The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-10-03
d. A BIG GHOST STORY.
Remarkable Afuir IN u Church


Considerable excitement has arisen in Jersey
City in consequence Of groans, yells and un-
earthly sounds said to emanate from church in
the upper part of Jersey City fer some nights
past. The first known Of these mysterious
sounds was some ten days since, when the pastor
had occasion to return to the church after even
ing service to procure some manuscript which
he had forgotten and had occasion to make use
Of The ediGce bad been closed fo: the night,
and was IN total dark ness
The New York Times says:
"On entering, he lit a match to guide him
along the isle; and when approaching the altar
at the rear, his attention was attracted by low
moaning sound, which gradually increased and
at the same time drew nearer to him. TO this
he at first paid but little heed, presnming it to
be the antics of mischievous boys; butpresently
the sounds changed to seemingly unearthly yells,
shrieks and groans, from innptnerable invisible.
beings clustering around in close proximity to
his person, until finally bis feelings were so
wrou hit upon that he felt impelIed to leave the
building with all possible haste.
The above are substantially the facts of. the
case as stated by the pastor Of the church to
Chief of Police McNIannus after reports were
beginning to be circulated in the neighborhood
that the church was haunted, and requesting
that the matter might be kept as quiet as pos
sibe, believing that in few days at furth est he
would be able to unravel the mystery and salts
factorily explain the cause of the sounds. Since
that time the church edifce has been thoroughly
examined, inside and out, but without unravel-
ing the mystery; and meantime these dismal
and unearthly yels and cries heard almost
every night. n couple Of nights since, Chief
of Police McMannus, accompanied by Aid Doyle
and Detective E L Nc Williams, determined to
pay visit to the reported haunted church
They accordingly procured the keys and entered
the edifce shortly after midnight.
''Taking their position in the centre of the
church in total darkness, they had remained
there but short time when they heard low
moaning sound, apparently proceeding from the
vicinity of the pulpit, which gradually grew
louder and came nearer until it finally culmina-
ted around their heads into howls, yells, grcans,
&c and then gradually died away as it came.
After u few moments Of perfect silence, Chief
McMannus drew from his pocket revolver,
loaded with blank cartridges, and fired one
charge, when almost instantly the edifce seemed
filed with thousands Of infuriated demons,
making the most hideous noise and apparently
bent tearing them to pieces. The officers
dcstrlbe having experienced very peculiar sem
sation in the head, and fnally the noise became
so hideous and unearthly that they made a.hasty
retreat, apparently pursued by the infuriated
demons to the door, which they closed and lock
ed. The officers then crossed the street to the
opposite walk, and remained there until day
light, but heard no further sounds, and made
no discoveries which would teEd to explain the
mystery. The people residing in the immcdi-
ate neishborhood claim TO have been disturbed
at all hours of the night by these demonac
sounds, and a number Of them have determined
to leave the neighborhood"
TOur readers may believe as much of the
above story they please. We don't believe
in ghosts .
How TO GROW BEAUTIFUL.-Persons may
out-grow disease and become healthy by proper
attention to the laws OF their physical constitu-
tion: By moderate and daily exercise men may
become active and strong in limb and muscle
But to grow beautiful, how? Age dims the
lustre of the eye, and pales the roses on beautys
cheek, while crows-feet, and furrows, and wrin-
kles, and lost teeth, and gray hairs, and bald
head and lettering limbs, and limping, most
sadly mar the human form divine. Bu. dim as
the eye is, pallid and sunken as may be the face
of beauty, aud frail and feeble that once strong,
erect and manly body, the immortal soul, just
fedging its wings for its home in heaven, may
look out through those faded windows as beau
tif4 as the dew drop of summers morning, by
growing kindly, by cutivating sympathy with
all humap kind, and by cherishing forbearance
toward the folies and fobles of cur race.