Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1882-11-16

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Awful Mystery by a Brave Reporter and
Few other Desperate Men.
Although the belief in ghosts and ma
terialized spirits is not very general in
this day and age. yet there are still
hundreds of people whose fears of su-
perDatural manifestations make them
exceedingly nervous in the dark. A re-
cent illustration of this was the case OF
a family, who lived near the Norris
street bridge, whose house was ''haunt-
ed" and became the terror OF the neigh
borhood. so much so'that it was avoided
by nearly all the people in the neighbour
hood. The head OF the family. James
ii. Norton, who is tailor by trade.
month ago, and has since lived in it
until within the last few days. Every
thing moved along in the even tenor
until last week, when one night, about
eleven, o'ciock. Mr.. Norton Jbeing alb
sent. his wife and little daughter We're
startled BY an unearthly shrek, APP
parently from the cellar. They natur-
ally did not stop TO investigate,
but rushed, screaming at the top Of
their voices. to an atjoinins house but
few moments sitficed 70 arouse
the neighborhood. and the stO-
ries of the frightened women worked
up the excitement TO fever heat. Mr..
Norton returned about this time. and
with few of his Drawer neighbors be-
gan to search the house. Every apart
ment above ground was entered. but
nothing was found. A sort of instinct
I,aaI sc III. lurl- ..allar SaarnAH
take possession of the men. and a coun-
Gil of war was held before they de-
scended into the regions below. Nor
ton volunteered TO 20 down first. TAX,
ing lamp in one hand and revolver
in the other. he started down the rick
ETY. stairway. followed BY the others.
When near the bottom their senses
were almost paralyzed by one of the
most blood-curdling yells that ever re-
sounded from the depths OF the bottom
less pit. Before they could recover
from the shock. potatoes, cans of
fruit and other missiles came flying
from the interior. knocking the lamp to
the ground and bruising more or less
the anatomies of the investigators.
There was no perceptible hesitation
about beating hasty retreat. and. hav-
ing once gained the outer atmosphere.
more terrified and perplexed lot Of
men it would he hard to find.
After rallyiEg of their forces. and at
q distance from the scene Of recent hos
tilities, courage revived in a moderate
degree, and another trial was deter
mined upon. ReiAforcements strength
ened their ranks and toned up their
spirits 10 a wonderful degree, and the
search was resumed The last stair was
safety passed, and penetration of the
apartment began without incident or
mishap. Ever nook and corner had
been searched but an abandoned cellar
cistern, a part Of whose brick wall had
been torn out several wears before. Be
fore approaching it Norton demanded
immediate surrender of the supposed
occupants. threatening dire disaster to
the intruder If he did not show up
There was no response, and, after wait
ing n few moments, the brave tailor
went through the opening. His COM
pani9ns had braced themselves for
desperate struggle at about this stage
of the game. but Norton peered eau
tiously around. but found nothing but a
large pile OF gravel aud sand. which he
supposed had been used in cementlng
the cellar bottom The cellar doors had
been fastened securely after the hrsf
visit; and every place that could con-