Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-09-18
UNCANNY VISITORS.
Strange Doings Of Band Of Ghosts in
Philadelphia Tenement House
Praying Spirits.
The Devil In a Blue Coat with Brass
Buttons-Men and Women i'm
Royal Robes.

PHILADELPHIA, September l5.-The re-
moval of John Dawson, his wife and chill
dren, his household goods and his store
from Is South Nineteenth street to 1892
Market has been accelerated in a remark
able manner. The quickening cause is
ghosts. The variety, numerical strength
and solidity of the band OF apparitions
make them one OF the most remarkable
companies OF uncanny visitors that ever
mistook three-story tenement either for
a haunted castle or spiritualistic iyceum.
Their walk is impartially out of the wall
or up the stairs. Their conversation runs
from real estate to rituals, and their cos
tune from summer clothes to royal robes
and crowns.
Mr.. Dawson, although an apparent be-
hever in the apparitions, does not claim to
have seen them. During the three nights
of their visitation he slept in his new
abode, while his wife and family remained
in the old one. Thither he was recalled on
Thursday morning at 3 o'clock to quell the
turbulence OF the spirits, Who had become
unmanageably aggressive toward Mrs
Dawson and her daughters Mollie and
Sallie. In the same room where the spirits
mode themselves manifest Mrs, Dawson,
corroborated by her daughter, told to-
night the story of the visitations.
II am not superstitious, said Mrs.
Dawson. l have never thought much of
such matters, and have never believed in
them- In fact, l am not, perhaps, as good
q believer as ] ought to be; for, although
Catholic, can't say that / had faith in
tie miracles. l speak truth, however,
wren | say that there were what are called
ghosts on Monday, Tuesday and Wednes-
day nights, and that | nearly died of
fright at them, as we'll as losing all sleep
while they were here. They spoke on all
their visits, and on no two nights were
the same ones here. The first was on
Monday. ] was not asleep, although it
was nearly midnight. | heard a voice
close to by ear as l lay in bed, and, turn
ing, saw man in a slouched hat, blue
sack coat and light trousers.
''The next visitants | did not see, but
only heard They kept calling the names
of my father and offriends now dead, who
once lived In the old country-Ireland.
mean. | heard them call Edward Duffy
softly. That was a relatives name. |
called out: Is that NV sister Bridget,
who is deadn but I received no answer.
That was on TUESDAY night. On Wednes-
| day night | could aot go to sleep. After
| the clock struck one there came gong
like sound, and the buzzing ceased
| My hearing became very clear
and from the wall beside my
bed | heard woice saving the
Lords prayer. / being Catholic, crossed
myself, and followed theyoice through the
prayer. Then it went on through the
rosary, | following still. After that it re
peated the prayers for t,e souls of the
faithful departed. Then Il ere was callin.
OF my children's names, swo of whom
Molly and little John, wele in bed will
| me, i meantime blessing the children ant
calling on them in the name of God t,
reveal who they were.
&'This went on for two hours and | be
came half crazy. At g o'clock there cam
a bright light on the wall, and | saw tw
figures, one of man in royal rubes an,
with a crown upon his head, the other c
woman, garbed in the same manner
These robes were white, with gol
stitches. The feet of the king l could nc
see. Those of the queen l could see.
blessed them, and prayed to know VIII
they were. Then they disappeared
After they went man in blue Goa
) with brass buttons, came up the staii
and into the room, through the hail. ii
made no noise in walking and his eye
were like two flames. He came around th
, foot OF my bed and sat down on the sid
nearest the wall, where the figures wer
He held stick in one hand. | distinct
! felt his weight settle the mattress. II
made passes with his stick and caugl
hold of my foot with one hand. | sal,
Are you the devil 2 and crossed mysel
for his eyes, as | said, were flame II yo
are, begone have nothing for you
Mrs. Dawson is an intelligent woman
and there is no evidence OF duplicity
' her manner