The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-06-25
10 Reported for the Pressl
The Springyale Ghost.


AiAp LhlLlS1 ESC<AfaDEs
Another investigating committee has inter-
viewed the Springvale ghost and another com
mittee is astonished with the manifestations
This last visit was made on Thursday evening,
the eighteenth inst. The committee was COM
posed Of reliable citizens and assembled at the
house at O'Clock. The evening was dark and
foggy. Mr.. Warren of Boston, a powerful
physical medium, conducted the seance and the
eight persons present arranged themselves
around lie of limited dimensions which
necessi ale some crowding, but at the same
time p reverted the possibility of fraud or de-
ception r nF
The table remained perfectly quiet for time
but soon commenced series of rappipgs which
were interpreted as affirmative and negative
answers to oral questions alternately PROFOUND
ed by the mem bers of the circle The light
was then burned so low as to be almost imper-
O. tlble, and silence pefyaded the entire house.
Soon raps were distinguishable upon the walls
IN an adjoining room, and upon the table fol-
lowing each other in rapid succession accompa-
MED by violent trembling of the table like a
shudder, and door swung open. The light
was Immediately turned on but nothing was
discernible, and examination revealed nothing
Again the light was removed and again the
dim light, the quiet room, the circle of expect
ant faces, and the raps. Quicker and quicker
they come and the supplementary shudder d.
verts each individuals attention to the door
way, where peering in stand the distinct, out
lines of figure, clad in black with face of
deathlike paleness! Tall and majestic, gazing
upon the company it hesitates as if in fear then
gaining courage stealthily advances. Nearly
indistinct traces of vice and crime are notice
able upon the face, and the glitter of the bright
blue eyes possesses a dangerous fascination.
Its steps are audible, as if with feet encased
in slippers it were lightly scuffling about.
Approaching the table it extended its arms, zap
parently placing its hand upon the neck of
short gentleman whose hair Immediately stood
on end and this gentleman although terribly
frightened, asserts that he distinctly felt the
pressure of hand about his neck, and doubts
not its tangbility. The figure glided slowly
across the room, and when midway the light
was TUNED on but no form was visible. The
gentleman's curiosity was aroused. Again the
absence of the light revealed the figure before
described at the point first seen, while at the
other side another alided by. The new conner
was shorter than his companion, had care
worn expression, and he placed his hands up
on the shoulders of the host. This form was
so distinct that the house dog recognized it and
and growled angrily. The sudden reappear-
ance of the light dispersed the figures who fled
preciptately through the hall door. At this
point several reversed their positions and O
1a1a b,,a xl,a Oh
Music was requested, and Latin solo elected
sundry raps throughout the house. A chorus
followed interrupted suddenly by a loud noise
like the striking of hard substance against
the partition Twice the same noises were re-
peated each time preceded by continuous rap
ping and the before mentioned shudder; yet
forms were visible. Again the jubilee
chorus was revived, the mighty medley rent
the air, but the magic of its harmony ~ had
fled the spell was broken.
4 The committee then left the table and pro-
ceeded to investigate, not without fear and
trembling. After some examination three
large stones were found, two of which had
rolled into corner and the third was nearly
covered with rug. At this discovery the
short man of the committee, with white hat
expressed his determination to return home
Immediately. His trepidation was allayed,
however, and the investigation continued.
The lamentations made by the stones on the
wall were soon discovered. The stones were
all dry on one side and moist and particles of
soil adhering to the other, with surface rather
darker than the common street stone. They
could not have been brought in any individ-
NAILS hands or pockets as the friction would
have removed the SOIL a ~
4 The rain had poured IN torrents during the
evening, consequently it was impossible that
the missiles could have been brought from out
OF doors. Where then? Here the short gen.
teman growled out that they must come from
the cellar but he wanted to go home. To the
cellar repaired the eager company The earth
on the stones and cellar bottom was the same;
the top OF the missiles We're of the same dark
damp color as the countless number scattered
around in every corner Lanterns were provid-
ed and tire party proceeded to carefully exam.
inc the outer cellar. No trace was discernab)e
and they proceeded through the witches kitch-
en- where of late the spirits have held high
carnival into the innermost division Of the Gel
lar. Here in corner where tradition saws lies
buried the murdered peddler-their astonished
eyes beheld the places from which the stones
had been removed, and a closer examination
revealed that but short time had elapSed
since their removal. Resides was found a larger
stone which had evidently been taken from
the ground for a purpose similar to the ones
the others had been ased for. AT this announc-
ment the short gem oman with the white hat.
who, not daring to go home or remain above
alone, had brought up the rear, made des-
perate rush for the rooms above Ewhiths
er be was soon followed by the remainder
OF the company, who having made a searching
investigation had arrived at no more definite
or satisfactory solution of the phenomena than
was entertained at the outset viz, that the
rocks were there and that they came from the
cellar, but what power removed them they
could not fathom. 1t is impossible to describe
the numerous crooks and corners of the house
to explain that the stones could not have been
thrown from the staircase or upper apartments
The narrownesS of the hall at this point would
prevent confederate's swinging his arms suf-
ficIently to acquire the force that propelled
these bodies. Certain it is that they came from
the kitchen and the fact that the doors of this
room and the one in which the company sat
are directly opposite, make it evident that the
force operated from the centre of the kitchen
from which the cellar leads. The door leading
to the cellar was closed during the evening as
were the windows, and the query naturally
arises, how were those stones brought from the
cellar through closed doors?
NOMINATIONS BY THE GOVERNOR
Dngley mad e the following nominations Tues
day:
State--to Solemnize Marriages. Oliver L.
Pillsbury, Wells; Wu. p. Whitmarsh Win
throp: Frederick NJ. Pickles, Lisbon; Jacob S.
Crosby, Cushing: b. n. Stone Fryeburg: Mel
vile Mclaughlin, Ashland; Warren l. Bicl-
ford Patten
W. j. Corthell, Calais, Trustee State College
Of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, in place of |
l. . Lang, resigned.
Justice Peace and Quorum. --Geo. B. Atwood, |
Silnot; Louis L. Small, Auburn; benjamin. |
SNitn, Swan Island; VIM. H. Soule, Portland
asa Coo@bs, South Thomaston; j. P. Ciley.
kockiand; Hiram Bur, Springfield; E P. But.
Ter. Orono; OTIS ID. Wilson Searsmont; Elipha-
let Pease, Thorndike; Franz Warren Knowl.
ton, Calais.
Coroner.-James Gould, Portland.
Notary Public.-Wm. H. Soule, Portland.
VIM. p Preble, Portland; A c. StiIphen'
E. p. Butler, Orono.
Trial Justices Samuel Belcher, Farming
on; Jacob Saunders, Patten.
The chief cause of fires in New York city is
,arelessness of servants ..