The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-06-30
A GHOST STORY.
vynas N Young Louisville Lawyer Hx'
perlenced- His struggle "aso
.,. q Spirit.
rrop,svi,,e courier-Journal, 2sd.I

TI,oujsyiife C0urter-Jcurnai, SSa'l
Huntsville has ghost story equally rs
arrange as, and somewhat similar 10, one
which created q sensation in New lork
some wears ago. a week or TWO since
there appeared an advertisement IN Tue
Courier Journal stating that large, pea.
sant room at Sl1 Gray street was Tor rent
nm exceedi nelv low terms. To all who
called 10 look at the room the proprietor
candidly explained that the reason tnat II
1yos tenantless and was offered on sucn low
terms was that for about six months past
II had had the reputation OF being haunted,
and no one had since been found VINO
would occupy it more than one night. MT.
Rufus 2. Kinlocb, young lawyer OF tnls
nlacc. scofied at the story. and rented inc
room for a wear. On the first night that he
snent therein he informs us that a littie
before II O'Clock he awoke suddenly
with n strong and strange feeling that some
one was near him. just then his clock
struck twelve, and simultaneously WIN
the last stroke 4 heavy body, as Ii 1rom Tue
ceiling, dropped, and clasped MIN t'SheS
with a cold and clammy pair OF arms
Young KinIoch, so soon as he coulo par,
tially recover from the paralysis proGueeu
by the sudden surprise and terror, peSaii
\ desperate struggle to free himself.
whence finally fell TO the floor. kinlocn
felt that il was life or death with him. ana
no straiped every fiber in his body to shake
off his invisible foe. He could plainly hear
its breathings, which were regular ana not
a,parently Increased by the struggle. It's
breath swept into his face as chilly as an
air current from mountain cave. It's oody,
which he could feel, was without thread
of clothing, was evidently in the shape OF i
man,s. but was as cold aud rigid as corpse.
The ONLY sound which came from 1t was an
occasional low, sepulchral laugh, which
almost froze Kinloch to the bone. In ms
wild efforts TO cast It off, kinloch knocked
n table over. The MATCHBOX fell ana scat
tered its contents over the floor. hlnlocn,
with one hand, Immediately sliced match,
but Just as he struck il, and before IL coula
blaze up, the thing, with another laugh,
wrenched itself away. In an instant h'n-
locb had the gas lit. but bis visitor bad en-
tireIy disappeared. The doors were all
locked and the windows all fastened, Just
as he had left them on going to bed. He
examined the ceiling and the walls, but
could discover not the slightest sign OF in
press. or egrcsS. Then he looked In the
rtasW saw that his hair had not turned
white, and sat up with the gas burning the
rest OF the night. Next day he carefully
and thoroughly examined the room, ana IS
prepaired to swear that no human being
can get admittance to it except through the
doors or windows. The succeeding night,
which was that of Monday last, notwith-
standing his experience already, he resolved
10 make another attempt to solve the mys-
terry. Placing his pistol, candle, and Il
box OF matches on table within reach OF
his bed, he turned off the gas and lay down.
Not once did he think OF sleeping. Finally
the clock began striking twelve. Again, as
it finished, the mysterious thing dropped
from above Or the breast OF kinloch and
clasped MIN in its embrace. Wrapping one
arm around in death-lke grip, with his
disengaged hand Kinloch grasped mate CHI
and struck it. The thing, which seemed
10 have horror of light, made one violent
effort to leave, and then as the match
Jared up lay painting, passive, and conquer
ed. Knloch deliberately lit the candle,
held it over his prisoner, and saw to his
amazement that 1t wasp. S.-A tidal
wave OF Jolly Kentucky editors swept down
on us Just here. 1t is impossible for US to
write about such gloomy things in their
presence, or, as for that matter, about any
thing, and we shall have to wait till they
quit sweeping down on us before we tnsh.)