The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-03-30


ments, it was his firm belief that the al
legged visitations we're simply mental hal
lucinations arising from alteration OF the
mind. In conclusion, Mr.. Meredith, who
is Principal of the college, animated that
the girl had no doubt gone crazy, and
expressed his regret that his school was
likely to suffer in consequence-would
be broken up, perhaps great was the
excitement among the students and in
the neighborhood. He did not question
that Clara saw strange visions, bat SAID
they were certainly in her mind S eye,
and insisted statements from other sour
ces to the contrary, that the unearthly
visions had been seen by no one else on
his premises. Once, when Clara was In
the music room with two other pupils Of
the institute, she called their attention to
the anparition, which had suddenly ap-
peared before her, and in their fright
they thought they saw it also, and ran
away. but after collecting their senses
they became doubtful and finally conclud
ed that they saw nothing but creation
| in their own fancy Of Clara character,
general department and truthfulness, he
spoke in the highest terms; there was
not better girl in the school, he said,
and the trouble which had taken posses
sion of her within the past two weeks
was as unaccountable as it was to be re-
GREETED. So far as ghosts or hobgoblins
ere concerned, he locked upon talk of
that kind as mere bosh, and the same,
he asserted, was the prevailing sentiment
among the teachers and pupils Of the
| institute over which he presided, and
which of late had, in connection with the
affair under consideration, become so I'M
pleasantly notorious. He was informed
on taking possession of the place that it
had the reputation of being haunted, and
during the first several months of his res
idence had heard strange noises of nights,
which caused much alarm among his
family, and were finally traced to
AN OBJECT IN THE SHAPE OF A RACCooN,
which one night walked slowly around
the dining room and disappearing thro'
the door in the darkness, was not seen
again for some time, when it was chased
into the kitchen, and there penned while
he (Mr. NJ went around to a side en-
! trance with view to capture the lntru-
der. On entering the kitchen by the
entrance spoken Of, Mr.. M. found that
the animal disappeared under the hearth
and made its escape. It was not seen
| again until one night the family were
! sitting up with the corpse of an infant
son OF Mr.. NJ, when it suddenly appear
| ed in the room, and after looking at the
corpse of the child moment, as sudden
ly disappeared through an open doorway.
| It was never seen again, and since that
night the tinware and crockery of the
establishment have ratified and clattered
only when in use.
MIR. ROBERTSON S VIEWS.
Our report also interviewed Mr.. Rob
ertson, father of Clara, at his residence
on DeSoto street, between Vance and
Elliott streets. and was pleasantly receiv-
| ed by that, gentleman. Mr.. r. is an
honest looking gentleman of forty years
or thereabouts, is possessed Of good
share of Intelligence, is well known as a
practising lawyer, and, as far as we have
| been able to learn, bears an irreproach-
able character. On being asked for his
theory Of the alleged singular occurrence
at Brinkfey College, Mr.. Robertson said
he had no theory whatever; that there
was no doubt of the truthfulness Of his
child and that, skeptic as he had always
been as to things supernatural, and dis
inclined to believe Clara's statement at
| first, he had finally come to the conclusion
that there was some mystery connected
with the affair, which, from the alleged
| repeated visitations. and the corrobora
tive evidence elected during the seances
at his residence the night before, togeth-
er with what followed at the college
grounds, as stated in the Avalanche of
Sunday, he felt it to be his duty to inves-
tigate. The following conversation en-
sued:
Reporter-Mr. Robertson, where is
Clara?
Mr. R-She has gone to Sunday shool
Rep.-Is she in good health?
MIR. R.-Yes, sir; in excellent health
| for one of her delicate organization. She
| is of rather nervous temperament, and
| is somewhat acute in her sensibilities,
but her health has always been good.
Rep.-Is she subject to religious ex-
element or sensationalism
NJ. R.-No, sir She joined the church
some months ago, but has never display
ed more than ordinary interest in relig-
ious matters.
Rep.--Does she believe in spiritualism,
or has she ever been present at, or in any
way connected with spiritual manifesto
tons?
Mr.. R.-No, sir; she does not, and
never had anything to do with spiritual
manifestations until last night
Rep.-Was Clara ever frightened by
ghost stories, or is she ia the habit Of
reading them?
Mr. R.-No, sir.
Rep.-you believe all she had stated
concerning these alleged yisitations?
| Mr.. RI have implicit confidence in
Der truthfulness.
Reps there any litigation CONCERN