The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-03

fAFNMss s0F.THIH CITY. - 80 30 II .
ASt. louis Standardization I'm
East Sc. Eeuis Over q Haunted House
A Child's Spirit and fta wonderfhR
Performances. go es.@eat
From the st. Louis Republican, January %. s
East st. Louis has veritable sensation.
Not o criminal incident, nor an outre acci-
dent. but q haunted house. It Is not ex-
actly in East. st. Louis, but near enough to
be easily accessible, and sufficiently pecu-
liar in the character of its hauntings to ex-.
cite vast amount of comment, and even
no small amount of excitement. 80.
The spirit-possessed mansion is situated
on the Belleville road, little over two
miles from East St. Louis. It is a small
frame house, on what is known as the Rob-
bineaux farm, and is occupied by Mr.. V.
Bennett and family, and is little with
drawn from the road. It is now some time
ago since the first alleged spiritual mani
festations occurred, but more recently the
noises and voices haveg louder and
more frequent, until the fame thereof has
run throughout st. Clair county and fur
tber. =.
The producing cause of all the commo-
tion is said to be the spirit of q little girl in
blue who, or which, is frequently visible to
"a little girl of Mr.. Benefits family. A
curious feature of the affair is that the ope-
rations of the spirit or spirits are not con-
fined to the night, but occur in open day.
Coats and other garments hung on hooks in
the wall are seen suddenly to drop to the
ground then again they will move slowly
up again and regain their position on the
hook. Noises are heard, scratching noises,
as if q child's finger tips were being drawn
over the dry plaster of the ceiling and
walls. Disturbances will be heard in the
garret, but on running up there it is found
empty and silent. A child's voice is re-
ported to be often heard-a merry voice,
suggestive of mischieYous pranks. Nay,
more, it is firmly alleged that the voice an
swers questions-not difficult queries, but
such aa could be answered by any ordinary
young girl. ...... ...
Sometimes the voice il faint elfn
whisper, then again more clearly agenuine
human ySfce. 1t will keep up q dialogue
sometimes, and at others will only speak in
sentences and be audible to particular per-
sons. This Baucy spirit, however, goes fur
ther and pulls the children's dresses and
disturbs furniture. On Friday, as is re-
ported, one of the little girls was coming
in from the well, and could hardly get
along, owing to "the way the thing was
pulling me-" ........
As above indicated, one of the family, a
little girl, AYERS that she sees the spirit. 1t
| is that of q little girl about twelve years of
age, dressed in a blue merino frock, with
! furs, and wearing bonnet and cloak.
Numbers Of people from East St. Louis
and vicinity have visited the house, and oil
come away amazed with the wonder. Among
others it is said Father label, Of the Catho-
| lie Institute, was called to the house on
Thursday, and expressed the opinion that
it was an evil spirit. A special reporter
dispatched to the scene became unneryed,
and could only furnish disjointed memo
randa of his visit. Yesterday Colonel Jar
rolt, Mayor OF East St. Louis, proceeded to
| the house with several other gentlemen.
| They returned home convinced there was
| something in it. Here are some notes Of
one OF the party:
| Leaving the city of IllinoiStown in our
] rear we took an easterly course from the
| turnpike, and soon discovered the house
occupied by Mr.. Vital Bennett. The house
is one of those rural edifces which may be
seen in all farming communities throughout
the State of Illinois. We passed through a
narrow gate, and were soon greeted by the
fierce bark of the faithful watch dog, who
| seemed disposed to dispute our passage.
The house is o small frame building,
| composed Of two rooms and o garret over
head. We were greeted at the door by a
sweet little girl of twelve summers, who
said, "Come in, gentlemen, and see the
spirit" Taking a seat in the neatly fur
nished parlor, and feeling ourselves at
home, We laid our things outside md hung
our outer garments on q nail. Engaged for
moment, we turned around, and our gar
ments had disappeared.
| What has become of them7 No one
could tell; only they are gone. Entering
into a conversation "with the spirit" we
we're told who we were, where we came
| from, and what our business was. Little
Hattie, the child of Dir. Bennett, is the
only person who can see the wonderful
spectre, whom she defines as being a child
of, apparently, about twelve years of age.
dressed in blue merino frock, with furs
bonnet, and cloak. Clothes, articles of fur.
niture, barrels of -four, and, in fact, every
movable object within the house, has been
removed from its position. Doors are opened
lunhung, and removed lights blown out are
relighted, garments on the family are re-
peatedly pulled and handled, and some
thing is awaiting demonstration; and
Here our communication breaks off.
Such being the position of matters, NJ
doubt the house will be haunted by hosts
of visitors. The family is described as a
simple, rural household, and totally una
! Bile TO understand the so-called manifesto
tions themselves. !. During to-day it is said
quite large party will visit Mr.. Benefits
| from East St. Louis. -.
An explanation Of haunted house cal
generally be found other than that furnish
Ell by the lovers of the marvellous and su
pernatural but in the mean time the house
on the Belleville road promises to become
as famous as the house at Waterdown.
child's spirit in blue laughing, talking
pulling ones clothes, rattling furniture
blowing out lights and relighting them
again with its pretty little fiery, electric
lips. Here's a sensation that should awake
| all the curiosity of st. Louis spiritualists
and which beats Harper's Magazine story
| all to nothing.
We await further developments.
| THE MIGRATION OF FIsH-Attentiou haf