The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-07-16
From Lippinoott for July.l

In famous haunted house ON the
road between Yellow Springs and Xenia,
Ohio, superstitious exhibitions were
specially noted. The people throughout
that region hesitated to speak about the
place, and its peculiarities were mention
ed in whispers. Hence my curiosity was
aroused, and after preparing myself to
resist any danger that might occur from
the presence of desperate characters, /
proceeded to the place and provided an
excellent point for viewing the premises.
1t would have beena tedious business to
wait until midnight, the time when
ghosts are said to appear. But did not
have to wait long. About IL o'clock a
warm stream of air blew up from the
south, over creek and a quarter of a
mile or more of rich, warm, black bottom
land. AS the vapor struck the hillside
it condensed, and little flying balloons of
mist flew hither and thither. The warm
air fingered over and fermented an old
pile of compost, decaying straw, and q
few old boards that were lying about.
Then there arose a vapOrous, luminous
body, which, with its base on the ground,
and conical, or round, fiery cloud-like
head in the air, took the shape of wo-
man. Crimson and livid blood-llke
spots and streaks were about her neck
and scattered overher dress. She waved
her hands, and her hair floated about in
clouds of light, while her eyes glittered
like the cold moon. Rising slowly from
her hideous bed, the specter moved hith-
er and thither, as if the wind toyed with
her, and she cared not whittier she was
taken. At last she started as if to visit
me in my retreat, then turning a corner
of the stable, she nearly disappeared,
there being nothing left visible but a
long, dirty white trail. In moment
the phantom turned again, and crept into
the open doorway, STOPPING as she re-
tired. Several minutes elapsed, and,
concluding that she had collapsed, or
worn out her vaporons strength, / was in
the act of leaving the place, when she
came through the opening of the door
way and crevices between the logs. Then
after walking or floating around awhile,
her light went out and she became thin
ner, and finally disappeared. The shape
Of the apparition was such that it was
easy for an imaginative person to see in
it the form of sad-faced or angry-eyed
restless woman. Then how easy to create
legend filled with details ola mysterious
murder, and make this the unhappy vic.
tim, whose shadow must haunt the place
of her taking off until her names are ap.
peased in some legal and effective man
ner. But my evidence makes this base.
less fabric Of vision the mere result OF
the vaporous exhalations of a compost
pile. l had very fine pair or field
glasses, and could see clearly the effects
produced by the stream of air when il
came in contact with the compost. The
vapor began at that moment to arise, and
this result would occur in all seasons.
Then the luminous jets and variegated
colors sprang up from the warm labora-
tory wherein natures chemistry was at
work, and finally the thin vaporous
cloud, which really had not any shape,
was carried at the caprice of the soft
zephyr winds which fitted about, but
I did not blow sufficiently strong to carry
this heavier body out of the regular
draughts through the openings of the
dilapidated house.