Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
4 GHOST STORY.
An Army officers Adventure with a
SpOOk.
Chicago Tribune.


Chicago Tribune.
Sitting one evening with young
officer who has already made himself
distinguished for cool courage and .
love of adventure, and whom his
brother soldiers consider the best
pistol shot in the army, the converse
ton happened to turn upon the al
most universal belief in the supernat-
ural
We discussed the genii of the tales
of the East, the witches and ghosts
so generally accepted a century or
two ago, and the spiritualists of to-day
Suddenly e. turned to me and said /:
perhaps you may be surprised if
tell you a true ghost story, ore can
vouch for mysef?" Knowing him to
be a confirmed skeptic upon al super
natural subjects, smilingly assent~
ed.
'You need not smile, he continued
s'my experience was enough TO shake
the nerves of the bravest man llviDg
and to have rendered a tiniG one
mad.
''Some six or seven years ago, short
" after graduating from the military
Academy at West Point, [ was sent
with my command, part of 8 company
of heavy artillery, TO take possession
of the little fort on Bedloe's Island,
you will remember, on which Barthol-
dis Statue Of Liberty is now placed.
The place had long been deserted,
had acquired an evil name, was
known to be the resort of thieves and
smuggIers, and the New York police
said was the headquarters Of q desper-
ate gang of river pirates, 1t was, in~
deed, to break up this nest of scound-
rels who had found that, being Unit
ed States property, the old fort was
never visited by the police, that I
was sent to take possession of the is
land.
1T was gray, raw day In Novem-
Der; rain had fallen early IN the af>
ternoon, and, when the boats contain
ing nv little command had reached
our destination, cold fog hung over
the harbor and the rising wind howl
ed about the old barracks, adding to
the gloom and increasing the dreary
desolation Of the mildeWed old walls
1t was already three o'clock and day
light beginning to fade, so made the
necessary preparations for the night
as rapidly as possible. Inside the tiny
fort there was house, but in so di>
lapitated a state that but one room
a large one, which had probably once
served as g mess room-was habitable,
and this the bare floor, broken ceiling,
and walls from which the paper hung
IN strips made uninvitiEg enough
In this, however, being the best, my
trunk was placed, a stove put up,
which was soon roaring In a cheerful
way, lamp lighted, a bed, bedding,
q table and two chairs brought in, and
I started on a tour Of inspection. [
had told my Sergeant to prepare the
quarters for the men in a long, low
building outside the fort which seem>
ed in fairly good condition. Soldiers
are rapid because they are systematic
workers, and before nightfalI all were
made comfortable, and q supper serv-
ed to them which did credit to the
company's cooks. ] visited and in
spected every part of the island-a
mere speck in the harbor, as you know
looked into the old classmates, went
through the rainous old house from
cellar to attick, examined bolts and
doors, then, having given orders for
the night, closed the great gates Lead
ing into the fort and retired to my
quarters.
4 certainly am not either timid
or an imaginative man, but there was
something to the last degree depress>
ing IN the place that night. The wind,
which had driven away the fog, howl
ed and moaned IN the deserted place
the rats trooped up and down within
the partition walls and there rose &
strange earthly smell, which reminded
me, | scarcely know why, OF new
made graves. Now and then some
sea- birds scream could be head, or
the distant roar of the fog~horn Of
some passing ship was added TO the
signing and grooming of the wind. /
sat down and read the one Or two
newspapers I chanched to have IN my
pocket. wrote out few memoranda,
then opened my trunk, lifted out the
tray, which [ placed upon the little
table, put number OF articles Of daily
use on shelf, and then, although II
was still early, not mere than ten, |
believe, | made my toilet for the
night. turned out the lamp. and jump
ed into bed. | had placed my pistol,
self-cocking Colt of the largest size,
under my pillow, but no sooner was
the lamp oUt and all was dark than
the tales told by the New York police
came forcibly to my mind, and al
most regretted not having posted q
sentinel inside the little fort. Then |
felt like laughing at myself for such
absurd apprehensions. Still | could
not sleep. Half dozen times | was
just doing off when rat went
skurrying along or the wild scream