Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-08-23
II Continental Shook.

Now that the centennial is at hand,
people are hunting up all their old
relics of the revolution, and strange
story is current in Hartford, Conn,
which is causing, it is said, consider
able excitement there. 1t seems that
a gentleman had quaint sofa, which
dated from 1775. He determined to
bring ii from, the lumber room and
brush and clean it before sending il
to the centennial exhibition. He was
Just convalescing from severe illness
and therefore, had the antique piece
of furniture placed in the bedroom.
The first night it was there lie awoke
about one O'clock with q strange feel
ing of uneasiness upon him and me-
chanically assumed sitting posture.
The old sofa stood by the hearth
and by the fire light he plainly saw
q man lying on the sofa. He was
about thirty years old, dressed as a
Continental soldier, and from o
wound in his temple, blood seemed
to be flowing. Mr.. Carter Qet us call
him) was very much surprised, and,
after looking at the figure until he
took in every particular, even to the
mud on the Hessian boots, he laid
down very much concerned about
himself, as he supposed his mind was
becoming affected in consequence of
the sickness he had. He resolved to
say nothing to any one, and, hoping
his senses would return when he
should be occupied with business, he
fell into troubled sleep.
| He AYERS he saw this vision for two
weeks, although he changed the posi-.
ton of the sofa daily. When unable
to endure it any longer, he removed
it to the parlor. His daughters mar.
riage was now to take place
7 guests began to fill up the house and
young man was put into the parlol
to sleep. At breakfast next morning
/, he blurted out, sMr. Carter, wish
, you would put some one to sleep OF
that sofa of yours, for l got an awful
|, scare from it last night" When ask.
ed to explain how, he related that he
had seen on 1t q wounded man, dress
ed in q Continental uniform. HI
was not to be laughed down. Mr.
Carter was secretly relieved but NOR
surprised than ever.
"I'm not afraid" said the young
gentleman, ssto sleep by the side o
, that sofa the balance of my life, but
would like to determine whether
. am the victim ofmy own imagination
or not; If | saw ghost it seems t.
: me somebody else might do the same
|, for I'm the last man to become super
: sticious, or spiritualist, or anything
. of the weak kind" Two other gen
= tlemen volunteered to sit up witt
!. him they, too, insisted that they saw
. the centennial ghost.
Three more stout hearts joined tn
: party next night, making six in ALL
!, These latter had hardly time to go t
3 the old sofa and sit upon it, when tn
n appariti0n appeared. The rest de
y clared that they saw the bleeding sol
der just the same, while the Twin
= man seemed to fade from view.-
I Those who sat on the sofa saw moth
). ing and felt nothing. The spectr
n was apparent and very distinct fror
y one o'clock until the gray light {
4 morning rendered outlines hazy.
nj No less than twelve persons are sal
= to declare that they witnessed tn
= strange thing. Mrs. Carter was tn
= only one who could not see it, she bt
i ing no doubt of that type Of individ,
% ais who never get any satisfaction (
spiritual seance, nothing ever bein
q done in her presence by spirits; b'
" it would seem that if dozen person
4 could see it that thousands coul,
= and it would be an excellent Opportl
! nifty to settle the vexed question as
). whether the dead can appear to ma
. by exhibiting the sofa at the center
y NAL, which the owner is now MOI
:, than ever determined to dollar
= fOrI C0fr0nf.