Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-08-01
WHAT WAS 1T.
A Child of Air that Could be Heard and
Felt, but Not Seen.
Letter to The New York World.


give, but that name will be rs good us
any-is an artist having a studio in one
of the large studio buildings in this
city. On the evening Of the 10th OF
January last ne was lying on q lounge
in his studio reading, when suddenly he
heard a rustling behind an easel which
stood in one corner of the room, and
presently the picture that was on 1t
fell to the floor. Mr.. Sake was sur
prised and went to the corner TO see
what was the matter, but nothing was
visible there beyond what he had eX-
pected. lie replaced the picture and
returned to his reading, when again he
was disturbed and thought that he
heard footsteps in the same corner of
the room as of some one shutting along
the carpeted floor, and presently there
was sound as if heavy body had
stumbled against the tall Dutch clock
which stood there against the wall
BY this time, although he is by no
means superstitious, he was thoroughly
interested and excited, and as nothing
unusual was to be found in the room
while the strange noises continued, he
stepped out and into the neighboring
studio and asked well-known marine
painter-the occupant of the room
to come into the studio, as most unac-
countable things were happening there.
Mr.. S. readily accompanied Mr.. SAKE,
but nothing out of the ordinary oc-
Cured, and after conversing for an hour
or two Mr.. S. returned to his room, and
Mr.. Sake went to bed. He is a
light sleeper, and Mt about ? o'clock he
was aroused by Il sound rs If somebody
were tossing in sleep upon Turkish
rug which lay before but at some dis
lance from his CRATE fire. The fire was
bright, but he could see nothing, and
still the noise continued. lie rose,
turned up the gas, and stepped across
to the fire place, but in attempting to
cross the rug he stumbled against
something and fell, yet nothing could
be seen which could have caused the
mishap, while in falling he distinctly
felt body beneath him which moved.
He was now thoroughly frightened, and
ran hastily to Mr.. SIS studio, at the
door of which he pounded till its inmate
awoke, and accompanied Mr.. Sake to
his room again. The studio was well
enough lighted to enable them to see
everything within it, but there was no
trace of burglar having been there,
and certainly no living thing except the
two artists seemed to be in the room.
Then noise was heard under the bed,
and in moving this Mr.. SIS foot struck
against something. STOPPING at once
he made grasp in the place where the
body should have been; and to his
amazement, and certainly TO mis- horror
for, all things considered, the situa-
ton was frightful enough-he seized
what seemed to be small and delicate
ankle. The being, whatever it was,
strove to tear itself from his grasp, and
n low moaning sound was heard. Mr..
S. is man Of strong nerve, and did not
relinquish his hold upon the ankle, and
presently Mr.. SAKE came to his assist
ance, and body, wholly invisible, yet
plainly possessed ofweight, was dragged
from under the bed, moaning and
whimpering all the while. Its
strength was not beyond that
of child of Z or years, but it strug-
ged violently, and not until its arms
were pinioned to its sides did it cease
in its endeavors to escape. The sur
face OF its body was of velvet soft
ness, and had the room been
dark the gentlemen would I'M
doubtedly have believed that they were
engaged with little naked child. but
since the room was bright with light
they were wholly at loss to account
for the strange facts, for they seemed to
have mastered child of solid air. As
they struggled with it the walls and
floor could plainly be seen between
their hands, which as evidently clutch
palpable thing. After a time the
struggles ceased, and the child, if such
it is to be called, was placed upon the
bed, both gentlemen keeping their
hands upon it. 1t breathed and sobbed,
but thenceforth was very passive. In
passing his hands along its body Mr..
SAKE found at the shoulders two organs
like wings, which could easily be
moved and one of which seemed to be
broken. Pity was now mingled with
wonder in the hearts of the two men
who held this thing of air within their
power, and they tried to soothe 1t as if
it had been human infant, but it lay
simply still and palpitable under their
hands. They drew the bed-clothes over
it and placed its head upon pillow,
where the imprint OF its form could be
seen and its limbs be felt precisely as a
mother watching in the dark beside her
boys bed could feel them. The two
men watched there all night, and in
the morning it was agreed that the facts
should be kept wholly quiet, at least
until it should have been decided what
was the best course to pursue in 50
strange matter. The child had appar-
emily slept soundly after its struggles,
and in the morning it stirred, and Civ
ing a sound of joy, rose in the bed, and
as Mr.. SAKE took light hold Of its hand
it attempted to fly upward, but in sec
ond fell back with a moan, and its hand
could be felt clasping the broken wing.
The men were wholly at loss as to
what thew should do. Wine and water
were placed at the child's mouth, but
with Its hand it brushed them away.
AT last the two decided to admit DR.. l..
to their confidence, and summon him
TO this strange bedside. He was brought
- Al