The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-25
GHOSTLf RiPPINGs IN 4 MORGUE
4 Thrilling Experience why an Assistant
Keeper Resigned his once.

Several nights ago Williams, the assistant
at the Murgue, went out for the evening. Mr..
Au-nhaush. tn superintendent. sat alone in
III" gloomy on ~, The tire burned low. and
shadows played tttuy upon the walls. About
10 o'clock MI, AuenDaugh arose and went out
into the yard Ia get bucket OF coal. He carried
"A lamp with him and LETT the door open. When
hc went - get tue coal Their" was "A rushing
no.-e IN the air. His light was extinguished
and the open door was shut violently There
w,us sound u the interior Of the building as IL
body had fallen against the door Then il WAS
reop'ned and hgain closed violently, and Two
distinct raps on The panels were heard. Then
nl WIS st as death. The supcrinicn dent flied
his bucket and r"en,ered the buNdn lie
looked about. Everything was as Il should be.
IL was ONLY the wind. laughed the supeIin-
ni"nl M he heap II coal into the fire, The
high and iilumlncd the room Pleasantly, and
over his long pipe the superintendent forgot
Tho assistant came home soon after, and the
SUPERINTENDENT departed The assistant made
M his bed. and lell into heavy sleep. The
room where he sleeps communicates toy sepa-
rate doors with marrow stone chamber where
tho bodies are prepared for exhibition, and with
the unknown dead await idvntlil alton. He
had slept what seemed To- him about fifteen
minutes. WHEN h. sat bolt upright in bed
awakened by two slow and dlstin raps on tue
door OF the exhibition room, Accompanied by
the noise 81 u body falling against it, While he
wondered. TWO answering rhps anne from the
door 81 IN" washing rOon Williams got up
put SON. more coal ON tao IRE. turned Oh the
Hns a little brighter, ana then lay down again.
Ten minutes passed. ana again the two slow
and Dustin t rai. and the falling body ON the
door Of the exhiDitlnn room. With answering
rags from tn utlrr door. werr heard.
He lay sun and won ler"d, when. bark there
again! lie Hprang out Of bed, and Selling
lie could see Ia every corner Of its gloomy OK
t'nt An infants body was in a small box in
He closed the door md turned 10 cross the
room, when again the raps. with the answer
from te marrow chaimher which had Just closed
open, and. with his lamp held high above his
head. gaH%ed long and tremblingy into the
gloom. On one slab lay II something covered
with white cloth Beneath II could be seen the
rough outlines OF human figure. A negro
woman had died Of apoplcxy during the day
slab The body of "a littc child that had met
Death in some mysterious manner lay nort TO
an inds,riminate heap OF human bones
Mas piled some worfmen had rnearthcd
S% % on ctr Street He s SLOW p sssGy
drip OF water as It fell upOn ia" bodies and
trigkled 10 the floor hceame painful 70 him. and
with last look he closed the door. The instant
MS back was turned. rap. rap" on the door.
WIN IN" answering rap, rap on tho other
door and then single rap on the ceiling He
dashed into the irndroom agaln and turned the
blue gas lcis hish until the room was "A blaze Of
light lie esamlned every nook and Granny of
the CHAMBER. and found nothing. The Did ne
gro woman's body. the chlld's corpse and tho
unhonored bones Of the unknown Iauper were
He lay down. said good night to his fears and
was lust dropping on into gentle Doe when
'l'HIcr, lOuu"r, lhbui tllHn before came inc
raps-One, two from the dead room; one two.
IN answer IRON the washing room. then per-
fef shower Of raps from both doors. with an oc-
caslonal sonorous hung from tho ceiling. Now
thoroughly terrified lie spranR from bed, and
turned up the gas until the apartment was
flooded with light. tie opencd the outer door
quickly md stepped on TO the street. No ono
and clock, with tones muified 10y the damp
air lazily tolled the hour Of three He turned
back and went asleep in chair in the Office.
Tho old negro woman was buried the next
day The parents OF tho child took its body
away. Tho bones OF the unknown ,papper found
next night passed in quiet Williams threw up
his place.