Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-11

To the Editor of the EVENING STAR
In this city stands, in weird lone place an
old mansion called Glen Elvyn which is said
to be haunted. How many years this blot
has been upon it I know not; but strange
stories have been told by it's different occupants
o. hearing, in the night carriages drive around
the house. rafting as of harness i'm different
rooms. the ringing of all its bels-and they are
not few-and the appearing of lady in white
before the inmates, who have been startled out
OF sleep. and caused in their fright to seek rest
elsewhere.
This may seem an improbable story In this
age; but such is really said to- be the fact by for
mer tenants. known TO the writer of this article,
and il is thought that this old mansion-cOuld
its walls speak-might divuige startling stories
of crimes committed there in days gone by.
party of seven of Us, hearing that the house
was standing vacant, except for colored people
living in the back part, and possessed with a
desire for adventure, visited it one evening
not long since, anxious to see and learn what
could of its horrible secrets, one of our party
being also a very recently developed medium.
After going through the house, visiting its
many fine rooms, we selected the one having a
blood stain on the floor, about five feet in
length and three feet in width, and being sup
piled with chairs and a table seated ourselves,
placing the table over the blood stain. In the
dirk We waited developments, until one of the
ladies, after a short time, feeling a hand on her
back com PEELED to change her seat, and
was placed at the side of the medium. who q
little later on whispered that she felt strangely,
and not TO let her under any circumstances get
on the floor. The medium showed at last signs
of going into a trance, and with the deepest in
tereSt was her every movement watched, for
we then let little light into the room. She
commenced by struggling and exclaiming
"Lord Massa don't do that to Mandar' Unite
my feet, unite my feet,' and ''Oh, take that axe
away" She seemed to go through the whole
scene of the murder wringing her hands and
often exclaiming: Lord have mercyr' and
"Massa don't cut off Manda's headr' and SINH
lar expressions. At last her head sunk down
with a gurgling sound, as if it really had been
shoulder of the lady ut her side, who could dis
cover but a slight fiuttering pulse.
the medium sprang ND and asked what we were
all there for, We said we had come to help
her, so she could leave that place and be free TO
go TO a happier one.
II cannot go widou. my head" she ex-
claimed
Where is your heade' was asked.
and where is your body?'
''Fed to de dogs"
She thereupon seemed to see some one and
commenced trembling. and in great terror
sprang up and would have run from us had she
not with great effort been held and assured
that she was with friends who would not harm
her. She soon became calm, and commenced
praying and thanking God that she was going
out of that house with us; shook hands with
each. bidding us good-by, and was gone.
Tie medium was afterwards controlled fur
ther. and we learned this story:
Many years ago n Shareholder, tall, of good
figure, Iron-gray hair and heavy mOuStache
twhose name, though given, will withholdl,
had lived there. and one of his slaves, Amanda,
being very light-colored, of fine form and face,
was looked upon by her master with lust in his
eye and a determination to make her his mis-
tress. She was simple-hearted Christian, and
would not give way to his evil designs and pas
siOnS, whereupon he became enraged and COM
menced starving her, thinking thus to bring
her to consent. He finally gave her one week
In which to decide, at the expiration of which
time he visited her, and finding her still firm
In her resistance OF his evil intentions, threw
his brOad-brimmed hat tothe floor and stabbed
her. Seeing what he had done, and not wishing
TO leave anything behind to tell the story
against him, he thought best TO hide all traces
of his crime, bound her feet, cut off her head
with an axe. burned it, took the flesh from the
bones, led it to the dogs, and threw the bones in
canal which at that time was in existence
near the house. We also were told that this
poor soul would go out with US and never wan
der about there again. When this lady came
out Of her trance her feet were so twisted that
the two gentlemen of the party had to carry
her from the room, and she had difficulty in
walking.
We left the house feeling that this picture was
but one of many that might yet be revealed
there. The medium on reaching home and re-
moving her shoes and stockings found great
ridges around her ankles as if they had indeed
been tied.
As improbable as this may sound, it was wit
messed by those who can vOuch for its truth.
and 4, for one, was fully convinced for the first
time in my life Of the truth of the trance condi-
ton. AN EYE WITNESS.