The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-11-16

There 10 . lonely house situated near what Ia
known ss upper Crow Creek" in this county,
that just now bears the unenvisble notoristy Of
being haunted. We suppress the locality out Of
regard to the interests Of the proprietor who il
anxious to effect sale without aacriAcs. It IL
lonely. unpainteh. two-story structure, stand.
ing by itself, away from the main rosd, asd
where dark deeds could be psrpstssted With lii.
tie risk, aad il what il termed "renter's house.
Some time last spring . family came to the
neighborhood, and leasing the adjoining ground,
moved into the house. The first night Of their
arrival was signaled by mysterious noises, groans
&c, proceeding from . certain unoccupied ROOM
attended with opening and shutting Of doors, Sc.
The next night WAS even noiaer than the first
and glimpsss were had Of shadowy form pass.
ing swiftly into the room and out the doors,
which opened and shut Of their own Accord
They remained week, keeping their own conn.
sel, and imparting their fears 70 the proprietor
alone, who bought their silence and released
them from oil engagements. Two weeks later
another tenant arrived, and moved in the house,
wholly unconscious OF its ghostly visitors The
first and second nights passed without any dis
turbance, on the third. while soundly sleeping,
they were awakened by a most heat-rending
scream, from the room before alluded to, followed
by heavy blows and then wild, hsggard.look-
ing person came out, passed through the door,
which seemed to open and close of its own &C.
cord, and disappeared in the darkness. The
occupier Of the house was no coward, and his
first impulse was that robbers were at work, but
he seemed spell-bound and unable to move him
self. Several nights passed with more or less
alarms,-his family grew nervous, and declared
they would not remain, but he still believing
that something more tangible than spirits pro.
duced the row, determined to watch the next
night in the room adjoining the small sleeping
apartment from which the noises came. Some
where between twelve and one o'clock the door
opened, and the same figure appeared, making
directly for the spot where the watcher stood.
1t was fearful moment, but ghost or no ghost.
he was not to be frightened, and rs the appari.
ton passed, dealt it blow which seemed to pass
CLEAN THROUGH the intruder. There was the
same heavy blows and shrieks and then livid
human head, dripping with blood, rolled out up.
on the floor, The house was vacated the next
day, the owner purchasing his silence with
means sufficient to carry him to Kansas.
Now for mi explanation Of this strange affair.
Lust winter the house was occupied for Il season
by rough and sinister.lookng family of "refu-
gees" who are believed to have murdered ped.
Ter travelling about the country, carrying pack.
He visited Most of the farmers through the
neighborhood, and was last seen Just ut nightfal,
going in the direction of this house, which it il
believed he never left alive Shortly after they
removed, no one knows whittier, and took with
them barrel of salted pork, though never known
to fatten or purchase q pig. Readers Of news
papers at this time will remember tho arrival ct
Louisville, KY, Of barrel, which, exciting sus-
PIGEONS from its sfckening stencil, was opened,
and found to contain human remains, shipped BY