Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-13

The Spectre OF Man who Committed
suicide-ItI{as "a Chat " ith Ia MiniSter.

suiciue-It Has n Chat with Niniater.
From the PA7lde,ldio Ne,os.
N1NCENNEs. IND, Sept. 0-For many
years the people OF johnson township,
Gibson county. Ind, have known OF the
existence OF great and impenetrable
mystery that surrounded the premises OF
Mount Tabor church, owned and con-
trolled by the German Evangelical Asso-
alton, a wealthy religious organization,
which has large congregation, at present
presided over by Hn intelligent minister,
the Bav. MIR. B0lander. He Is 81 years OF
age and married. They have five children,
I the eldest about S years OF age.
Dr. Bol8nder and wife are very devoted
~ their church and their children, and
live a retired lite at their country par
sOnage home west OF the church. Back
OF The premises are dense woods. Here
is "a large camp ground, now unused,
which In the past was the place of enoT-
nous religious gatherings. Between the
church and the woods is a large and
ancient graveyard. Some OF the graves
are nearly forty years Oid-5O Old that the
tombstOnes have decayed and crumbcd.
In the early days OF this evangelical
Association there belonged 10 IT a mem-
Der named Frederick Dickmeier, a young
man of good habits. Ten or twelve years
alter the organization OF the church, Mr.
Dickmeior, VINO was then about 50 years
OF age, became unsOund IA mind. la the
spring Of 1859 Dickmeier cut his throat
with a butcher knife and died in great
agony. a large funeral WAS held ana
the remains deposited iu The church Gem
otcry, which has been described,
HAUNTED CHURCH.
Ever since the death OF Young Dick
mreir the place and surroundings of this
church and parsonage have been
''aaunted." Very little was said about
the matter at first, as the ministers who
were troubled did not feel justified in com
planning. They feared ridjcule On the
part of their brethren. Probably DR.. Be-
lander has been annoyed by the unac-
countaDie noises about the premises more
than any other pastor who has ever re-
sided there.
els II true" was asked Of DR. Bolander,
"that these premises have been
'haunted|"
'Yes. it is true. do not like to talk
about it, because my neighbOrs do not
Ike II, but what / know / cannot deny. /
have studied over the matter "A good deal
but / cannot arrive at apprehension that
is satisfactory. We were greatly dis
turbed one morning shortly after daylight
by the sound OF footsteps on the
front porch. We waited for raDs.
Directly a loud rapping was heard
on the door. | got up and went
to the door and opened IL, but no
one was there. / went outside, but could
see not a soul. Considerably mystiied ]
returned to the house. After that we
often heard footsteps on the front porch,
and sometimes we would hear the key
turn in the lock. Then the front door
would swing wide open, but no one could
be seen. and we did not know what to
make Of il. Then, again, we would hear
loud rappngs on the outside and inside
0f the house, but every time we failed to
detect any one"
"Were you trightenedp
''Not very much. My wife and l are
not easily frightened at such things, but
it troubles us greatly on account of our
children. NV Oldest boy, a little fellow.
came TO me one day and said: Papa, how
is it when people knock at our door no.
body ia there, and when people knock at
other houses somebody is always there
when they open the dOOrpv
A SKINNY SPECTRE.
One night DR.. Bolander was indisposed
and could not sleep. Finally he resolved
to get up and 90 out into the open air and
refresh himself. He passed into the
churchvard and seated himself upon a
grave, and leaned his shoulder against a
tombstone. Suddenly he heard a soft.
sweet sound as if the rustling of the leaves
IN the breeze made the melody. In a few
moments back to his ears came the music,
this time more distinct than before. and
the pastor arose from his place and looked
out into the moonlight to see what il
was that had aroused him from
his reverie. He was startled to perceive a
figure dimly outlined in the distance. The
figure was gradually moving toward him
and reckoning him to approach. InvOl-
unfairly the pastor moved toward the OBJ
iect, and as he drew near 10 10 he observed
that it was the figure OF a man. Amidst
the shadows of the gravestones moved
the spectre-Of medium size, with face
as white as a shroud, eyes sunken, cheeks
raw-bOned and hollow, fingers long and
bony, breast bare and throat red as blood
Not a sound other than that Of the melo.
diOus strain had been heard. The spectre
moved forward a few steps and then re-
manned still. The pastor addressed the
spectre.
''ln whose name may address youp'
''ln the name Of the Lord?
Gin the name OF the Lord, what request
would you make"
! The spectre raised his right arm slowly,
/ and, with his finger pointed 10 a tomb
stone before them which was yellow with
age, said;
THAT inscription should be erasedY
The mysterious visitor spoke in tone
of command. The pastor could not
reply. He was too nervous and excited
The spectre was very slow and methods
cal in its movements, and, after repeatinl
his command to the pastor. turned ant
walked slowly away toward the farthes
end Of the churchyard and disappeared al
IL in mist. The pastor listened TO catcl
some sound. The footsteps Of the hgur,
as it moved slowly over the grass between
the t0mbstones, could not be heard, hut az
IL disappeared a sound rs sweet as thu
PARKWAY chanting OF an angel band wal
waited back 10 the pastors ears.
Lovers in Youth Married IN Old Age
BALTIMORE, Sept. ia wedding tool
place in this city on Tuesday night whicl
was not made public until to-day. Tn,
groom was the Rev. Thomas Myers, o
! WOOdberry Methodist Episcopal Church
age 80, and the bride Mrs Elyna NJ. Hall
age %. The wedding took place at the
house of Mrs. Charles +. Cleveland, the