Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-02-26
seleftel Misfellauu.
A WINTER NIGHTS TRAGEDY IN
AHAUNTED HOUSE.

One cold night in December, 1852,
three young medical students met for a
purpose in third-story back room of an
unoccupied brick dwelling house, loca-
ted on Market street, III Louisville, Ky.
The building had been vacated for nearly
d year, and had the reputation Of being
haunted. What gave rise to that evil
report will appear in the year Of their
studies that brings them their longed-
for diplomas, and as they sat in this
room, drinking from bowl of hot punch
that had been carefully prepared by one
Of their number, they canyassed the
many eventful incidents Of their course
at college. and speculated upon what the
future had in store for them.
The castles they built in the air were
Of the most brilliant description, and the
knock at the street door that brought
forth an echo from cellar to garrett of the
dismal cobwcb-lincd building failed to
draw their attention.
1t was repeated and with a joyful cry
Of Z There's Limpy Jack, . accompanied
by step in the hall that emphasized the
remark, one of the number called his
comrades attention to the circumstances
They appeared to know the signal and TO
anticipate no further reception, as they
hurriedly left the room and went down
stairs, one of the trio leading the way
with lighted candle in his hand
On reaching the ground floor they did
not go to the front door. but with one ac-
cord passed into what had once been the
dining room Of the families who had
once occupied the house. Here they
found door that led to the cellar.
Opening this door they descended in the
same order. The cellar was damp and
noisome. and was place only fit now as
babitation for the vermin that swarmed
it. Picking their way cautiously, step
ping from plank to plank Of the loose
flooring that covered the earth, and
causing muddy water to ooze above the
surface Of the boards at every STEP they
at last reached an object that appeared
to be nothing more than sack Of ne
elected potatoes. Upon lifting the sack,
the head and shoulders of human skele-
ton emerged from it and fell to the
ground Reversing the sack instantly,
in which operation bis comrades assist
ed, the man who held it seized the mouth
and drew it together, after which he drew
the canvass over his shoulder, and fol
lowed in the wake Of the man with the
tallow dip, while the third man Of the
party came last, and steadied the CHASTITY
burden upon the shoulders of his laboriDg
companions. In this order, and without
word. the party carefully traverscd the
cellar and assembled the steps to the de-
serted dining-room.
Here they halted to readjust the
load that bore heavily upon the man
who bore it, but the journey was imme-
diately renewed, aud in few moments
the party were back again in the COM
Portable room that they had left.
The room was comfortable by compare
son with the other apartments Of the de-
serted dwelling. A warm coal fire was
burning 10 hearth Of large dimensions,
and the odor Of the punch was very
agreeable to the senses. But whatever
the comfort : non-professional man
would have derived from spending a
portion of gloomy winters night in
such room, the feeling would have
speedily changed to one of horror upon
bebolding the surroundings.
The room was filed on three sides
with glass cases. some containing from
three to six tiers Of shelving and other
things free of obstruction 10 the space
from top to bottom. There were eight
cen Of these cases. Each of these with
shelves in them contained a human
skull and bones that had been taken from
the bodies Of which they had formed
part. and there were also number of
specimens preserved in bottles filled with
alcohol.
The heart, brain, liver, etc.. were IN
this manner exhibited and kept ia their
natural state. Others Of these cases con-