Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-22
GhOstly Whispers i'm the Dome.

THE STARTLING REVELATIONS MADE TO A STAR RI
PORTER BY CAPITOL wATCHNAN-wHY VISITOR:
GO UP IN THE DOME AND HOW STORY THAT 1T Il
HAUNTED WAS STARTED.
"Dld you know that the dome OF the Capitol was
haunted-the highest part of the dome, Just under
the worm light" said an old Waterman to a STAB
reporter the other day.
"Why, no; tell me about IT. said the reporte,
With sudden interest getting close to the Old man
ana speaking In low, confidential tone.
mo, you didn't know 1t. Well, 1t amt" he said
snuttlng his mouth with snap and looking as
blank as faded budapest which tells you that II
Is IL miles TO -, and leaves you to guess where
Eyes. that's the Senate side" he said to q wild
eyed countryman who was staring about In quest OF
That decorous body. Then turning to the reporter
''No, IL amt haunted"
"Its not, eh? Well, thought not,r replied the
scribe, sticking bis thumbs In the arm-hoes of his
vest and looking at the new frieze-work
mo, 1t amt haunted; 1t amt haunted" repeated
the old man with low chuckle. ga man com
mltted suicide on the rail there one time. but II
amt haunted" Then he looked knowingly at the ne
porter to see II his curiosity was sufficiently
aroused But the scribe was admiring the "Bap-
slsm OF Pocahontas," and the old man assumed a
more confidential tone. s'You remember the man
that jumped Of there? 1t amt been SO long
about six or seven years. You know he stood on
nus arms TO heaven, gave wild plunge and was
crushed on the iron roof nearly two hundred feet
PEI DeioW. Wen, guess his ghost Went somewhere,
Dut lt didn't stay about here"
"Well, what are you talking about then?n said
tne reporter his interest getting the better Of his
patience
mo; it didn't stay about here, he continued, not
hoticlhg the reporters impatience shut some folks
thnk 1t did, and 1t seems kind o. natural that II
should, TOO, Lots OF queer folks go up ON the dome
I've been here long time, and see lots OF them.
Iney go up there more in the winter than they do
Ia the summer-ten to one more. It's too hot to
climb the stairs In the summer. There are some
VINO come every session with Congress. They come
70 the Capitol every day, and always go on the
dome. They are the 'dome-ratS;' that's what call
hafy 5hsse says s4H
church. All the strangers who come here want to
by themselves often go up there You can see them
standing at every landing, looking out the windows
with Way-on look. Then there are cranks who
go up there to get nearer heaven"
wen, yes, know" Interrupted the reporter,
but what's all this got to do with the domes being
haunted? Did any OF these curious visitors ever
get frightened at ghost up there and fall down
stars? Has any ones hair been turned suddenly
white by the sight OF specter about to plunge
mead nsad.long In a suicidal leap? Where does the
=, DIDN'T say there weren't any ghostS?" retorted
tne Old man, an injured expression passing over
his face. 81 was just coming to that" ne said. re-
covering his good humor under the influence or the
reporters conciliatory smile. "There amt any
ghosts up there, but some OF these strangers get
comes of the whisper gallery You know the
whisper gallery?' Wen, you know when
people are talking around on the other side
the echos bring their voices right close up to
you great many strangers hearing these voices
and not seeing any one have jumped at the conclu-
sion that the place is haunted. knowing that a
man committed suicide there they think that his
troubled spirit st1ll fingers about the scene But.
as l told you, II amt haunted, It's only the
''These echos,n he continued, "pIay the mischief
with the lovers. They are given right away When
they think no one can hear them their secrets
are told 10y the echos on the other side plainly as
they are WhtSperedD -