The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-11-08

mystery, and to detect the trick, if to trick
cry the disturbances were due. But every
effort to obtain IN explanation Of the phe-
nomena utterly failed. And the father, like
the son, after few weeks struggle against
the nightly annoyance, found his nervous
system unable TO cope with the constant
strain upon it, and left the chateau, deter
mined never again to enter its walls.
The next expedient was to rent II to those
whom the fame Of its ghostly reputation had
not reached. But this was unavailing, ex-
oept for brief season. No tenant would
remain beyond week or ten days. This
plan, therefore, was abandoned in despair !;
tho principal rooms were closed and the
building remained for years untenanted, ex-
cept by one or two unwilling dependents.
Finally tho proprietor, deeming all change
hopeless, and finding that The keeping up Of
the chateau was q mere useless expense,
resolved to destroy it. The dead had fairly
driven out the living. He had it pulled
down and few low, ruined walls alone
remained TO mark tho place where it stood.
Still, even within these deserted ruins the
Same sounds Of nightly rovelry were declared
to have been heard by those who were bold
enough TO approach them At the midnight
hour. When this was reported to the pro-
prietor, he determined, if possible, TO outroot
this last remnant Of disturbance. Accord
ingly, he caused to be erected, out Of the
remaining materials Of the chateau and on
the spot whore IL had STOOD, small chapel.
now 10 be found there, . mute witness Of the
story have here told.
The chapel was completed in 1874 Eyen
while the rites attending ito conseoration
woro in progress, strange and unwonted
noises disturbed tho congregation; but from
that time on they ceased; and the chapel has
since been entirely free from any such.
A relative Of tho proprietor, young off,
Ger In the Prussian army, was present at the
conservation, himself Witnessed the noises
in question, and had previously heard from
the parties themselves, all the former occur
rences. He IL was who relsted the ciroum-
stances TO my informant, the Baron Won
P, gentleman Of . grave and earnest
character, whose manner, In repeating them
to me, evinoed sincerity and conviction. But
il 10 not merely upon his authority that the
details Of the narrative rest. They are, it
would seem, Of public notoriety in Pomera-
mia ; and hundreds Of persons in the neigh.
borhood, as my informant declared, can yet
DO found to testify, from personal observa-
ton, 10 the general accuracy Of the above
narration.*
The most salient point in this story is the
practical and business part Of 1.-THE actual
pulling down Of the chateau, as a last resort,
to get rid of the disturbance. Mere fancy
is not wont to lead to such a result as that
Tho owner Of piece of valuable property is
not likely to destroy It for imaginary cause.
Interest is . marvellous quicxencr Of the
wits, and may be supposed to have lef, no
stone unturned, before asserting 10 such a
sacrifice.
inquired Of the gentleman TO whom am
indebted for the above narrative if there
were no skeptical surmises in regard to the
origin of the disturbance. lie replied, that
he had heard but one--namely, that the adj
mini.trator of tho deceased Raron's estate
might, from motives Of interest and to have
the field 10 himself, have rssorted to trink
to scare tho owners from the premises.
II is hey ond doubt that such devices have
been successfully employed erc now for sim
liar purpose An example may be found in
the story Of the monks of St. Bruno, and the
shrewd device they employed TO obtain from
King Louis the Saint the grant Of one Of his
ancestral palaces. 1t was in this wise.
I Having heard his confessor speak in high
terms Of the goodness and learning Of the
4 IIlVHAS VA ~. OAunVs WIG OAAk SSSSA u
desire to found community Of them near
Paris Bernard de In Tour, the superior
sent six of tho brethren. and Louis assigned
! to them, as residence. handsome dwelling
in the village of CLantilly. 1t so happened,
that from ts.ir windows they had fine view
Of the old palace Of Vauvort, origin ally
.. ec,ed for royal residence by King Rob
ert, but which had been deserted for years
Tho worthy monks, oblivious Of the Tenth
Commandment, may have thought the place
! would suit them; but ashamed, probably, TO
, make formal demand Of il from the King,
they seem to have set their wits to work to
procure it BY stratagem.
At all events, the palace Of Vauvert, which
had never labored under any imputaton
against ito character until they became is
neighbours, began almost Immediately after
wards to acquire bad name. Frightful
shrieks were heard to proceed thence at
night. Blue, red, ana green lights werc seen
to glimmer from Il. easements, and then
suddenly disappear. The clanking Of chains
succeeded, together with thes howlings of
persons rs in great pain. Then CHASTITY
spectre, in pcs-green, with long, white beard
and serpents tail, appeared At the principal
windows, shaking his fss At psssers-by. This
went on for months.
Tho King. to whom these wonders were
duly reported, dsplorsd the scandal, and sent
commissioners to look into the affair. To
these the ak monks of Chsntilly, indignant
that the Devil should play such pranks before
their very faces, suggested that, II they
could but have the palace rs residence, they
would undertake speedily to cure it Of all
ghostly intrusion. A deed, with the royal
sign. manual, conveyed Vauyert TO tho monks
of st. Bruno. It bears the date Of 1850.
From that time all disturbances ceased-tho
green ghost, according to the creed of the
pious, being laid to rest forever under the
waters Of the Rcd Scat
Some will surmiss that the story of the
castle Of Putkammer 10 but modified version
Of that Of the palace Of vauvert. One who
was not on tho spot, to witness the phenom-
cna and personally to verify oil the details,
cannot nationally deny the possibility Of such
. hypothesis Yet find little parallel be-
insuperable, In the way Of accepting suel. .
solution Of the mystery.
The French palace was deserted, and moth.
Ing was easier than to play OF there, unchal-
lenged, such commonplace tricks as the
showing Of eolorsd lghts, the clanking Of
chains, shrieks, groans, and bowling spec
ire with beard and tAil-all in accordance
with the prejudice Of that age; nor do We
read that any one Was bold enough to pens-
trate, during the night, into the scene Of the
disturbance; nor had the Kings commits
sioners any personal motive to urge thor
ough research; nor had . pious sovereign,
the owner Of . dozen palaces, any strong
inducemsnt to refuse the cession Of one Of
these, already untsnantsd and useless, to
certain holy men, The objecss Of his vsner-
atm