Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-09
A HAUNTED HOUSE.
It's Inmates Frightened by the ReprehensibIe
Conduct of Bewitched Goblet

It's inmates Frightened by the ReprehensibIe
Conduct ola Bewitched Goblet.
This city was actually axcited last NIGHT
over haunted house No. $40 First avenue
alongside the Long Branch railroad
writes an Elizibethport correspondent of
The New York World. The place was
visited by reporter and found to be full
OF excited women, who seemed to be in
the greatest terror. To say the inhabitants
are scared would but feebly express it.
they tell an almost incredible story of
sights and sounds within the past few
weeks The first floor is occupied by Mr..
decker, blind cripple, who lost his arm
Dy an explosion and his eyesight at the
rourtn OF July celebration years ago.
ms wife stated that they moved into the
oio mouse three months ago. During the
pass Hnonth they heard knockings at the
Itolit ana PACK doors between the hours
Vi nllanlght and l o'clock. Mrs. Decker
Salu she sat up two nights to watch wheth-
q any person was trying to get in. The
shocking continued, although no one was
visible, and bright moon was shining
Wednesday night she thought the oarret
would be torn down by the noise. She
dreamed three nights in succession that
a box of gold was hidden in the garnet
impressed with this, she and the children.
together with Mrs. Gerringe, who lived mn
stairs, went up into the attic Monday and
pulled board out of the floor near the
chimney. Instantly a big yellow cat
jumped out.
One of the boys put his hand in the
mole and pulled out package of letters.
They were addressed to "Mollie England"
and told her to be of good cheer; that she
was III gloOmier place before, and one
of the notes said $50 was in the Adams
express office awaiting her orders The
date on the letters was 1870 and 1873.
They were addressed to No. 345 Fifth
avenue and some to No. 32S Livingston
street. box was also found in the hole
containing withered wreath, such as is
placed on the coffin of dead person. A
quaint goblet of brown-gIass was also
round containing an amethyst stone.
Ihe goblet was placed on the mantel, and
Wednesday night, so the family assert,
1t flew across the room just glazing Mrs.
Decker's head, and struck the door, leav-
ing two big dents, which are. plainly
visible.
The family at this became so terrified
that they put the goblet outside the
house on porch over the door. When
the glass struck the door and fell on the
floor 1t danced around the room. Mr..
Gerringe, who had just come home from
work, was called downstairs by the
frightened Deckors. He told the repor-
ter he picked the glass up when it shook
his hand as if he had hold of a galvanic
battery. He ran and put it outside the
house. In the goblet was card bearing
the inscription, Behold, we stand at the
door and knock"
Yesterday morning the fagman at the
Long Branch station, when he heard the
remarkable tale about the goblet, laughed,
and said he would like to look at that
glass. He walked over to the house and
was in the act of reaching his hand to take
1t down from the porch, when it fell be-
fore he touched it, with a crash, and broke
In pieces. He was so startled that he ran
across the track and would not again ap-
prOach the house. The bundle of letters
was thrust into the stove by Mrs. Decker
as was also the box containing the
wreath.
Mrs. Decker and the other inmates as
sert that music is heard at midnight play
ing on the front and back stoops, the
sounds being similar to those produced
by harp and violin. At midnight in the
upper room the sounds are the same as
if ball was being batted around or ten
pins being rolled across the floor. Shouts
of laughter are also heard, but diligent
search has revealed nothing.
1t is said that years ago strange young
woman was confined IN the house and
died there. A number of the children of
the tenants are sick, and they ascribe
their illness to the haunted house. Mrs.
Decker says the cat which flew out of the
hole in the attic tugsed viciously at her
hair, and then disappeared. Her story
is corroborated by all the other ten
ants.
Last night the house was surrounded
by gaping crowd, while inside both
families were huddled together in the
room downstairs. Mrs. Decker says
they have not slept any since Monday
night, and that she is going to move i'm
Mrs. Gerringe also says she
has been looking for rooms, and that she
would not sleep upstairs again for
fortune.