Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1878-02-02
THE HAUNTED HOUSE.
Strange Lights are Seen and the
Occupants Driven from their
Beds With Fright.

Nearly all of our readers will remember
the house where John A. McGinty and
l.. E. Deger kept their saloon. on the
south side OF the railccad track. 1t is one
of that peculiar kind of houses. with large
empty rooms and barren walls, in which
bats, owls and hideous reptiles delight to
congregate and hold communion together.
After the death of Mrs. McGinty. which
occurred about year ago. Mr.. MeGinty
seemed TO have dread fear to remain in
he house. and one night he InysteriOusly
disappeared. Whether he was carried of
bv ghosts or dissolved into thin air. We
DO not know. He has not been seen since.
Alter his disappearance, Mr. Degcr ran
the salOon for time. but the haunted
ho' Sc" WAS not = popular resort. and was
finally abandoned and allowed to stand
unoccupied and fall into dIsrepair. AbOut
this time rumors began to be noised about
that noises like the rusfling of garments
and also persons whispering. could he
heard in the house at night. Some said il
was only claDde>tine meetings of coloTed
gentlemen and ladies. who are very nu-
meTous in that locality. while decided
opinion in favor of the GHOST theory pre-
vailed in the minds OF Others. Until this
week the haunted house, was only
known Dv that nxmo 10 q few people.
Dui WI last SiOnudy ulSnl scene WAS
witnessed which no human can account
for. Up 10 recently the house was min
hablted; but owing 10 non 2ppreciative
public. . sIrlngency i'll the money market
and the high pIlce of logging IT the
hotels. three men,
To wealth, but not to lame unknown,
were IN the habit of seeking rest and
shelter from the night storms under the
roof of this haunted house. They were
Dir. kinch Riley, expire fighter: Mr..
James Dalton. ex Quarrermaster. U A.
and ex-sashem II. r. McCartv, = fallen
poll zeal chieftaIn. On this eventful
night they retired to rest. locked lovingly
III eacn others arms. But thew were not
to enjoy sweet dreams that night. like
the babes IN the woods. About two hours
had elapsed, when Mr.. James Dalton was
awakened by feeling the clammy tingen of
y skeleton hand drawn across his face.
He uncovered ono eve and peeIed out.
A bright light illuminated the room.
Rising up from his couch he 9axsd around.
At the head of his bed. to his horror he
discovered an object dressed IN white--a
wOman's ghost. Rising to his full height.
he collected his bravery and in the tones of
a general. sad:
Fair demon, ghost Of the departed.
WHY sit'st thou like enemy in wait,
Here watching Of the head Of those that sleepe
The appari:iOn commenced to waive its
skeleton hand As il to speak. james
Ds.tOn's courage failed. his knees trpm-
hled, his HAIR stood erect and his chm
Quivsrcd. He thought Of all tho sins he
had ever committed. An idea struck him
At this instant. and with one bound he
cleared the window and landed out in the
street, closely followed by Mr.. kIlev.
Looking back Ihey could 500 the hight, but
the ghost had vanished. Gathering as
hey in. ba nAnx and
saw to their surprise that the strange
light that so illuminated the room Was
only reflection of tho light from the
countensnce of the PROSTATE chieftain.