The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-07-10
A Ghost Story.


WHAT A YOUNG LOUISVILLE LAWYER
ExPERIENcED-HIs STRUGGLE WITH A
SPIRIT.
Louisville has a ghost story equally as
strange as, and somewhat similar to, one
which created sensation in New York some
years ago. A week or two since, there ap-
peared an advertisement in the Courier
journal. stating that a large pleasant
room, at Sll Gray street, was for rent
on exceedingly low terms. To all who
called to look at the room, the pro-
prietor candidly explained that the reason
that 1t WAS tenantless and was offered on
such low terms was that for about six months
past it had had the reputation of being
haunted, and no one had since been found
who would occupy it more than one night.
Mr.. Rufus T. hinloch, young lawyer of
this place, scoffed az the story, and rented
the room for a year. On the first night that
he spent therein, he informed us that little
before twelve O'Clock he awoke suddenly
with strong and strange feeling that some
one was near him. Just then his clock
struck twelve, and simultaneously with the
last stroke heavy body,a from the ceiling,
dropped. with heavy thud, upon his breast,
and clasped him tightly with a cold and
clammy pair OF arms. Young kinlocb, so
soon as he could partially recover from the
paralysis produced by the sudden surprise
and terror, began desperate struggle to
free himself. Over the bed they wrestled
and tumbled, whence finally fell to the floor.
Kinloch felt that it was life or death with
him and he strained every fiber in his body
to shake off the invisible foe. He could
plainly hear its breathings, which were reg
nlar and not apparently increased by the
struggle. Its breath swept into his face as
chilly as an air current from mountain
cave. Its body, which he could feel, was
without thread OF clothing, was evidently
In the shape Of mans, but was as rigid
and cold asa corpse. The only sound which
came from it was an occasional low, sepul-
chral laugh, which almost froze Kinloch to
Kinloch knocked table over. The Matchbox
fell and scattered its contents over the floor.
Kinloch, with one hand, seized a match, but
just as he struck it, and before it could blaze
up, the thing, with another laugh, wrenched
itself away. In an instant Kinlocb had the
gas lit, but the visitor had entirely dsap-
peared. 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 ingress Or egress.
Then he looked in the glass, 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, and is prepared to swear that no
human being can get admttance to it ex-
cept through the doors or windows. The
succeeding night; which was that of Monday
last, Notwithstanding his experience already
he resolved to make another attempt to solve
the mystery. Placing his pistol, candle
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 on the breast of Kinloch
and clasped him in its embrace. Wrapping
one arm around in death-like grip, with
his disengaged hand Kinloch grasped a
match and struck it. The thing which SEEM
ed to have horror of light, made one VIC
lent effort to leave, and then as the match
fared up, lay painting, passive and conquer
ed. Kinloch deliberately lit the candle, held
it over his prisoner and saw to his amaze
ment that it was (P. 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 anything, and
we shall have to wait till they quit sweeping
down on US before we finish .j-LouisriHe
Courier Journal.