The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1885-11-26

s35tituk Vhe ~s&sssk 49, s~-s
yvhs had arssdy nAds hiuseli dsstsa'
xui ia Tor Idol counss and isve os a.
vepsuse. and whom bis brother soldisrs
considered the best pistol shot In the
.rmy. shs eoIvorsation happened 70 turn
spon tho almost universal belief = sns
supernatural.
We discussed the genii Of The tales q
the East, the witches and ghosts 90 gen
orally accepted years ago, and the spirit
usliss oi today. Suddsnly 7. turned 70
me and said
..Perhsps you may be surprised II ! tell
you . true shost story; one can vouch
Tor myself"
knowing him to he . confirmed skeptic
upon all supernatural subjects. ! smil'
insly assen.ed.
| .You need not smile" he continued.
any experience was enough 10 shake the
nerves oi ~ hraSsst nan living. and 70
have rendered tin.id one mad.
Some SIX or seven years ago. shortly
after graduating from the military academy
Il West Point, was sent with my com
mand, part Of company Of artillery. 70
take possession Of . little fort on Bedloe's
island. in the harbor Of New York; the
island. you will remember, on which Bar
Itholdi's statue Of Liberty is to be placed
The place had been long deserted. had
acquired 40 evil name was known TO be
/ the resort OF thieves and smugglers, and,
the New York police said. was the head
quarters OF gang Of river .pirstes. II
was, indeed, to break up this nest OF scoun-
drels. who had found that. being United
States property, the old fort was never
visited by the police. that was TO take
possession OF the island.
1t was . gray, raw day in November
rain had fallen early in the afternoon, and
when the boats containing my little com
mand reached our destination, cold ioG
hnng over the harbor and the rising winc
bowled about the old barrack, adding v
the gloom and increasing the dreary desc
lation OF the mildewed old walls. IT wa
already 8 o'clock and the daylight begin
ming TO fade, so made the necessary pre-
parations for the night as rapidly as posi-
BILE. Inside the tiny fort there was
house, but in so dilapidated state tba
but one room--a large one, which ha'
!, probably once served as mess room
was habitable. and this the bare fool
OF broken ceiling, and walls from which tn
l, paper hung in ragged strips made Il unlr
% yitinQ enough. 10 this, however, beln
the best, my trunk was placed. stove pr
up, which was soon roaring 10 cheeris
way, u lamp lighted, bed, bedding,
table and two chairs brought in. and
started on tour Of inspection. na
told nv sergeant to prepare the quarte
for the men in long. low building ou
l side the fort, which seemed in fairly goe
= condition. Soldiers are rapid. bseau
systematic workers, and before nightf'
NY all we're made comfortable, and supp
served 10 them which did credit to u
company's cook. visited and inspect
!. every part Of the islaud--a mere speck
- the harbor, as You know--looked into '
a. old easements, went through the rnino
old house from cellar to attic. examin
bolts and doors, then, having given otd'
for the night, closed the great gate leadi
into the fort and retired to my quarters
certainly am not either timid or
imaginative man, but there was somethl
rss to the last degree depressing in the pl'
that night. The wind which had dri'
,k away the fog. howled and mourned in
,sry deserted place; the rats trooped up
'" down within the partition walls, and th
rose strange, earthly smell which
minded me, I scarce know why, OF
~ ~ made graves. Now and then semeseaol'
" scream could be heard, or the distant
Of the fog-horn Of some passing ship
added TO the signing and groaning Of
. wind, l sat down and read one or
, Newspapers chanced to have 10 my pc
Il et. wrote out few memorands, then OF
Il ened my trunk, lifted out the tray wi
Il | placed upon the tatle, put numbe
Il articles upon shelf. and then. altho
4 it was still early. not more than III, l
4 lieye. made my toilet for the pisht, =
j ed out the lamp, aud jumped into bed
i had placed my pistol. self cooking
i OF the largest size, under my pillow,
j no sooner was the lamp out and all
~ dark than the tales told by the New
I. police came forcibly TO my mind, q
almos. regretted not having posted
!. mel inside the fort Then ielt
!. ,.a.,. .,g at myself for such absurd
z nrsseo.io Us. Sill could not sleel
-. m, ,ozing Of when arat skur'
Z. Wild scream Of some pa
: =. snl, won ID rouse me with eta
!. ,o.. and fire., n another quarter DO
q 4, ~, .,.en came; calm, pea
drcamless sleep. NJ" "'e ~.
4 no idea, perhaps '0r an lous' pernal
y M. t,a, thin my very roc
n -n,.h Ih.a seem : very window b
!" eyery door bclted an locked. there
4 . loug. low, moaning cry. eu "os
q shrek 30 terrible, so rss'ly' "
- - no, ashamed to say that. - rose
:, bed, my heart seemed Q stop Tor
!. ment and my hair rose. stihfning 0
81 bead.
20. II vss but for nome nj A faint
"a from the waning moon came 10 thl
tho shutters. and Is rose, there
r. across the room > lonts white q
-- whatg sav IL start from the hoo
-. srov 10 mans size. or more, and
I'LL e.z>d heard that dresAfuf shriek.
AL -. a