The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-27

shaken together, and altogether there
seemed to have been general scatter
Ing OF the spirits or genii OF the place.
At the moment OF firing the shots, we
sprung the light OF our lantern and
rushed to intercept the devils In their
descent toward the lower regions. At
the first view OF the scene we were
convuIsed with mixed feelings, In which
laughter, establishment and anuse-
ment were singularly combined. Before
us. suddenly stopped In their precipi-
tate flight, there were several goats.
They were blinded by the sudden sharp
and bright light which we Haired In
their eyes, and we quickly recognized
In their familiar appearance the forms
and features OF the herd which har-
bored In the vicinity. These creatures
made their den on the second floor OF
the old house, and herein was the ex--
PLANTATION OF the clatterlng OF old
Horny's hoofs, OF which we had heard
80 much ere we investigated the matter.
martvrdom from our shot. When we
| went to the spot where they made their
special lair, we found 1t writhing In ag-
ony and bleeding from a death wound.
Its means and cries were echoed by the
walls and re-eehoed by It's distressed
and frightened companions. Close by
the place where the goats herded, and
which was the principal and most shell
tered corner under the dilapidated roof,
we found an old man and woman among
their horrible nest and bundles OF filthy
rags. These creatures were the very
portraitures Of hags and witches, and
made us imagine them horrible denizens
OF an internal abode
To our inquiries they said they were
beggars and made this their resort after
their days operations stating. too, that
thew had sheltered In this harbor for
long time. They were very reticent,
however, to our questionings concern
ing their having companions. We ex-
amined them closely, to be sure that
they were not young, vigorous thieves,
who had assumed these habiliments
and appearances to deceive and. per-
haps. to take advantage Of us IL we pre-
sented an opportunity TO their opera
tions. But they proved to be really
very old and miserable creatures. They
also complained that they were often
encroached on by outsiders, who took
refuge In their sanctuary. From what
we gathed from this source Of informa-
ton we concluded that the place was a
den for thieves to hide away In and rem
devious.
Estimating 1t In this light, we con-
tinued to Investigate the premises, and
to us that 1t was, In reality, q harbor
for rough and bad characters OF all
kinds who depended on the evil reputa-
ton OF the place, az q source OF safety
to them, when they fled thither, we'll
knowing that even the police would not
follow them into the place reputed 30
ghostly.
A party Of that class Of vile and aban-
doned persons found us In possession
the night In question. Suspeoting our
object, and knowing that exposure by
US would break up the place IS har-
borage for them, they banded together
and worked the scheme which was SO
ingloriously finished by our detection of
the whole arrangement.
I must not fall to state that when we
sprung the light we discovered that
some or our comrades had abandoned
lis to the contest which they supposed
would eTlsue with the flends. So Charley
Mach. and myself were left to prose-
cute the search. The deserters said, In
extenuation Of their conduct, that they
scattered after the shot was fired, think
ing we had done 30 too, fearing the
police would make descent on the
place, capture and give US q deal OF
trouble. I learned afterwards. that the
Migrants who were engaged in the
attempt to brighten us away, had
planned TO defer the execution OF their
plans until after the storm ceased, be-
cause OF their own fear OF the mystic
rious terrors OF thunder and lightning.
One OF them long afterward informed
me that they were terribly indignant at
our interference, and had intended to
do mischief and harm to us, but OF last
their feelings OF revenge disappeared.
They were mollitled considerably. too.
when they found that the haunt was
not disturbed, and their sanctuary re-
NAMED as safe as before for them and
their practices. They long afterward
continued to make noises and exhibit
lights and spectral shows to strike ter
ror and fear into the hearts OF passers-
by. Thus they secured safety, and even
an exposure of the facts just stated did
not have the effect OF calming the
masses, who yet insist that the place
was haunted, and that ghosts continue
to walk whereabouts in the dark nights
and beneath the maddening light OF the
soft moon.