The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-04-11
"THE HAUNTED HOUSE,
4 Strange hut True story Related by
Dan J. Garrity i'm Boston Pilot.
NARRATIVE Icy MYSELF

The time OF my narrative dates back
to the year 1870. The events occurred
in the city of Springfield. Ohio.
Situated in the very centre of the city
was a mansion. old and lonely in aspect.
the property of a Mr.. FoOs. 1t had been
for several years Uninhabited. when
strange reports began to circulate Per
sons who passed there at midnight, and
other uncanny hours, often saw strange
lights and heard stranger sounds, until
people believed that it was haunted.
At length two young men of the town
resolved to see whether it was haunted
or not, and thus put the fears and gOS-
sipings of the towns people to an end.
Accordingly they took up their quar-
tiers at the mansion. About eight
O'Clock they lit their candles, and made
themselves comfortable to receive their
ghoStly visitors.
The clock struck nine, ten, eleven. and
it was now nearly twelve O'Clock. the
time for ghosts to appear. The great
clock in st. Raphael's church began to
strike one. two, three. four, five, six.
seven, eight. nine, ten, eleven, t,reIre.
and then-No sooner had the sOnorous
peals died away. than the candles were
suddenly OXtnguiShed. and they were
left in darkness. After a few minutes
bright. circular light became visible
near one of the walls, and what terrible
spectacle was brought to view \ man
was stretched from tree with a rope
around his neck. while a box lay at his
feet within reach-he was a suicide
/ His distorted features and glaring eyes
were plainly visible, while his tongue.
black and swollen. hung at least half a
foot from his month To complete the
horrible picture. hundreds of demons
tod
Then followed wild burst of laughter
and the apparition vanished.
The young men had not expected this.
While this strange scene was enactmg
they sat stUpefied with fear, their hair
actually standing on end.
At length their horrible spell was
broken, and without even stopping to
snatch their hats, they fled the house
As they were fleeing along the street.
they ran right into the arms of tall,
muScUlaTman, who seeing their alright
ed condition. frightened his grasp upon
them, and asked them to explain their
fright.
They told him all.
After they had finished their story,
the detective for it was no other than
Detective John Burnside. of New \ Ork.
who was visiting friends there told
them Ito say nothing about it, but wait
and hope and he would discover the
mystery if possible
About two weeks after the detective
returned hOme-so his friends thought.
In course of time the young men dis
covered that they conld no longer keep
the secret. and 50 they divulged it.
1t raised great excitement, of course,
and the people Of the city gave the place
a wide berth.
The strange sounds and sights We're
continued. until the people believed
without a doubt that the house was
haunted.
We Will pass over year.
One morning a posse of police, headed
by Il tall man in plain clothes, approach
ed the FuOs mansion. unlocked the door,
and passed in.
In a few minutes the sound of pistol
Shots was heard. and then all was still.
In few minutes the posse emerged from
the house. looking much larger. What
could il mean
And now, little Ants. my narrative is
at an end, and Detective Burnside will
finish the story.
NARRATIVE by DETECTIVE BURN
SIDE.
After | left the two young men, said
Detective Burnside afterwards in telling
the story. my mind was made up
would discover the mystery.
Accordingly. the next evening. | pro-
ceeded to the mansion. It was a mere
repetition OF the story of the young men,
as far as the apparitiOn. As soon as the
clock struck twelve my candle was
blown ont by gust Of wind | know.
caused by the slamming of doors. And
what a terrible sight met my eye. |
shudder now when | think of it, 50 ter
ribly real it looked.
There in the same spot that the young
men had described | saw young and
beautiful girl on her knees \ form
was bending over her. its hand clas ped
her long golden hair, while a keen.
bloody knife was drawn across her fair
white throat, while torrents of crimson
blood dripped down upon the floor.
| regained by self-posseSSion enough tC
draw my pistol. aim. and fire. y wild
laugh followed. and my bullet was heard
crashing through the wainscoting.
The apparition vanished slowly. anC
happening to turn around discovered
the mystery.
1t was gang of some sort. / wa:
sure, and | was resolved to capture
them. A few weeks after | joined tn,
gang. 10y means known only to myself
a professional secret. There were coun
, terfeiters, burglars. and everything els'
, among them. I Will not weary the read
eT with a description of the numerOu
burglaTieS they committed. or of the va
rious WAYS in which they manufacture,
= and - showed their queer money
e After staying with them for about
t year, | resolved to break up the gang
2 for l had now ample evidence to convic
D them.
e Accordingly. l obtained the posse q
+ police. and raided the house. After
e slight resistance they were captured.
I When they found out who their cap
2 tor was they threatened me with ven
I geance dire, if they ever escaped bu
+ they never did, for there was not one c
' them but had committed enough crime
+ TO condemn them for life.
IS \ few weeks after the gang We're sen
4 to prison ! took opportunity to sho'
G some visitors the house, and explain tn
q secret of the ghosts In ther room whel
V the apparitiOns appeared | showed then
e a secret door. and behind it was an a
q cove. This was the place where IL
II robbers had hidden themselves ever
e night, and. when the curious came
l. see the ghosts. they frightened thel
e away by means of a magic lantern. NJ
d tale is done.
le DANIEL SCHEIRER. shoemaker.
e Richmond township, Berks county HI
le in his possession stone which he us
d i'm his shop. which was found by h
n - 1. II.