Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-04-22
WEST VIRGINIA SATURDAY APRIL %
A mORRIDLE APPARIrION.
A GHOST PRoPHEsIEs BLOODY WORK IN
THE CENTENNIAL BUILDING.

GHOST PRoPHEsIEs BLOODY WORK IN
THE CENTENNIAL BUILDING.
There has been considerable excite
ment about the Centennial buildings, in
Philadelphia over the reported sudden
and dangerous nervous prostration of a
watchman in the Main Building. He
was found almost
DEMESrED By TERROR,
and it was with some difficulty that he
could relate the circumstances. At last
accounts he was unable TO stand upon
his feet, and any allusion to the subject
agitated him TO an extent paintultowlt-
ness. An attempt has been made To
keep the matter secret, on account OF
It's demoralizing effect upon the other
watchman and guards, many Of whom
already shudder with terror when the
wind roars around the immense build
ing in the dead of night, and their eS-
ritedimaginations people the obScurlty
OF the dark corners with
moRRID GINNING COLLINS.
The account of the watchman, low
ever is about as fallows:
He was on duty about midnight, IN
the huge main building, near the west
ern eud. He felt no tear, aud thought
OF nothing unusual, when the whole at
mosphere around him seemed to grow
dark and and he felt sudden sensation
of
GOODNESS AND TERROR
Everything was stiIl excepting the
bowling OF the wind and the creaking
of the huge edifcc, when all at once
there was Il perceptible lifting Of the
darkness aud what appeared To Oe
uEADLEss APPARIrIoN,
shroudcd in sweeping black robes, ad-
vanced almost against hun. The
watchmaa drew his revolver and
whirled his dark lantern to ;he front,
lighting up the indefinite outlines OF
the strange shape, which he says it is
IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE.
His hand fell to his side and the use
less pistol hung loosely in his shaking
fingers. A terrified glance around
showed none OF his comrades, and he
almost tainted with fright. Extending
A LONG ARM,
covered by the black robe, the appari-
ton approached still closer, aud the
terrified man, staggering back, had
barrel " strength 10 mutter,
$50 AWAY WHAT DO you WANT
IL low but painfully distinct voice
the horrid shape replied as follows;
"Many men have lost their lives,
Leaving mothers, children, wives:
Careless builders most have slain,
Bartered lives for sordid gain,
But the blood OF many more
Yet shall flow upon this floor,
And this smooth and glossy wood
Shall become q pool OF blood.
The words were uttered slowly and
distinctly, aud when asked how he re
membered them, the watchman replied
that it seemed TO be
SCARED INTO HIS BRAIN
as with n red hot iron. lie is costant-
ly repeating the lines during his brok-
en- clumbers, and unless his mind can
he diverted from the subject, it is the
opinion Of experts that he will become
insane.
The words of the appartion died
away in the silence, and with sudden
rush of a mighty wind, the dark bodies
oil men, seemingly intermingled with
the debris of falling scatiolds aud tim
bcrs, appeared to
FALL FROM TIE ROOF
and disappear ere they struck the ground.
Then followed a strange yet silent
commotion. Crowds o: dark and dim
ly defined figures, like those in the back
grounds of a picture, seemed TO rush
and meet and mingIe on board floor,
passing over or through intervening
objects without difficulty, aud there ap-
peared TO be.
TERRIBLE STRUGGLE
but whether it was an armed and NOR
tai conflict or merely rush to aid
wounded and dying men, he could not
ascertain. One part of the crowd seem
ed victorious, and the other was swept
backward in dark mass Of struggling
and falling men, all disappearing III the
darkness, while far over the floor
spread darker and deeper gloom, the
shadow of
FLOWING BLOOD.
Suddenly upon the ear ofthe terrified
spectator came the voice Of the phan
tom:
Mortal, hear, and see, and tell
Soon twill come, farewell. farewell!
As the man turned bis horror strick. 1
en- gaze from the CORY floor towards /
the warning spectre, 1t suddenly
SWEET FROM Ills SIGHT
with rush like sudden guest Of wind,
darkness aud silence fell around, and /
the watchman knows no more until he 4
was aroused with some difficulty from
a deadly swoon by two Of his comrades,
who, alarmed at his long absence, had .
come, to look for him. lie was remoy- (
ed TO a comfortable place aud in the
morning removed TO hrs home, where
he yet remains. .aa.
Many persons ridicule this story, and
account fer it by stating that the
had fallen a.lren and had \