New-York tribune., 1879-05-21
WATCHING ~ A HAUNTED HOUSE..

THE GHOSTS AT GRANITEYILLE, S. l.
INVESTIGATING THE MYSTERIOUS CHAMBER-wAIT-
ING PATIENTLY FOR SPIRITS THAT DID NOT
COME.
There was grand ghost hunt at the little
village Of Graniteville, Staten Island, on Monday
evening. As usual such occasions, there were nu-
persons who had heard the ghcst AT other
but when sought after I'm scientific spirit the ghos1
either couldn't wouldn't be found GraniteVe was
found on Monday evening TO be quiet pretty niue VII
lage Of about twenty-five houses scattered along the
main road and a crossroad and enjoying the assoca-
tion OF Baptist church. Aghting at the corner gro
cery the three members of the press found within d. IT,
Crocheron the aged Of the store and OF the al
legged haunted house. II was arranged to Watch lor
ghosts that night and Mr. Crocheron led his VISITORS 10
the DETAINED house, a few rods up the road, white
frame building OF two stories, with portco in froh
formed by the overunnins roof supported by tall
square pillars
1t was O'Clock in the afternoon when the first WISH
was made to the mysterious chamber. MI CrocherOn
the way up the front stairs, turned into the 'front.'
bedroom went down two or three steps INTO ra'her
dark passage that around the head OF the pacK
starwoy and took his visitors INTO back chamber
about twelve feet square and dmly ghtcd the board
shutters 10 the windows beng closed. The door ana
the windows the only apertures. save the ample
old-fasoned fire place and chimney In the rear wall
A stove pipe hole III front of the chimney had been
freshly boarded up. and something that looked IKE an
ola commodous hole seen near the centre OF
the foOr The tin with which It had been covered was
partially torn away That's where the ghosts come
rom" said Mr.. Crocheron pointing at the rat hole, IL
there any strange noises here I'd like to hear the
It's all nonsense about ghosts. I've been In mere tIe9
times. at night, since the Decker family M iclt & anu
didn't hear anything think something did happen
here from what persons saw VINO were mere tie Su S
the Deckers had such time but that IRON bedstea1 naa
something to 90 with II perhaps or neT9 weI . ~ @ i
here. One spiIituast, Mrs. ScOva was mere IL was III
this chamber that the children or the Decker ihhuG
annoyed by the antics or ther ocustegau,
not TO mention unpleasant noises, all OF WHICH
combined to drive the FANNY 1ron the % Hose, din Ia
singular things happened an the room hobouy u]Su,u ]
In the closet IN the front hallway swallow was Ionhu
beating it, wings against the wiudow-pane " Here
the ghQstF cried Mr.: CrocheTon; IL was ip1Ieu ho,
Taking his visitors to the rear of the house ne snoweo
and large holes by which rats, running up Oe
the joist, might reach the floor OF the haunted
bOrs yard hang the roof and when the Wlnd Dle"
doubtless the branches scratched on the shingles.
turned the after dark Mr.. Croeheron at frst
dsnclned to allow theipromsed nocturnal VISIT 10
ghOsty chamber the ground that his visitors a
peared TO be mostly interested IN the tales the uelg
bors were telling Being reassured. he again consented
taken to keep secret but when tho faces OF about
fifteen men and boys were dumly seen III the ROAD III
front OF the suspected house, the explorers refeated
into the grocery for consultation. Two young men,
Oscar Van Name and W. A Riebords, offered to STAND
guard outside while the Investigations were gong on
inside Finally little later twelve persons were au-
mited the house, including David c. Decker, the son
Thompson, who was present the Wednesday evening
when the ghosts 50 familiar Once III the chamber
eIybOdy told To be quiet
Two later the glass 10 the lantern broke IN n
zgZag corner with report creating sensation Tor Is
saying that young Mr.. Decker at once confirmed that
over twenty lamp chmneys had been broken Whle tine
Decker family mad occupied the house. Mr. CfocherOn
before the lantern turned down hOuushed ciuO
and threatened with headache any one who should az
tempt TO deceive Then quiet reigned the lights Oi
three cigars shOne in The DARK and the company waited
for half hour uteTlng sUOdued smokers ana nudGluR
one another The lantern TUNED up again 10 open
a
minutes more the door slammed to, and thCre was
laugh Nh CrOcheTOu demanded who shut the door, ahu
Mr. Decker said he did so to smut the noise being
made outside AT IL O'Clock everybody was weary OF
the vigil II being evident that 1t was bad iht IOr
ghosts or that the conditions were unfavOrable for sc
enne research. SO all returned 10 the grocery, MI
Decker and MI Thompson reltcratng their statements
of what they had heard the house that Wednesday
evening and maintaining that the noises made and Tie
lifting of the bed strange aud to them lncxpIca