Connecticut western news., 1873-06-20
THE GHOST IN SALISBURY.
A Sun Reporter at the Haunted Hous

The New York Daily Sun of June 18th says: Salisbury is one of the prettiest of New England villages. It is nestled at the foot of the Berkshire Hills in the centre of the township of Salisbury, which is in the ex- treme northwest corner of Connecticut. There are many attractions for the tourist and and summer pleasure seeker in this re- zion. Mount Riga, Barrackmstiff and Prospect Hills, the lake Wononspomoc, the twin lakes Wsshining and Washnee, the iron mines or pits and ore mills, the smelt- ing furnaces, rolling mills, and manufaclo- ries in the hsmlets of Ore Hill, Chapinvile, Lakeville, Lime Rock and Hammertown, are all objective points of interest to visit ors in search of health or pleasure. To these varied attractions which Salisbury has possessed for years there has lately been added another of deeply exciting nature in the form of haunted house. One even ing last week, at twilight, Sun reporter arrived in Salisbury by the evening train from New York. He walked up to the ho tel, carpet-bag in hand and joined the group on the piazza. The villagers gath cred. with curious faces, the querry ex- pressed ID their eager looks, if not in words, "Where did you come from and what is your business ?" The reporter de termined to satisfy his curiosity before he did theirs. In less than ten minutes the scrutiny was rolled back on them. They answered questions more eagerly than they asked them. The first object was to ascer- tain the truth of the rumor about the haunt ed house, to learn the facts, and whether there was any excitement on the subject. But the indirect mode of approach to the subject was preferred.
 Reporter-You have pretty country here. Do you have many summer visitors It was immediately evident they took the reporter for summer tourist. The pro pri etor of the hotel, an old man with a Qua kerish sobriety and friendliness of appear ance and speech, answered:
 ''Yes, more in former years than of late The artists used to come here to sketch tn, hills and lakes, and the newspaper people to write about them but they seem to havt worn that out. You've read about Mt. Rig and our twin lskes?"
 Reporter-Yes, and have no objection to seeing them. You have iron mines here too, and pretty farms and farm houses an, lovely scenery. Have you houses to ren for the summer,
 The landlords wife, thin, spry old lady with spectscles pushed up into her cap bo1 der. who had been inspecting the strange with inquisitive but not unkindly glance as she sat with her own arms akimbo in large, old-fashioaed rocking chair, spoke
 "Well. to be sure! If your family is good sized one, there's the Ticknor Hous on the hill. It is large house, but it's tn only one know of that's to rent; and, t. tell the truth, don't know whether MT Lee would rent it or not. He wants to sel it. Do you know, father" addressing he husband, eff MT. Lee would rent it? know he wants to sell it."
 Mir Hicks, the landlord (warily)-I can not say, but think he would. He wa here a few days ago. He lives on Statel Island. You might write to him and fin, out. I can give you his address, the Rev Robert Lee, New Brighton, s. I. dsr say he would be glad to rent it. It is good large house, eight rooms and an attic an cellar. It needs little repairing and som work around the yard but it's very con fortable house.
 Reporter isn't that the haunte house?
 They all started as though bombshe had dropped among them.
 My La-n-d!" cried old Mrs. Hicks ''where did you hear it and where did yo come from p
 Reporter Qaughine)-I came from Ne, York, and heard it there.
 Old Mrs. Hicks-Do tell! Now you don say that that story's got all the way dow to York city? But know just how it hal pened. Mr. Pease had no bizness on tt face of the earth to put it in his paper That's the way you foundit out now, ail it?
 Reporter-Yes, saw it in the newsp pers.
 Mrs. Hlcks-Now sin't that too bad M Pease hadn't ought to have put it in u paper. Mir. Lee will be madder than ev when he hears it. But you needn't belle, one word of it. The house ain't haunte or if it is, the spooks are live folks, just lii you and me.
 The old landlord opened his eyes with significant stare, elevated his eyebrows, al nodded to the reporter, as much as to sa ''there's some trickery in the thing"
 A number of the village folks had dropp in, and among them was Byron Fenn, over-grown bashful boy of apparently years of age; he was fairly dragged in the room to tell the stranger about ghost. Ben Ball, the bartender, stepped too to listen and give his testimony.
 Reporter-Don'tbe be ashamed. Byron ,col in and tell me about the ghost you saw.
 Byron (glancing at the reporter and th fixing his eyes on the ceiling)-Well, SC her.
 Reporter-What dld she look like?
 Byron-A woman (nodding his head a smiling. the smile and nod being repea every time he spoke).
 Reporter-What kind of a woman, ,yor or old2
 Byron-Old and dressed in white.
 Reporter-How did you see herr there light in the room?
 Byron-The moon was shining and blind was open.
 Reporter-Did she come ln the room
 Byron-No; she came up the steps { looked in the door, winch was open. stood still for about five minutes, look around ID the room, and looking at mt