The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-08-19
STRANGE SOUNDS


VENTURoUs SPIRITS SEARCH THE HOUSE
IN vAIN-A PROFOUND MYSTERY.
Just at present Milwaukee rel oices in a
sensation OF the ghcstly nsture, and the at
tentiop of scientists is invited to the follow
ing facts narrated in the columns of the
Sentinel of that city: For some time rumors
have been in circulation to the effect that an
old house in the sixth ward was haunted.
Strange stories were told by people who had
lived in the building. and the neigbbors
noticed that few tenants stayed for any
considerable time on the premises. This
latter fact need not be wondered at. as the
building Is one of the oldest in the city, so
old, indeed, that it is credibly reported by
old citizens that on the eventful morning
during the Bridge War, when the East
Siders loaded their old cannon to the muZzle
with the fell intent of blowing the wicked
West Sders into the hereafter, they pointed
their grisly gun at this identical building. it
stands on the bluff overhsnglng the river,
southeast of the reservoir. and commands a
fine view of the city. Just below it on the
west is the deep ravipe in which many a
desperate deed was done In the earlv DAYS
of the settlement. Reports OF the wonders
done nightly in the building induced skep-
teal Sentinel reporter to visit it yesterday.
with a view of examining into the
truth of the rumors. 1t is a square.
built two story house, roughly
weather. boarded on the outside and
dark, dismal and dingy within. It has
never known either paint or window blinds.
With some difficulty the reporter procured
the kew from neigbbor who has the letting
of the house. 1t is uninhabited by the liv-
ing. at least, at present, and the worthy leu
toms eve twinkled he saw what ne
imagined to be q prospective tenant. The
building contains cellar, tour rooms on
the first floor, two large ones, and two clos
cts on the second, and q garnet. The walls
were bare AID battered; large patches of
plaster had fallen off and in the room which
had been used as kitchen the floor was
worn through in TWO or three places. The
stairs were quite rickety, and the dash
Ioned step-ladder which led to the garrett was
thickly
COVERED WITH CoBwBBs.
The whole scene was sad and dreary enough;
the wind howled fitfully through crevices
and broken window psnes, and the heavy
drip of the rain through the lesky roof gave
an air of unutterable desolation to the place.
When questioned regarding the disturb
ances said to take place. the crafty German,
Herman Hegner. at first denied their occur-
euce. Questioned more closely. be admitted
that such stories were current in the neigh
borhood, and even admitted that he himself
hsd besn a witness to some things there
which he snlemnly averred were of prefer
natural origin. he had moved into
the neighborhood two year ago, and hav-
ing heard some wonderful stories of strange
lights and sounds in the house, determined
to investigate the phenomena. A Polish
family had been living in the building, and
had moved away through fear. He watched
the house the first night that it was vacant,
and noticed that shortly after midnight the
room in the southwest corner of the first
floor suddenly filled with light. Thin king
that toe house was On fire be fastened to
the window to see what was the matter, but
Just before he reached it the light dissp-
psared. He stood for moment, and then
started for the front door, of which he had
the kew. Before he had moved two steps
the light flashed forth again with blind
ing brilliancy, shone for about
minute and again disappeared. He en-
tered, CROPPED his way through the rooms
and found no living thing. This appearance
of light produced by no human agency he
had often seen repeated. At times not hing
would be seen of il for months, aud again it
would appear nightly for weeks. He had
never heard of any spectral appearances, nor
of any movement of any kind in connection
with this phenomenon, until about month
ago. Then a Bohemian family, lately sr-
rived in this country, took possession of the
house. The first morning after their entry
they came to complain OF having been dis
turbed repeatedly the previous night by the
sound of footsteps. falling bodies, and oc
casiOnal suppressed screams up stairs. All
the members IF the family, five in number.
slep. on the first floor. Ire next night, it
seems,
THESE NOISES WERE. REPEATED
with even greater violence than before, for
about l O'Clock the whole family came rush.
ing to Hogner's house, and, terror-stricken,
refused to go back. Next morning they
packed up their traps and moved away.
The story got abroad and was multiplied by
the neigh bors. Last Sunday evening two
| Englishmen applied to Mr.. Heguer for per-
I mission to spend the night in the house for
the purpose of exposing the delusion and
capturing the ghost. He gave them the key,
furnished them blanket apiece, and they
went in. Early next morning Hegner went
to the house, found the front door open, his
blankets lying in one of the lower rooms,
and the visitors gone The reporter Inquired
their names. Hegner knew one of them,
George +. Heath. blacksmith working in
the shops of the old round house, near the
reservoir. The reporter sought him ont. and
having ascsrtained his identity questioned
him regarding bis experience at the haunted
house on Sunday night. After some hesita-
ton he consented to tell what occurred, say
ing beforehand that he still disbelieyed in
ghosts. although he could not explain what
he had seen and heard. His story briefly
told, is as follows: 1 knew the reputation of
the house, but only laughed at the stories /
heard about it's being haunted, so last Sum-
day / bsntered friend of mine
named Henry Jordan to go with me
and stop in the old house that night.
He agreed, and we got the kew aud some
blankets at house at the foot Of the hill
and went up to the house. The sun had
Just set, but there was light enough to see
well, so we went from cellar TO garnet to
make sure there was no one inside. There
wasn't living thing, not even a rat to be
seen, so pocketed the key and walked
down to the round house, where we stayed
till after 10 o'clock. We went back, and
after smoking awhile made up our minds
that we were pair of fools for coming to
an old house as still as the grave, to look
for ghosts that were not to be found. Soon
we got sleepy and Law down. / was awak
ened by Jordan, who told me had heard
some noise upstairs. We sat up for a mo-
ment, and then l heard