National Republican., 1883-09-17
HUNTING A GHOST.
A Party Of SpOOk Hunters Spend Night in a
Haunted House.
Their Investigations Suddenly Terminated
by n Pair OF Healthy IIobgoblins.

A number of persons from this city and
Baltimore, who are more or less interested in
spooks aud spirits, took the Z o'clock train
from this city Saturday night and went to
Beltsville, Md. The expedition was organized
to visit haunted house about three miles
from there. A REPUBLICAN reporter and
friend received a pointer" rs to what was
going on and boarded the same train. On ar
irving at Beltsville the party disembarked.
About 100 yards from the station two large
family carriages and buggy awaited them.
These were entered, and with the two
spies following, they were driven in
tho direction of the haunted premises.
After half an hours drive the house was
reached aud the party halted. t hey entered
the house about 8 o'clock and lights were pro-
duced.
The house is situated in grove, and is an
old frame structure. IL contains eight large
rooms, and extending all around the house Is
spacious Veranda. The roof slopes down
ward, and two large windows look over it.
A plate ON tho door contains tho inscription,
Hiram Cunningham"
The room selected for the seance, which
was part Of the programme, was q rear one
in the second story, it being selected for its
history and its being a supposed rendezvous
for spooks. The history attached to this
room is interesting, if not true. AS the story
goes, Cunningham came to this country from
England about thirty years ago and settled
in Maryland, near the spot where tho house,
which he built, now stands. Ho had Que
daughter, who was a medium, and IL is said
she could do some most remarkable things ut
night. She was, it is said, most beautiful
girl, and had it not been for the eccentric
notions she entertained, would probably have
been living yet. Her room was q sacred
spot to which none but herself had ac-
cess. Her father humored her, and when
she disappeared from view for whole day,
as she once did, nothing was thought of 1T.
After two days has passed, however, and she
did not appear, her room was visited, and af-
ter knocking and receiving no response the
door was burst open. 1t is said that the
scene which greeted her father on opening
the door shattered his reason. His daughter
was seated at table, wrapped in white
shroud. and with her throat cut. The room
was in Wild state of disorder and presented
horrible spectacle. Nailed to the walls were
a score Of the most uncannary etchings
drawn by herself while small mediums
cabinets stood at different points Scat
tered about the room were several
works ON spiritualisn by recognized authors
Tho room and all its furnishings were filthy
and the bed presented the appearance Of
mover having been occupied. This is the
story as it was given to the reporter.
Tho party retired to this room before mid
night and tho seance began. Tho reporter
stationed himself in an adjoining room and
awaited developments The programme be.
gan in the customary manner, with cabinet
practice and table rapping, and when mid.
night arrived every one waited in oxpecta
tion of seeing something supernatural. This
waiting lasted for an hour, when it became
extremely evident that nothing unusual was
to occur The reporter and his friend
now became chief actors in the drama with
good success. Going into the lower hall the
reporter uttered "a weird, wild ory," or some.
thing as near it US he could produce, while
his friend lent helping voice Of the same
musical variety. A hurry of feet and cries OF
fright teld that tho cries had produced an eff
feet. Down tho stairs they came, tumbline
over one another until the ground was
reached, and no time was lost in getting into
the conveyances and driving of. The two
jokers then went up stairs and spent @
pleasant night. A box of good cigars and
trimmings helped to beguile the hours. The
watchers explored the house and, on going tc
the cellar, found what had probably
been taken in days gone by for d
spook. Curled up on shakedown was an
old colored man. Ho was not disturbed, and
fully satisfied that he was the only ghost tC
be had, the intruders left.
The party Of spook hunters were found
huddled together at the station. They
boaRded an early train and came home
The lady who dropped the lace kerchief in
her flight can recover it by applying at this
office.