The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-01-17
TOO GOOD TO KEEP.

TOO GOOD TO KEEP.
How II 13-Year Old BOY Came Near stan,-
peding Whole NeighbOrhood.
On ght eminence, in the northwest por-
ton OF Grand Rapids, surrounded and almost
hiddeh>from view by a luXuriast growth Of ever
green's shade and fruit trees, is handsome lit.
tie cottage, once the delightful home Of Daniel
Ebersol, OF Ottawa, but now belonging to the es.
tate Of Andrew Yortaas, deceased and occupied
by Mary Yortaas, his aged relict, and George
Pressor, her grandson, promising youth of 10
summers.
ABOUT FOUR WEEKS Ago
this beautiful homestead was visited by strange
: and unnatural sounds, such rs rappings on the
doors and windows rumbling noises on the Roof
and uncarthly screams of distress. Neighbors
heard the strange noises and thought it strange.
But little attention given until after one eve
ming, when the old lady and George, her grand.
son, came rushing into neighbours almost
brcathless and dead from fright, stating that
some person or tAing, human or inhuman, had
made its appearance and destroyed the peace and
happiness of their quiet home by peerng in at
the windows, throwing stones and pieces of fire
wood at the doors and on the roof and when
George went out to demonstrate for such pro-
cecdlngs he had been severely chastsed
\ neighbours boy, with whom George had had
some difficulty, was supposed to be the author
Of the mischief
TO RELIEVE THE DISTRESSED
neighbor Blank Jumped on horse and rode over
to the suspected boys home, where he found
him quietly eating his supper. OF course that
theory was Knocked in the head. But this was
not the end Of these strange and mysterious ap-
pearances. They soon became nightly occur
rences. Neighbors became alarmed and almost
suspicOned one another, when it occurred to
some that it was a son Of Andrew Yortaas who
lived in Minnesota, and who, desiring to occupy
the Homestead, had taken this method to scare
the old lady away, either by dong the mischief
himself or obtaining some villain to do it for him.
And to strengthen this theory George stated that
four or five weeks ago a long legged fellow came
through their place and represented himself as
being friend Of his uncle in Minnesota, and had
just come from there with important news. The
disturbances became more
FREQUENT AND ALARMING.
Neighbors armed the boy with a shot gun and
taught him how to load, cap, cock, raise, aim
and fire, Ere many nights had passed, the neigh
bors heard The report OF the shot gun They soon
repaired to the rescue with lanterns and fire.
arms, and found George and his poor old grand
mother frantic with terror. When the rapping
occurred on the door, the old lady threw it wide
open and George discharged the contents of the
shotgun; but nc trace Of corpse was found
BY this time the neighborheod was thoroughly
aroused. Old ghost stories were resurrected,
and doors and windows securely fastened
The Grand Ridgers, three miles away, discuss
ed, with superstition, the witch and wizard
stories of old rookeries and dark hollows And
when "G,pSSo' laid himsef down in his little
bed, he said his little prayer and covered up his
head lest he might see a spectre in the night.
Thus things proceeded until ot-prlnts of the
mysterious intruder were found and the meas
urement announced as II or Is inches, when the
state of insecurity felt in the neighborhood and
vicinity became so great that a general erol,ts
was on the tapis.
Neighbors searched their yards for
BIG FOOTPRINTS;
hen roosts were furnished with doors, wel-lock-
ed, and, in case the intruder was human, the wo-
men intended starving him out of the neighbor
hood. Volunteer squads stood guard on the
haunted premises; some in the house and others
out among the bushes, yet the traps raped"
and nothing could be discovered to give a clue
to the mystery. On one evening OF last week
neishbor was keeping watch with George and
the old lady when a loud rapprng was heard at
the north door. Pursuit was instigated by George
brave boy and the neighbor, resulting in
Georges getting mysterious thrashing, CRYING
and calling for help. The neighbor saw no per
son, however Notwithstanding the state Of ex
element in the ncighborhood, there were men
unwilling to let this kind OF thing proceed with
out a thorough investigation. On last Thursday
and Friday nights the usual programme was du-
lily executed, though earlier in the evening than
usual.
on SATURDAY MORNING
the brd,es of the community mustered their for
ces, which were composed Of men who had fought
in the bloody battles of the rebellion; others who
had braved dangers and perils on the wild plains
of the far west, and boys filled with ambition for
deeds of valor Some were armed with rifles
and shot-suns, and others who were a letle
ashamed to be seen with weapons of dcfcnN, car
ried knives and such things in their boots and
other convenient places search was instituted
Hay nows and all out-budings were searched
with care; and likewise the orchard, garden
and field and all untenanted buildings in the
neighborhood, but no clue was found to throw
any light on the mystery. After the search on
Saturday afternoon, about o'clock, while
neighbours boy was srossn. the Yortaas farm,
he heard stones striking the house and George
crying and calling some one "Ioog.legqtd dc,fl."
OF course the boy ran for assistance; but on re-
turning with help the "leng legged devil" had
disappeared, leaving no identity but the long,
slim footprints in the mud. Saturday and Sun