The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-06
GHOSTS ON TIE RAMPAGE.
BROOKLYN FIMILIEs TERRORIzED BY
BOISTEROUS SPIRITS.
strange Rnppings Growing Into ~ Midnight
Cpronr-An Apparition ON the stnirs-Fur-
ntture Overturned by Unseen Hands.


The family residing at ll2 willoughby
street. Brooklyn. have lived in n state of terror
for some time past. because Of strange .appinRs
and supernatural appearances that have filled
the house. Mrs. Jane Smith. and her mother.
Mrs. Keelcr. with their families. occupy
the house. and have three young men
boarding in the house with thom. Mrs.
Smith moved into the house on the first
OF the month"; and at once they began
to hear rappings. There first came a gentle
tapping at tho cellar door. and then the noise
shifted to another part Of the house. and at
midnight tho blows came smash bang. all
through the upper stories Of the house Forms
OF one man and OF several women have been
seen fitting about the house. and Mrs Smith
has seen the train Of dress sweep around tho
door Of some room rs she approached it. hut as
she quickcncd her step the appearance van
ishcd.
A rclative who was spending New Years in
the house started down stairs nj o'clock in the
morning with n lamp in his hand. and as he
passed into the hall he saw the form Of n tall
woman. with drapcry about her head. slowly
ascending the stairs. lie stepped back into his
room. and after n few minutes started down
again, and again he saw the same form moving
slowly down the stairs He asked the women
in the house the noXi morning what made ono
OF them-l" didn't know viii u ono-colne up
stairs at Tint unusual hour. and they all pro-
tested that they had quietly slumbcrcd all night
| long.
The nois rs kent the family in n state Of terror.
They huddlnd together about a stove IN the
basement. and hardly dared To- sleep. The coll
ored servant girl has become SO frightcned
that she refu-0 y To remain in the house. The
police wcre informed Of the unusual state OF
things, and the officers on patrol along the
street have gone in frequently to see II they
could detect the author OF the annoyance. but
/ 4 Il.
well known through his divorce litigation, Is n
bpnrirr in the house. und he devoted his time
g. ierreting out the mystery. H. remained M
All Thursday night. pistol in hand, wat 'hing
the house, for some visitor. who might enter
through the cellar or by means of. the seuitlc
y hand bell YVES tied tho snuiir, hut the alarm
was not sounded all night long. although the
~l""p Of the family WIS disturbed hy terrible
ro.~"- like the falling of pile Of lumber. Mr.
li1- rrmrl Insists that he saw man coming
ont ~ the cellar day or two uso. notwithsiand-
ire thut the grui" and doors were we'll sccurcd
The ~traugnst events of all however, occurred
lu-t night. At about o'clock one of the board
cr-. and. iu IA I. the only one who was at all
suspected Of the mischief leit the house. In
| on going up stairs the family found that the
| bedding. in'luding mattresses. had been torn
| over the loor that the chair, hal hcen upset.
and that everything had been put in confusion.
| No one was in sight, and nothing seemed TO
have been taken. the beds were rrarrangcd.
| AMI the room Of Mr. Pierre Keeler was locked.
| and the door knob tied by a stout rope 10 the
| halust,rs in double sailors Knot.
| All of The family returned to the basement.
| and. in n short time. the servant WAS sent up
| stairs on an crrand. She reported in great
| fright that the devil had been NJ his work again,
| and when the family went W 10 see. they found
| thef the ROB" hal been cut close UP to the door
| knob. and that the end had been partly un-
| wound. The occupant II the room was still in
| the basement. He WIS called. to bring up his
| Key. Whom III" room was entered. II WIS found
! in the same state ot confusion that existed
| before. everything having been turned topsy-
! turvy. \ horsesho, which was hung by thread
! inside II the room WAS missing. Il was found
! hanging on the inside of one of the front rooms
/ over the door. on a bright tuck like the ote il
| WAS suspended from before. How II could have
! been taken ont OF tho room while the door WINS
! - .urely locked WAS one Of tie mysteries the
! family wished SOM one To- explain.
reporter visited the house lat" last night,
! with police on 'cr. and saw the beds turned
! over the furniture upset. and the hor-esho" in
| itS now position. The family expressed great
surprise az the proceedings. Mr. kothcrmcl
! moved about with revolver in his hand, and
| all acted as though mpmeniurily eNyeciing a
| demon o. enter the house. Mrs. Smiths dNugh-
! ter -llt that u was Shame To have 20 nay rent
! for such plncr The owner of the house she
| suid. WIS "a maitrn lady. WHO could not hr in
! durrd to enter IL.
tn. police think that there is some tricsrry
! in prngrn--. AMI that the anxiety about the rcut
! AT ril- a Key t. the whole mystery.
Tine family fixed tAcm- Ives TO stay W all
| night To- look Oh for the ghost.