The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1886-12-05
Dying AMONG HER CATS.
Il POSSIBLE FORTUNE HIDDEN ON
THE HARRISON ESTATE.

The Singular Story of the Misery Old
Creature who Died Last Week i'm
Christ Notwithstanding Her Gold
by Candle Light, and Haunted by the
Gamfns as a Witch.
The death Of old Mrs Martha Clark at
Christ Hospital, last Wednesday, uncovsrg
peculiarly interesting story. she had
lived for years in the old brick barracks on
the old Harrison Homestead at the Palisads
and Newark avenue summit of Hudson
City Heights. For years the place had
been untenanted, and the building was re-
garded by the residents in the neighbor-
hood as rendezvous for the spooks. Wo-
men hurried past i. after night, and m an
pulled their hats down over their ewes when
they neared it. The suspicions with which
it was regarded were strengthened when
late ole night, years ago, strange light
beamed from one of the upper windows.
The ghosts had never before manifested
themselves, and it seemed now as though
they were growing bold. party of van
turesome fellows organized an exploring
expedition, and one of them climbed IN
the waste water pipe that led from the
roof. When he returned to his compan-
ions on the ground below, he reported that
he had seen the strangest little creature.
bundled up in rags, sitting in the middle Of
the floor, and by the light of a candle
counting over pile of glittering
treasures. No sign CT life was seen
afterwards about the house, and the
story went the rounds that the o.
parted spirits of one of the old time home
steaders had come back to look after her
hidden wealth. But one daytime valiant ex-
plorer was startled at meeting on the street
the strange little apparition he had seen
through the window. Then it was learned
that miserly 0 d witch, with sharp chin
and shriyeled face, and honey hands, had
some how gained access to the abandoned
house, and made her home with the
ghosts. No one yentured to disturb her.
and she lived there in ragged solitude year
in and year out, till of q sudden she disap-
peared from view. Some one reported that
she had probably died with her gold. and
DR.. Golf, the house surgeon of Christ
Hospital, visited the place. An army of
cats scampered into one of the upper
rooms as he entered, and ranged them
selves around the PROSTATE form of the Old
woman There were at least aAiczen of
them-her companions and friends. She
lay sick-almost dYiDg-among them, with
an old broken box for a pillow. The
stencil of the place was sitting, and the
doctor hesitated to draw long breath.
81 tried to persuade her to go the hospi-
tai for care" SAID the doctor to a SUNDAY
MORNING NEWS reporter. 'tShe would not
so, she said, without her pets. I had to
leave without moving her determination.
but some humane neighbors interesded
with her and finally she was hrouOht hare
At the hospital she kept continually call
ing for her pets. and often entreated me
to see after them. She often accused nae
of plotting to take her money from her.
and that led me to think that she had
money hidden somewhere. / made in
qUiries, and learned that she was wealthy.
l often questioned her. but all I could
learn was that she has relatives 10 Chicago
somewhere. They are also v,rj wealthy,
and would like to know where they ara.a
1t is popularity believed that she left a
quantity of hidden wealth on the II 4rrison
estate.
Do not forget that besiaa listing va1r