The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-01-10
vASQUEZ'S GHOST.

vAsoUEZ's GHOST.
The Spirit Of the California pirate Revisits
His Prison Cell.
Raps and Knocks and the Sound OF Clank'
ing Chains.
Sound Calculated To Freeze the Most
Tropic Blood.
The San Jose Mercury contains the
narrative of areporter's experience in
a cell which is said to be haunted by
the ghost of Vasquez, the bandit who
was hanged for murder within the
walls of the county prison. Crimi-
nails who have been placed there since
his taking off have begged to be re-
moved from the scene of its fearful
visitations. Strange and chilling
stories are told Of what they have
seen and heard. The Mercury says:
About twenty minutes after we had
taken our places in the cell and had
made considerable noise in moving
around we hear Madden call to his
roommate, saying ''Bernal, there is
some fellow in the VasqueZ cell. .
Then followed a conversation between
Madden and us, in which particulars
were given of our assumed crime,
departure from San Francisco, par
ticulars of capture, and when this
information was received the young
man subsidized in silence. None of
the other prisoners appeared to be
awake and all was as silent as the
tomb. We lit candle and sat down
upon the prison bunk awaiting
developments, and in our uneasiness
for the appearance of ghosts arose and
walked to the wicket and grating. and
peered out in the corridor and passage.
Everything was silent, not sound to
break the stiffness. Under the i'm
preston that light was unfavorable to
the ghostly visit it was blown out, and
we were left peering into the darkness
of the dungeon, whispering to each
other. To one unused to darkness a
feeling of utter loneliness takes pos
session of him, and even the human
voice, so comforting under almost all
kindred circumstances, sounds
strangely unnatural in its suppressed
whisperings. Soon we realized this.
and our whisperlngs ceased, and we. in
conformity with everything around
us, relapsed into a gloomy silence,
continuing until about l1:30, when we
were startled by a quick, crashing
sound, such as is produced by throwing
a glass bottle against wall. This
proceeded apparently from the west
corner of the prison. an was immedia-
tely followed by two similar crashes
in the south corner, and fourth and
louder similar crash against the east
side of the wall, while Immediately
following the last was heard at our
cell door low, monotonous thunder
ing sound, as of some dnll instrument
striking against the door foot from
the bottom. What wild fancies
fitted through our minds we do not
remember, but we felt the plot
deepning and the ghostly visitant
growing more familiar. We called
to the prisoners to tell us what was
the cause Of the noise when Madden,
the only one who appeared to be
awake, answered. THAT Vasquez' s
ghost; you are in the haunted cell, "
and while he poured out the tale of
his experience with the shade, the
knocking slowly grew louder. but
retaining the same monotone until it
made the cell vibrate with the noise
of the blows. We went to the wicket
hn
ridor. but could see nothing.
We could not look to the foot of the
door, as the wicket was to small, but
ran out hand and reached as far
down rs possible without detecting
anything or causing the noise to cease.
1t began, however, gradually to
decrease in power or volume falling
slowly and measured until it died
way. Again all was silent. remain
ing so for some time. and all at once
broken by the deep clank of a chain .as
if shackled foot was being raised
from the ground. the chain dragged
along and the foot placed down
causing the chain to rattle and clash
After the first four or FIVE sounds OF
the chain the rapping at the door
recommended. One of rs sprang tt
the wicket. another to the gratings
The rapping at the door was the same
as before, while the noise of the chair
appeared to come slowly up the pas
sage way between the walls with SLOW
and measured pause. as of a person
walking to the rear of our cell. Their
the clanking ceased suddenly. TO bt
recommended on the return. The
noise of the rapping and the clankins
of the chain up and down the passage
way continued for upward of an hour
with short pauses. The sounds o.
the chain were real and natural. ant
rs it came slowly and steadily up thu
passage for the last time of the frs
performance. it seemed to pass up ths
iron guards to the end of the passage
over on the top of the cell. around ans
down again. and slowly passing dowr
the passage. TO be lost as If in distance
The rapping which had continued
during the chain performance dies
out in q few minutes.
With the ceasing OF the rapping ant
the clanking of the chains all wa
again silent for about FIVE minutes
when in the distance we heard low
deep noise. as of the baying of /;
hound. 1t began to soundsnearer ant
nearer. gradually increasing in power
and came suddenly in deafening an,
piercing wall. apparently through tn