
, He listened, aud heard quite distinctly
/; within tho room, the noise OF plates aud
| dishcs and the clatter Of knives and forks
To this, after time, succeeded the sound Of
| shutting cards and tho rattle Of money, as
!, as if thrown OH tho table in the course Of
| the game.
| More and more ast onshed he awoke his
| servant. and babe him listen ut the door and
| tell him what he heard Tho terrified valet
reported the same sounds which had reach Cd
| his masters ears. Thereupon the latter
| told him TO arouse the administrator and
request his presence
Wnen this gentleman appeared, tho young
! nohleman engcrly asked If he could furnish
| any explanation Of this strange disturb
| ance
~ was unwilling" said he. IN roply, "to
anticipate what you now witness, lest you
| might imagiA had some interested motive
to prevent your coming hither We arc all
familiar with these sounds. They occur
every night at about the same hour. And
we have sought in vain any natural explaua-
ton cf their constant recurrence
Have you the key Of the gallery
Here il is"
Silence and darkness. And when the lights
were introduced. not an object was to be seen
through the gloom but the old furniture con-
fusediy piled ZIP over tho floor.
They closed and locked Tho door. Again
the same sounds commenced: the clatler of
dishes, the noise Of reycllng, the clink Of
gamblers gold A second time they opened
the door, and this time quickly aud suddenly,
and second time tho sounds instantly
ceased, and the hall, nu,enanted except by
the silent portraits on its walls, appeared
before them the Same still aud gloomy luD-
ber- room az before.
Bnfied for the time, young PuLkammer
dismissed his attendants and retired to his
chamber. Ere long no heard tho door Of the
gallery open, the heavy footsteps sound on
the stairway, tho front door creak on its
hinges,--and then the roll Of the carriage,
first over tho stone pavement, then along the
gravelled avenue till the sounds gradually
died away in the distance.
Tho next night no was ready dressed and
prepared with lights. When, a ,out the samo
hour, tho noise Of tho approaching carriage
was hoard, he had tho lights Immediately
carried to the top Of the stairway, and he
himself half descended the stairs. Up the
stairs and past his very side came the foot
steps but neither living being nor spectral
form could he perceive.
The same noises in the old banQusting hall.
Tho same fruitless attempts to witness tho
revol, or to get at the secret. il any, Of the
imposition.
Tho young man was brave and devoid Of
superstition. Yot, in spite Of himself, these
mysterious sounds, rcnewcdn night after night,
irritated his nerves, and preyed upon his
quiet. Ho thought to break through the
They came, TO the number Of thirty or forty
but not for their pres once did tho invisible
jewellers intermit their nocturnal visit All
ascending the staircase, the sounds Of revol-
~ in tho hall And all, whom the opened
door disclosed, a. wont, but darkness and
silence, turned away with Sunderland
to the subsequent invitation Of their host to
favor him again with their company replied
with some shallow apology, which he per-
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