The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-05
A TRUE GHOST STORY.

A House Haunted for Fifteen Years-Foot-
steps, Raps and the Trailing of a Dress.
New York Commercial Advertiser.
Ghostly rappings in a house have sent shivers
through the residents Of Mount Kisco recently,
who now court rest with the vague antlcpa'
tons of evil. Some of our morning contempt
raries seem much exercised thereat; but there is
a stranger appearance to be related OF family
who lead quiet existence on the other Slte OF
East river. On Brooklyn Heights stands three
story double house, in which have reposed the
home gods of New York dry goods merchant
for twenty years. His family consists of his
wife and four sons. So pleasant is the loca
ton and so luxurious are the surroundings,
that the father never a5andons his house, even
for short period. during the summer. Some
months ago. while he and his wife were chatting
in their room, they were interrupted by thee
heavy raps which seemed to come from the next
apartment, occupied by one of the sons. They
ceased chatting and sought sumber. The next
morning the mother at the breakfast table
gently child the lad for interrupting the midnight
conversation of his parents. The reply was
somewhat puzZing
'Why mother. L would never presume to do
such a thing. slept soundly through the night.
| heard no noise"
No clue could be obtained to the mystery.
The next night the rapping was repeated many
times, accompanied by the sound of footsteps
| and the swish Of dress that seemed to brush
| against the furniture and the walls SO accus-
toned, at last became the family to these spirit
| ual inconvenience that they paid no further at
| tention to them, other than TO joke about them
| when they We're repeated. But they had great
| trouble with their servants. The women were
awakened in the night by the curious noises,
and in the morning would give their mistress
warning with the explanations Your house is
| haunted, num-"
| The inhospitabe ghost treated guests in the
same way. One night young lady friend was
| given a room on the third floor. She was
awakened about midnight by the noise of
| Shn no a6 ipfN
the hall, and saw nothing. She retired, and a
| second time was awakened by noise of footsteps
in her room and the swish of q dress She told
her experience at breakfast, and was greeted by
the laughter Of the family. 1t was an old story
| The housewife careessly observed:
| why, we have been hearing these things for
years"
The young lady went home that day. A gen
tleman occupied the room few nights after
ward. He, too, was awakened by the rapping
| He opened the hall door, and heard footballs on
the stairways, and the trailing of heavy dress
| He looked over the balusrrades, but could see
no figure in the dim light of the hallway. Con-
| fdences were exchanged the next morning, and
every natural explanation was offered by the
guest for the occurrence, without beng either
satisfactory to himself or his hosts
Some time after this two gentlemen friends Of
the family occupied a room on the third floor for
the night. In spirit of charity the lady of the
| house conided to them the existence of the
spectre. With the expressed bravado of who's
afraid!' the friends retired to their room, ex-
tingushed the light and awaited developments,
In half an hour they heard three raps at the
| head of the bed, as loud able bodied man
could give them These were succeeded by three
raps at the foot. Leapng from their bed they
lighted lamp and began tour of inspec-
ton. They went down stairs and heard foot
steps and the sweeping of robe behind
them. They turned but could perceive
nothing. They reached the basement and stood
still. What was their dismay when the sound
of the footsteps and the trailing robes passed
slowly by them in the narrow hallway and died
away in the distance. They slept no more that
night.
The noises are continually occurring ard are
neither sharper or more distinct when guests are
| in the house. Everything has been done to I'M
ravel the mystery without avail. The building
is especially well arranged, so far plumbing
and other necessaries of good dwelling are con
| cerned. The family, since their experience of
| fifteen years with the demonstrative spook, have
| become case hardened. When they hear the
noise they simply turn over on the other side
and go to sleep.