The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-06-22
HAUNTED HOUSE.
A Cloud-Like Ghost-CIanking Chains
Family Terrfaed-A Hasty Move.


A Cloud-Like Ghost-oIanking Chains
Family Terrifed-A Hasty Move.
Some time ago we noticed the fact
there was house in CHARTERS town
ship which, according to the assertion
of the people of that neighborhood,
was haunted house. A family re-
Gently moved to the place not know
ing that spirits walked through the
rooms and over the roof at .sthe
witching hour of night" Their ac-
count of what they heard and saw has
led some persons to believe that there
is something wonderful going on
within the old moss grown walls, and
they have determined upon an inYes-
tigation. Il s5las;..t E,sr
The house is an ancient one and is
in dilapidated, tpmble-down sort of
condition. On the outside the walls
are backened and broken, whilst
within the mould grows green, and
the rats. leap about in startling way.
1t is Just such a house as ghosts. are
said to dwell in-dark, gloomy and
cherries, and to be within the old
walls alone, even if no ghost should
appear, is said to be enough to give
one the horrors and send the cold
chills capering down the back. .,rs
The CHARTERS ghost is said to ap-
pear in the form. of black, shadoWy
cloud, and at times to assume the
shape of female with long, trailing
clothes as it glides around the room.
The gentleman who rented the house
is a laborer in this city, and his wife
and family are generally left alone
The first night they occupied the
house, however, the husband and
father was with them. No noises
were heard on this OCCASION and it is
presumed that if the spirits did ap-
pear, the family, after. the fatigue of
moving, slept .soundly and did not
hear them. After spending one night
at home, the husband and father re-
turned to the city and the wife and
children were left alone. r.. al.t.,.'. &,
Then the spirits appeared-they
glided from one room to another, up
stars and down stairs, through the
hall, over the roof, out of the win
dows, across the yard, anywhere and
everywhere that they could create the
most surprise and constel nation. The
lady of. the house was courageous
woman and she stood the "scare." ;"
remarkably well. The next night,
determined to give battle to his ghost
ship, she brought into the house a fe-
rocious dog-one SO ferocious and
fearless that they were obliged to
keep him chained, lest he should at
tack persons who made friendly calls
on the family. The dog being in the
house tine wife and children felt safe,
but when the shadowy ghost appeared
10! F.! even the bold and blood-thirsty
dog skunk and skedaddfed away like
a whipped spaniel. His tail fell sud-
denly and there was not any more
fight and growlin him. .5iai'
The lady of the house had no be-
lief in ghosts, and she sUoDadnly re-
solved that she would stand by the:
old house yeta few days longer, eX-
pectiDg that the mystery would be
cleared up. She accordingly sent a
message to her husband in the city,
acquainting him with the facts, and
asked him to come out and see the
shadoWy cloud and hear the wonder
fuI noises. H7sRs3d - !iaEF
The husband pooh-poohed = he
didn't believe in ghosts-not he-it
was only rats and imagination that.
was alarming the family. ,Neverthe-
less he went, but continued to pooh
pooh at the idea of ghosts and haunt
ed houses in Allegheny county and
in this enlightened age. The husband
invited two or three other gentlemen
to come and spend the evening with
him that theNmlght receive the ghosts
in proper style. They accepted the
invitation, and one of them had bot
tie of spirits with him, and asserted
g 4E,o IL l.,
His Satanic Majesty he would invite
him to take drink. Another one of
the party, like Hamlet the Dane, de-
clared that if ghost should appear.
he'd "speak to it though hell itself
should cape and bid him hold his
peace"
1t appears that the men were having
a pleasant evening together, chatting,
laughing, ETC., when a clanking of
chains was heard. Thinking there
must be something wrong with the
horses, one of the party went out to,
investigate, but everything about the
stable was found in its proper condi-
ton. About this time the dark, ghost
like cloud appeared, and the man who
was under the impression that the
ghost, if there qDas ghost was His
Satanic Majesty, forgot altogether to
ask, him to take drink-it slipped
his memory altogether. The other
gentleman also forgot to "play Ham
let and sspeak to it." I'D K, Ff.ref
The husband and father was. con-
vinced-he declared that 9. seeing was
believing" and he accordingly moved
his family to another house without
delay.
Three or four +" brave boys" of this
city have heard of the matter, and are
determined to investigate for them
selves. If they should see; the dark
cloud or hear the clanking of the
chains, and should escape to unfold
the tale, they will take pleasure in un-
folding it. OF course there is moth
ing supernatural about the mysterious
presence of the cloud. A volley of
buckshot or shower Of pebbles
might soon develop the substantial
and terrestrial character of the sup
posed-to-be supernatural visitor
Pittsburgh Gazette. '-'-.@
49,
THE sparsely-settled counties of