The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-02
EVENING THURSDAY,


the minutes seemed like hours, as we eyed |
each other and the damp grim walls around. |
Suddenly the little bell of the clock in my |
room rang out eleven, and during tina minute |
or two that ensued we held our very breaths |
in expectation.
All at once the struggling aud oaths CON-
menced close to us in the cellar. The
words we're audible now-''Down, d-n you,
down !" in harsh, rough tones, intermingled
with heavy blows and feeble means for mercy.
Suddenly, before our very face, the door
which we had fastened so carefully flew open,
and as the step went by us we crouched back
almost into the very wall The struggling
now sounded up in the watch-room and then
again seemed coming nearer to us, step by
step, as if a heavy body was being lifted
down the stair. 1 glanced at my companions;
they were both ashy pale, but seemed calm
and resolute. The steps came nearer,
nearer, and again passed into the cellar;
and sgain the wild cry of "George! George!
for Gods sake, don't murder mel" rang
out close by; and as the words died away,
a vision appeared before us, the horror of
which, even at this lapse of time, makes me
shut my eyes in dread. By the light of
pale lambent flame that seemed to spring
from every part of the cellar, we saw the dead
body of a man lying on the ground, the face
and head so battered and covered with blood
as to make the features undistinguishable.
Over it stood woman in her night-dress, her
arms extended as if to ward off blow, while
from a gaping wound in her throat the blood
poured down in torrents. 1 remember the
agonized entreaty visible in the large blue
eyes, and the ripping masses of golden hair
contrasting strongly with the blood-covered
bosom-but no more; for / fell insensible
When l came to, l found myself in bed, and
SO deplorably weak that 1 could barely turn
round had been nearly dying, it afterwards
e
brought on, the doctor said, by over-mental
excitement.
1t appeared, on after-inquiry, that the
vision scarcely lasted moment after /
became insensible that Mr.. Thomson and
Wilson, who had retained their senses,
although terribly alarmed, had carried me up
stairs, where, finding that only reused out
of my insensbility to become delirious, I
| had remained ever since. Mr.. Thomson
was SO much impressed by what he
had witnessed, that he determined to have the
| lighthouse thoroughly searched; and next day,
| taking a large party and plenty of light, the
cellar was closely investigated, and the ham
mer which lay in the corner found to be
covered with blood and human hair. Close
by the wall, and, as nearly as they coSld
! Judge, below where the vision had ap-
peaTed, q large stone had been appa-
iently recently moved, and Mr.. Thomson
determined to take it up. This was done; ana
after removing quantity of loose sand, the
decomposing bodies of man and woman were
discovered exactly as they had appefred to us
the woman in her night-dress with her throat
cut, and the man with the skull horribly frac-
tured and the face beaten in.
The remains were identified as the wife of
the late keeper, and the son of a neighboring
farmer, who used to be a good deal at the
lighthouse. Information was at once given
to the police of the discovery of the double
murder, as no doubt it was, and q strict
search was instituted after the late keeper.
1t was months before he was traced, and then
only found almost on his deathbed.
Before he died, however, he confessed the
crime with which he was charged, and even
described how it was committed.
1t appeared that he had long suspected his
wife of too close an intimacy with a young
man in the neighborhood and one
Friday night, while on shore,
received what, to his jealous mind,
was a confirmation of his suspicious, and,
vepge. The next night he contrived to get
the young fellow off to the lighthouses; and
after plying him with drink till he was al
most insensible, he dragged him to the cellar
and despatched him with repeated blows of a
sledge- hammer.
Maddened with brandy, and now deter
mined to complete his vengeance, he rushed
up stairs and dragged his wife down from heI
bed; and showing her the mangled remains OF
her supposed lover, cut her throat, in spite Of
her entreaties and declarations of innocence.
Fearing lest the sea should reveal the crime,
he buried the bodies in the cellar, and taking
a few valuable articles to divert suspicion,
fled the spot.
Even while in the throes of that death
which defeated the ends of justice, he de
clared that by day and night his wife haG
cd nd thof he hon &.
which he had done the deed, to the time he
had confessed it, he had never known one
moments peace.
Philosophers may account for the scenes
have related, or learnedly disprove them, a:
they please; 1 only know that, from being ar
utter unbeliever in the supernatural, I have
now got SO much faith in it that, though my
present way of life is quite unconnected with
the sea, never hear the plash of the waves
without recalling with reminiscent shuddel
the hours | passed on the Haunted Rock"