Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-09-29
A SPECTRE CARPENTER RUNNING HIS SAW.

The Richmond Enquirer says:
About two and half miles below the city,
on the Osborne turnpike, is situated the Cocsts-
moth estate. The house, an old fashioned framed
building, two stories high, is upon an eminence
commanding beautiful view of the river, and
until within the last few days has borne spen
did reputation. 1t WAS formerly the Tstum res
idence, and in times gone by was the scene of
many hospitable gathering Recently it be-
came the residence Of j. W. Southland, collector
OF Varna township, and gentleman of good
standing with whom all went smoothly and
quietly until Wednesday night On that night,
however, commenced manifestations upon the
premises which are beyond the ken of any man,
and which, to say the least, are passing strange.
Early in the night Mr.. Southland, who sleeps
upon the ground floor, was awakened by the
noise OF what appeared to be the drawing of lines
on the under side of the floor of his chamber
with some blunt instrument. This was followed
by saving and blows of hammer and other
noises similar to those made in using various
Cal pcnters' tools. Mr.. 5. immediately set TO
work to investigate the matter, but without ar
rivng at any satisfactory conclusions. Thurs
day nj hit these noises were pcated and again
an effort was made to trace them to some natural
| cause but without avsil. AS soon as Mr.. 5:
would put his feet u3on the floor they VIZ uld
s. =. and though he watched quietly outside of
the building some time, nothing was heard OF
| the n. As soon, however, as he returned to bed
o'clock in the morning. Friday night. the DC.
casion of the third manifestation, Mr.. S. spent
nearly the whole night in trying to solve the
mysterr. First he took up the floor of the
! chamber, but failing to frd anything, procured
his dc ble bsrrel shot-g' , q knife and light,
and with the knife between his teeth, crawled
| under the building as far as he could go, and
| calculating his points, fired both barrels IN the
direction the noise appeared to be when he was
! in bed When he returned to bed the ,ghostly
sounds were Immediately resumed and kept up
| all night. Mr. s. is An ex-Contederate soldier,
and q man who is afraid of nothing, and not the
| person to make statement of is character un-
less it WAS true. He says that the noise was AS
distinct as if there was carpenter at WORK IN MS
| room. His wife, of course is very much fright
ened, and will leave the house in q day or two
on visit down the country, when MIR. 5. offers
to take any one to his place who doubts his ex-
perience with the ghost. he says he is deter
mined to get at the bottom of the matter If pos
sible. a strange fac. in thus connection IS that
there are two very vicious dogs on the premises
who sleep under the house, but appear not to
hear the noises, as they take no notice of them.
PARDoNABLE SoLICITUDE OF MOTHER. -
A correspondent relates the following, told to
him about the early home of Gov. Bgler, OF
Pennsylvania
At the time | visited the place the father OF
the family was dead and none Of the children
were at home except daughter, who was mar,
ried to Mr.. Mitchell, who worked the farm.
1t was cold, raw day when came, and the
old lady was sitting before big fire reading a
newspaper. She was rather heavy, and there
was something motherly about her,
well, MIR. Peddler," said she, "have you
heard the election returns 2
told her had heard nothing but the re.
turns from a few neighboring townships and
counties; you know railroads and teegraphs
were not SO numerous then as now.
II assure you, sir, " said she, II feel little
uneasy about our Bill and our John. Bill is
running for Governor of this State and John
is running for Governor of California. y
tell you the scene was worthy of picture
the good old lady reading her paper by the
fire 10 her humble log cabin, and her two sons
running for Governors of two Of the richest
| States in the Union: and both we're elected