Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-09-24
IrOntOn's Ghost Story.

"There are more things in Heaven and
earth, Horatio, than are dreamed of in thy
philosophy"
Ironton possesses that marvel Of the 10Th
century, haunted house. Gentle and I'M
gentle readers, do not smile scornfully at this
assertion,s but read the above quotation,
pause and reflect. 1t does not require the
blear-eyed gaze of Tam O'Shanter, or cen
Alloway's auld haunted kirk to start spirit,
and convince us that things not OF flesh and
blood exist. After hearing of certain vista
atoms that have taken place here in lronton
in the last three months, we are satisfied the
readers of this paper will consider well be-
fore sending in their verdicts.
The house referred to belongs to lady
now residing in Illinois, ard is at present
occupied by a railroad man and wife. and
one boarder. We do not give the names,
because the parties interested are not anxi-
Gus for newspaper notoriety; but they will
doubtless be recognized by the residents OF
our city. The night of the 18th OF July, was
a clear, starlight, beautiful night-still and
quiet-only the murmur of the zephyr to
break the brooding silence. We fair mortals
would not consider it the sort OF night that
saudi Mickey Ben" would select in which to
play his pranks-but mortals are ever poor
judges.
On that night, about one O'Clock in the
morning, while all IrOnton was at rest, and
the inmates of this particular house were
wrapped in slumber, an alarm was given at
the outer door of said dwelling, consisting Of
three or four district knocks, as with the
Tod fhn Ioh y
arose and wished to know who knocked! NO
answer. Again came the raps, when she
went to the door, opened it, and found-no
one. Now this was strange, indeed, and,
while bordering oyer it, the rapping COM
menced on the door at the rear OF the. house.
To hurry thlther took but moment, ana
when the door was thrown open-no one!
The boarder now reached the scene of action,
armed with a good-sized pistol, intending to
give hearty welcome to the intruder. The
rapping now became general. First on front
door, then on door at the rear of the house,
and finally on the inner doors and castings.
The boarder informs us that by this time MS
sensations were decidedly queer. He sta
toned himself at window near the front
door, revolver, in hand, with the determine
ton to wait for the party who was executing
this "racket" at the dead hours OF night
and, if found, to lay tribute OF affection at
his feet-or near his feet-was not particular
about the trifie location. Soon the rapping
was resumed lone, two, three times-clear
and distinct as a rap can be made by bare
knuckles. The boarder gazed forth-dark-
ness then, and nothing more! He now sta
| toned himself so that his eyes could rest
upon the porch just without the door, to wait
for the knock. Again came the knocks,iouo-
er and more distinct than before, and no one
in flesh and blood to give them! This was
too much for mortal man to endure. He re-
treated in good order to the secret recesses
of his own room-not in fear, but because
he disliked to encourage such entertainments
with his presence. The rapping was kept
I'D till morning. No more was heard from
the unearthly visitant until the 18th of Au-
gust, when the same formula was repeated,
and again on Sept. 18th. On the night OF
the 18th of every month this "uncanny" yis-
itor comes with his weird, unearthly din.
Now, how to account for it, is the next
thing in order. We believe we can give
good reason for it. The old wing to this
house was built by one John Stanger, before
the war. Shortly after its completion, Stan
ger went to Fredericktown to work-being a
plasterer-but soon came home, sickened,
and died very suddenly. This was late in
| the fall, and on the 18th of the month. Since
that time he comes regularly the 18th of
each month, to view his mortal habitation,
| and make the "grand rounds" If he finds
the doors unlocked, he enters leaving them
open. If the doors are found locked, he
knocks for admission. This is our eXplana-
tion Of this matter. If any of the readers of
this paper have a better one, send it in, and
| it will be duly considered.