Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-05-14
The Haunted House. "

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 aspect, the
property of a Mr. FoOs 1t had been for
several years uninhabited, when strange re-
ports began to circulate. Persons who
passed there at midnight, and other uncan-
nv hours. often saw strange lights and
heard stranger sounds, until people be
lieved that it was haunted.
\ length two young men Of the town
resolved to see whether it was haunted or
not, and thus put the fears and gossipings
of the towns people to an end
Accordingly they took up their quarters
at the mansion. About eight O'Clock they
lit their candles. and made themselves com
Portable to receive their ghostly visitors.
The clock struck nine, ten, eleven, and
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, tCeire, and then-No sooner
had the sonorous peals died away, than the
candles were suddenly eXtinguished, and
they were left in darkness. After few
minutes a bright, circular light became
visible near one Of the walls, and what a
terrible spectacle was brought to view.
\ man was stretched from a tree with a
rope around his neck. while 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 mouth To complete the horrible
picture. hundreds of demons were dancing
around his contorted figure. Then followed
a wild burst of laughter and the apparltlOn
vanished.
The Young men had not expected this.
While this strange scene was enacting 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 fed the house.-As they were
fleeing along the street, they ran righ' INTO
the OF a tail muscular man. VINO see
ing their affrighted condition, frightened his
grasp upon them, and asked them TO eX-
plain their fright.
They told him all.
After they had finished their story, the
detective (for it was no other than Detec-
tive John Burnside. of New York, who
was visiting friends there) told them ''to
say nothing about it, but wait and hope,
and he would discover the mystery if pos
sible.
About two weeks after the detective re-
turned hOme-so his friends thought.
In course Of time the young men dis
covered that they could no longer keep the
secret, and so they divulged it.
Ii raised a great exitement, of course,
and the people of the city gave the place a
wide berth.
The strange sounds and sights were con
tinued. until the people believed without a
doubt that the house was haunted
We will pass over year.
One morning posse of police, headed
by tall man in plain clothes, approached
the Foos 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 it meant
And now. little Ants, my narrative is at
an end, and Detective Burnside will finish
the story.
After | left the two young men, said
| Detective Burnside afterwards in telling the
story, my mind was made up-l would dis
cover the mystery.
Accordingly, the next evening, proceed
! ed TO the mansion. Ii 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 out by gust
of wind, know, caused by the slamming
of doors. And what terrible sight met
my eyes. shudder now when think Of it,
so terribly real it looked.
There in the same spot that the young
man had described, ! saw a young and
beautiful girl on her knees. \ form wa:
bending over her. its hand clasped her long
golden hair, while a keen, bloody knit,
was drawn across her fair, white throat
while torrents of crimson blood drippeC
upon the floor.
] regained by sclf-pOssession enough Il
draw my pistol, aim, and fire. A wilC
laugh followed, and my bullet was hearC
Crashing through tne NdliiseotlhS- LIN
apparition vanished slowly, and happening
to turn arOund-I discovered the mystery
1t was gang of some sort. | was sure
and l was resolved to capture them. !
few weeks after | joined the gang, b!
means known only to myself professio
nal secret. There were counterfeiters
burglars, and everything mong them.
will not weary the readefa -sith a descrip
tion of the numerous burglaries they com
mitted, or Of the various ways in whicl
they manufactured and '''shoved' thei
queer money"
After staying with them for about
year, resolved to break up the gang, 70
had now ample evidence to convict them
Accordingly, | obtained the posse q