The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-12-05
STRANGE STORY OF A DESERT
ED MANSION.
Correspondents QfMs pO,t.


MoRRrsTowN, N. j., Nov. 90, 1870.
Not far from Morristown, New Jersey,
and situated on what Is known Hs the
Madison road, may be seen d large and
fine house, standing in the middle Of ex-
tensive pleasure grounds, and, with the
grounds, bearing the marks ofhaving been
the abode Of persons Of taste and wealth.
The once beautiful park now, however,
presents tho appearance Of having been
the camping ground Of at least regiment
of lemoralized soldiers, so numerous arc
the traces everywhere Of fires, and wan
ton hacking among the trees, shrubs and
evergreens.
Where once were flower beds and rare
plants, now browse stray cattle; and pigs
by the score root to their noses content in
the soft turf the lawn. On approaching
the house, a still more terrible scene Of
ruin may be found. The hall doors stand
wide open, and rs the stranger enters sew
eral cattle calmly survey him from their
comfortable positions on tho drawing
room floor. The house Is three stories
high and surmounted with u cupulO. The
rooms arc spacious and numerous, and
were finished in tho best possible manner
when built Windows opening to the
floor, and consisting Of large and valuable
panes Of glass, oppose little or no obstruc-
tion to the cattle and pigs, the former
generally taking sash and all with them
when leaving in haste. fE
On the floor Of what has evidently
been the library, tranps or mischlevous
boys have lighted fires, whose
flames were fed, from appearances, by the
doors Of cupboards, stair.railings, and
other small piecesOf woodwork Of the
house. In many places the floor has been
burnt almost through, and how the house
has escaped from fire is o wonder, With
carbonizcd ends Of wood hideous and re.
voting pictures have been drawn upon
the pure white walls, together with words
OF an indecent character.
The plaster centre ornaments OF the
rooms llaye been the mark for the, intru-
ders to shy empty bottles and stones at,
and all are greatly damaged. Door.knoos,
bells and their wires and pulls. water
faucets, tho paraphenAlia of the bath room,
and everything Of like movable nature,
have been wrenched.trom tho 1astGnhgs
and carried away, Window shutters have
also disappeared, though probably burnt
as fuel and not taken from the house.
Such scene of rack and desolation can
seldom be found within thirty miles Of the
city of New York. One might imagine
such wreck among the desolatlon OF the
South, but in, the prosperous North 1t IS
unparalleled. 90. f.-l'.
The house has its sad story. Built but
a few years ago, it passed into the posses
sion Ola wealthy New York merchant,
who used everyScndeavnri to render 1t q
home Of beauty. No expense was spared,
and tho house and grounds became noted
for their appropriate belongings; The
mistress of the house, the wife Of its owner,
unfortunately there sickened and died.
The friends gathered to attend the funeral.
and the body was borne from its beautiful
earthly home 10 the cemetery. The last
TO Ieave the house was its owner, and he
turning the key instlle lock left it just as
itwasto It's fate. Tile neighbors clamotcd
for days for entrance, but no ont was
within, and all attempts to persuade its
owner, who had gone TO New York to re-
turn to it, were unavailing. Attempts
weremade to rent or purchase It, but to
neither plan would the owner accede. If
sold Mt all the ground should be sold for q
cemetery. On their peril he forbade his
neighbOrs to enter the house.
The thieves Of the neighbOrhood soon
found out the rich field, and for nights pill
LACED it. The constablcs hearing Of this.
laid in wait In the house ono night, and
arrested three men rs they were rolling
up fine carpets for the purpose Of taking
them away. The owner, when notified
to appear and prosecute the thieves, not
only refused to do so, but threatened to
prosecute the C0nstables for entering his
house, saying that It was bad enough to
have three thieves break into house
sacred to the memory Of his wife, with
out having us many constables also therein.
Some friends seeing the peculiar state
of feeling Of tho owner, removed the bal:
ance of the furniture to safe place, and
the house remains open to the world. Bad
persons congrcgate there, and theG house
at night is supposed to be the resort OF
thieves and robbers.
Some years ago squatter settled him
self in q little gardeners house on the
property, and ploughs tho land and reaps
his crops rs il the fee simple rested in him.
The owner has refused 70 notice him lor
TO turn lin out. Last Spring a certain
General in the United States army offered
TO buy or rent the property, but not being
himself cemetery, or possessing any OF
the religious or soothing influences Of that
locality, his appeal was rejected. On oil
other subjects the owner Is said to be
most rational, and carries on a large bust
ness with great success. The property is
valued at $4,000. l.,