The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-05-01
GHOST, Or WHAT.
The Remarkable Experience OF
ia Courageous Woman mt o New

u SVuEAbVVu3 WSAAN4s 49, - AsOW
York Hotel
N. Y. Fun Of Monday.l s'.- -f
In the frat place, I do not believe in
ghosts at all, and am not a nervous
woman, afraid Of my own shadow, and
do not give heed TO supernatural things
Therefore I cannot explain what / an
about to relate. II any one who may
read this can, l shall be glad to hear tn.
explanation. a5iHaeta aE
In the latter part Of April, 1872, befor,
sailing for Europe, l made stay Of 8 few
days at the Metropolitan Hotel in New
York. ] was assigned 10 room 292, or
the second floor. / had dined and had
written little in the evening. Finally
left of work and sat down by the fire
and "a sat there ] noticed particular!
the disposition Of the furniture in th,
room and the room itself. As that ha
a direct bearing on my story, l will briefly
describe il. tlrf
The room was long and narrow, and a
the end nearest the main hall had
curtained alcoye for q bed. By maxim,
this alcoyet, q narrow hall was formed
which opened into the main hall. There
were two doors TO this little hall, ont
opening into the outside corridor and III,
other into my room. There were two
small rtransoms, one over each door
Directly facing the door large French
window, opening into the street. Alittle
iron railing passed in front Of It outside
The fireplace was by the side OF thu
window. Just back OF where sat, on the
right side OF the room as you entered
there were q large wardrobe and a small
drab reps lounge. On the left side Of tht
room was stationary washstand, and
next that q bureau. The gas was just
over this washstand. A few chair
and email marble.top table completst
the furniture.
l had been writing, as ] said, and 4
have sufficient light had rolled the littl.
table over close against the washstand
and covered 1t with manuscript and
photographs. / had not been reading
anything to give rise to bad dreams, had
eaten moderate dinner, was in superb
health, and my,,wriiing had been. common
place correspondence.
At about II o'clock l went 10 bed, aftel
having carefully locked the two doors and
lowered the gas. / went to sleep immed
lately, after my usual habit, and slept
do mot know how long. / woke up with
a start and cold feeling Of terror. ] sal
straight up In bed. Ny room was brill
liantly lighted and saw that the marble
table had been cleared Of the manuscript,
80, and had been drawn over to the aide
Of the lounge, while the easy chair IN
which l had been sitting had been placed
opposite the lounge. Two men were seat
ed there playing cards.
l lust sat and looked at them, mot know
ing what to do or say. They had evident
ly mistaken the room, ! thought, and yet
10 save my life, l could not have spoken
or moved. / noticed that the man on thu
soia was slender and apparently in deli
cate health. He had red hair and red
beard all over his face. He was dressed
10 gray clothes. ! noticed that his left
hand seemed TO be somewhat misshaper
near the wrist, as II It had been hurt a
some time. His face was marked will
extreme sensibility, and he had small
features t,9ff ." =. s'''
The other man was, physically, his OPP
posite. He was large, OF fine physique
very dark complexion, with very thick
abort black hair, and long, dropping
black moustache. His eyebrows were
very heavy, and had short, thick hairs
that stood straight on, making them look
like Two great black caterpillars. His
cheeks and chin seemed to have been new
~ shaved, yet the beard showed through
the skin with faint blush tinge. HI
had q little three. cornered scar near TIT
right corner Of his mouth. he was dress
ed In black, and wore al emerald.pin.
Those who know ma best know tina
iearis not one Of my components; yet
must confess that ! felt 4 sensation yer!
like it. They were playing euchre, anc
soon there arose q dispute. i heard ne
words, yet from their angry looks ant
gestures saw that they were quarrelllpg
Suddenly the darker man drew . loni
kuife and plunged Ii into the left breas
Of the man on the sofa. He quiyered
little and then lay still The other stoot
looking at him for q moment, then tool
the dead mans right hand and clasped
around the handle Of the knife, bracinI
the elbow against the table; then COOL.
gathered up the cards and, putting then
IN his pocket, took up a black hat AM
went out.
Iturned to look at the dead man; be
too, had disappeared, and the room wa
dark.
/ tried to think I had had the night.
mare, bid my head under the bedclothes
and at last Wentto sleep again.
On rising IN the mourning found III
marble table standing by the lounge, TIL
armchair beside Il, and all my papers OF
the bureau BY the window. This made I
great impression on me for time, but
multiplicity oil occupations during th,
day and visits fr ON some friends obliler
ated all remembrance Of Ii. Yet whel
/ went TO bed that night, It was only u
be awakened by the same horror, 70 se
the same tragedy enacted, and to ind thl
table misplaced In the morning as before
The third night l took the table owe
by the window, placed all the article
upon Il that II would hold aud left the "a
turned on full; but II was the same.
Was again the unwilling witness Of N
tragic scene.
The fourth night I began 10 reall!
dread the vision, or whatever II was, an
called the ehambe rmAid. Her frat nam,
| remember, was Katie. l asked her
stay with me that night but che said itwa
not permitted. I then told her ] wante'
her 10 pile all the chairs she could max
stand on the table and washstand, go tina
they could not be removed without som
force. Il was all the same. The chair
were on the floor in their places In th
morning, and the table over BY the loung'
! really felt frightened now, and sen
word down TO the Office TO Mr.. Adam
the clerk. He came up. Iasked him
any murder had ever been committed !
the room. he declared most unequiy
ocally that there had not. BE said tbs
the only tragedy Of any kind that ever ha
happened Ia the hotel was the suicide
alex man who had come there from u