The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-09-28
From the SUSSEX Register.
Mysterious Sounds in Church---lnvesti-
cation by the Police.

Mysterious Sounds in Church---Investi-
cation by the Police.
Considerable excitement has arisen inJer-
sey City in Consequence of groans, yells and
unearthly sounds said to emanate from a
church in the upper part of Jersey City for
some nights past. The first known of these
mysterious sounds was some two weeks since,
when the pastor had occasion to return TO
the church after evening services to procure
some manuscript which he had forgotten,
and had occasion to make use Of
The edifce had been closed for the night
and was in total darkness. On entering he
lit match to guide him along the aisle, and
when approaching the altar at the rear, his
attention was attracted by low moan
ing sound, which gradually increased and
at the same time drew nearer to him. To
this he at first paid but little heed presuming
it to be the antics of mischievous boys; but
presently the sounds changed to seemingly
unearthiy yells, shrieks and groans, from
innumerable invisible beings clustering a
round in close proximity to his person, until
finally his feelings were so wrought up
on that he felt impelled to leave the build
ing 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 McMannus, after reports
were beginning to be circulated in the neigh
borhosd that the church was haunted, and
requesting that the matter might be kept as
quiet as possible, believing that in a few days
at farthest he would be able to unravel the
mystery, and satisfactorily explain the cause
of the sounds. Since that time the curch edi-
fee has been thoroughly examined, inside and
out but without unraveling the mystery, and
meantime these dismal and unearthly yells
and cries are heard almost every night
One night last week Chief of Police Nc
Mannus, accompanied by Aid Doyle and De-
tective E. L. McWllliams, determined to pay
q visit 10 the reported hunted church. They
accordingly procured the keys and entered
the ediice shortly after midnight. Taking
their position in the center of the church
in total darkness, they had remained
there but short time when they heard
a low moaning sound, apparently proceeding
from the vicinity ofthe pulpit, which gradually
grew louder and came nearer until it finally
eliminated around their heads into howls,
yells, groans, &C., and then gradually died
away as it came. After few moments of
perfect silence, Chief McMandus drew from
his pocket a revolver loaded with blank cart
ridge, and fired one charge, when almost
the edifce seemed filled with thou
sands of infuriated demons, making the most
lldeous noise and apparently bent on tearing
them to pieces. The officers describe having
experienced very peculiar sensation in the
lead, and finally the noises became SO
lideous and unearthly that they made a
nasty retreat, apparently pursued by the
demons to the door, which they
closed and locked.
The officers then crossed the street to the
opposite walk and remained there until day.
light, but heard no further sounds. and made
10 discoveries which would tend to explain
he mystery. The people residing in the
immediate neighborhood claim to have been
disturbed at all hours of the night by these
emoniac sounds and number Of them have
determined to leave the neighborhood