Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-03
GHOSTS IN CONNECTICUT.
Houses on Long Island Sound said to BE-
Haunted.

Houses OH Long Island Sound said to be
Haunted.
A New Haven special says "There
is as much superstition in New England
to-day as there was in those old times
when they slashed Quakers and built
bonfires for witches" 1t was New
York man who gave expression to this
rather startling statement. He has
been summering in Connecticut, and ne
AYERS that his talk about native super
stition is founded on close observation.
Perhaps it is; anyhow he RECALLED the
Times's correspondent with some en-
pertaining incidents which he claims
establish the truth Of his somewhat
astonishing theories.
Old Stratford, the whitewashed town
between this place and Bridgeport,
made famous by mysterious rap
pings" many years ago, and more re-
Gently celebrated as the scene of poor
Rose Clark Ambler's strange murder,
is much concerned over a house which
the almost universal verdict pronounces
haunted.' The family of Elihu Os-
born live in this house, and ghosts
have been clambering through it lately
in a wonderfully promiscuous fashion.
Two or three families were compelled
to yacate the premises before the Os-
borns. proud and skeptical, took posses
sion ofthem. Now the 0sborns are hunt
ing for a new home. Children Of the
family have been awakened at midnight
by visitors which persisted in shaking
them out of bed; Mrs. Osborn has
been confronted with ghostly specta-
cles, and through the halls and vacant
rooms strange footsteps are frequently
heard when all the family are trying to
sleep-sounds loud enough to arouse
everv member Of the household. Then
the manifestations sometimes change
to meanings and groanings sufli-
GENTLY vehement and pitiful to distract
all who hear them. Once upon a
time. perhaps a dozen years ago, Jona-
than Riggs lived in this house, and, as
the local gossips assert, Riggs caused
the death of his wife by his brutal
conduct and then swallowed poison to
end his own life. The anniversary Of
the murderous month in the Riggs
family has arrived, and the manifesto
tons are so frequent and so lively that
1.-The like has never been seen before"
as is affirmed by veteran Stratford
citizen. There is no shadow of doubt
in Stratford that the spirits OF the
Riggses are spryly cavorting around
their former abode.
Over at the Thimble Islands, of
Stony Creek, is an acre or two Of soil
piled high on lot of rocks. The ma
tives call it Frisbre Island. Not more
than hundred yards off shore it con-
tains big bleak-looking house, which
was built about twenty years ago to
serve as summer hotel when Con
necticut capitalists were deep in schemes
to tempt New Workers to this part o.
the Sound shore to spend their sum
mers. New Workers declined to b.
tempted, and the old house is rapidly
approaching decay. 1t has recently as
sumed peculiar interest for the resi-
dents Of Stony Creek. Midnight light
have suddenly appeared in all its win
dows at frequent intervals, fitfully flash
|, ing up and down like the blaze in tn
Long Island lighthouses. Ghosts Thi
is the universal verdict. Nobody dis
putes it. Once or twice hardy crev
, Of local sailors have volunteered to 6
out and investigate the mystery, bu
when the time for the test has arrive
there somehow have always been res
sons for postponing the excursion
Cynical people profess to believe tina
, practical jokers are at the root Of tn
manifestations, but such profane vie'
| is not widely entertained among tn
good people whs have their homes
: Stony Creek.
, Over near Middletown is farme
, named Edgar G. Stokes, gentlema
! who is said to have graduated wit
! honor in New England college MOI
(. than quarter Of century ago. u
! enjoys, perhaps, the most notable bit I
superstition to be found anywhere