The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-07-21

Toned apartments to be met with i'm all
country houses. SO. they do not reGli re
any extended description here. w ell.
| was just dropping into doze. when
/ heard noise which filled nc with
amazement 1t came from tho stairs
lead ng down into the cellar. aud us I
listened in momentary astonishment.
heard the sound plan. 1t WAS the
most peculiar sound ever heard. 1t
was as it somebody were walking back
ward down the stairs dragging some
thing after m VIII CHI bumped at every
step. Thinking it was some tramp who
had gained access to the cellar. l got
up and going out into the entry pulled
the cellar door open, and in sharp
tones asked who was there. No an.
swer was returned to my question. even
when / repeated it. nor could l see
anything in the shape of man or ami
nal. Yet the strange noise kept on
while stood there; bump. bump, bump.
Down the stairs, just as il yea dragged
q heavy object, such as sack of pota-
toes down the stair. When it had APP
parently reached the foot of the stairs,
the noise eliminated in sound like
that of a heavy blow. followed by a
smothered shrek. and all was still.
Going back TO the bedroom l found
my wife awake. she having been rous-
ed from sleep by the strange sound as
l was. and telling her of the mysteri-
GUS occurrences ON the cellar stairs, we
talked it over for while. wondering
what had caused it. While we were
conversing. my two children. boy
and girl. aged respectively twelve and
fifteen years, who slept in rooms over
head. came running down stairs, say
ing that woman was crying up in
their rooms. and sure enough we heard
the sonnd of crying overhead. Hasti-
ly lighting a lamp, I went upstairs
and searched about but though hunt
en- everywhere 1 could not find trace
of anything, man or beast. All the
|
the crying noise continued. 1t Was q
strange, sobbing sound. just like a
woman crying. 1 thought It was a cat.
but it could not have been caused by
one, for not trace of one could be
seen, nor was there any way IN which
a cat could gain access to the rooms.
the windows being tightly locked and
suffered I searched both rooms
thoroughly, but l was compelled at
length to give up the search baffled.
Suddenly, as it had commenced, the
strange sound ceased. and after waiting
for few moments for it to begin again.
l went down stairs. utterly mystified.
found all quiet below, although my
wife and children were much frighten-
ed, and we stayed awake an hour or
two awaiting further Developments.
Nothing occurred, however, and we
went to bed again, the children occupy
ing temporary beds in our room. rs
they We're afraid to 60 up stairs again.
At breakfast next morning my wife
and talked the subject of the queer
noises over. Naturally we were great,
ly puzzled by them, and did not know
what cause to ascribe them to. for we
never dreamed that the sounds were
caused by other than an earthly
agency. Still, we did not attach any
Importance 10 the matter, as we were
plain, practical people without parti-
Gle of superstition in our natures, so
concluding that the strange noises
were mere temporary disturbances.
caused no boubt by rats or cats, and
that they would disappear finally, we
dismissed the subject from our minds,
and soon other matters engrossed our
attention.
When bedtime came we retired as
usual, having previously locked ever
door and seen to every fastening. ]
had not the slightest thought that the
strange noses would disturb us again.
but l was disagreeably m stakcn.
Scarcely had we laid down. when, as
before. the humping sound commenced
on the cellar stairs. There it was.
clearly defined. Bump. bump. bump
down the stairs as before winding up
when the invisible dsturbers had ar
rived at the bottom. with the sound of
a dull. heavy blow and then a stiaed
scream.
Then happened what did not happen
on the first night Just as the scream
died away on the cellar stairs. the
door, which I have men toned rs
standing in the entry leading down into
the cellar. flew violently open, although
I could have sworn l had fastened it
securely five minutes before. knew
by the sound the door made that some
thing had banged it open, although !
could not see, and as / hurriedls
spraug out of bed, lit 3 lamp and IN
vestigated. l found that my surmise
was correct. There was the door.
which was almost certain l had Sc
curely locked. wide open. Going down
stairs, l explored the cellar thorough
ly, bus could see or hear nothing. not
even mouse.
Going up stairs again l fastened the
cellar door and went into the bed
room. where found the children, hav-
ing ran down a second time from their
bedrooms overhead, disturbed and
frightened by the crying sounds. which.
as before, had followed the humping
noise on the cellar stairs. Taking the
lamp with me hurried up-sta RS and
searched again in every direction for
the source of the mysterious sounds.
but as before was at length forced TO
give up, completely non-plussed by the
mysterious affair. could discover
nothing to throw any light on the mat
ter. After listening TO the strange
noise, which was just like the sound of
woman crying and sobbng. until it