The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-01-26
PERSISTENT MRS. COOK.
The Ghost that has Haunted an
Evansville House for Eighteen
Years.
from the Evansville Journal

From the Evansville Journal.l
An intelligent and trustworthy citizen
has furnished us with the facts about
certain apparitions twice. seen in
dwelling in the suburbs of this city.
About eighteen years ago there lived
in this city a Miss Harris, who was
young, amiable, and engaged TO be mar
ried. She had very intimate friend,
Mrs. Cook. The two had often discuss
ed the doctrine of Spiri.ualism.
One day it was proposed, half in earn
est and half in jest, that the one of the
two who should die first should appear
to the survivor in order to set at rest all
doubt. They agreed that the one dying
first should, if possible, make the de-
monstration.
In less than a year Mrs. Cook was
dead, and in a short time Miss Harris
broke her engagement when her we'd
ding day was near. On the evening
which had been set apart for the we'd
dug she retired early. About midnight,
finding she could not go to sleep, she
raised the mosquito bar and arose to
walk to the window.
| As she did so she confronted yelled
| figure standing at the side Of the bed
One quick, earnest look, and the girl re-
cognized the featuresSof her dear friend
Mrs. Cook. She was terribly frightened
and, uttering loud shrieks, ran past and
down stairs into the room of her uncle
and aunt, and there, trembling with
fright, covered behind their bed. She
was SO unnerved that she was unable tc
speak, and they were trying in vain te
ascertain the cause of her fright, wher
another scream was beard, and servant
girl, who had room opposite Mis-.
Harris, bounded into the room. The
girl said that she had heard Miss Harri.
scream, and thought it was her aunt
She arose to 60 to the old lady's room
AS she entered the hall she saw whit,
figure kDeeling at Miss Harris's door
with her hand shading her eyes. Sh,
looked again, recognized the dead woman
and ran down stairs.
A close search of the house failed t.
reveal any intruder or any signs of one
The doors we're all locked and tn
ground windows closed.
Miss Harris afterward married a mos
worthy minister Of the Gospel, and j
now residing in the Far West.
About two months ago two young la
dies arrived in this city from New Al
bany, Ind, to visit the aunt Of the form
er Miss Harris. Two weeks before the
left they were both sleeping in the room
formerly occupied by Miss Harris. Jus
after midnight, both awoke suddenly
There, standing by the side of the bee
was white-robed figure, but evidentl
that of woman. Each girl, in grea
fright. softly attempted to awake tn
other. AS they looked, the figure, dir
and shadowy, glided slowly backward
and disappeared into the hall, throug
the closed door. They both arose il
stantly, fearing it was some thief. Th
gas was lit, the hostiand hostess alarm
ed, and thorough search of the hous
: ,noJa T. u,p IN vaip F,orv door Wy.
closed ard locked. Every window an
> shutter was fastened.
And thus it stands. The last visitor
had never heard the story Of Miss Ha
ris and the spectre. If anybody can e.
plain this away by natural causes, "
p should like to have it done.