Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-10-04
THE CAPITOL DOME.

THE CAPITOL DOME.
Freaks Of sound That scare MANY Visit
ors to Washington.
a reporter saw fat colored woman
;he other day standing in the passage
about q third of the way up the dome.
She was dressed gorgeously IN purple
bombazine, and carried handbag and
a cotton umbrella. She weighed about
$50 pounds.
Laws, chile, she said in q fright
ened whisper, 81 heahs voices. Dis
buiidin' is 'jes' full of voices. Dey's
ebrywhar bout. An them chilluns
done gone up an left me, and yer Is.
Mum, / dom much like dem voices!
Use afeard Til nebber git out OBJ dis. ?
She was trying to be calm with q great
effort
ssDese voices are great source of
fear and superstition to simple-minded
visitors. Country colored people par
ticularly are frightened at the voices
they hear among the clustering col
umns and arched passages. Some
times the voices come up from under
the feet, sometimes from the, solid
stone arches overhead. Again they
sound from among the shadows in a
corner where nobody is. They are heard
in the crypt, still more mysteriously
In the old hall, where there are plenty
of people stirring around in flood of
sunlight, and more strangely still in
the great dome, from whose height
men have committed suicide. The
building Is always full OF echoes.
desc voices are cherry whar." With
these many of the employees Of the
Capitol and others fond of practical
joking play upon the nerves of the
colored people. Some
times the jokes are played on people
who are not superstitious. The saucer
like canopy, upon which the great al
legory roofing the rotunda is painted
acts as sound board, and will convey
the least whisper with perfect distinct
ness from any place in the upper gal
lery to the point opposite.
When sentimental couples get close
together in this circular gallery and
lean over the rail, watching the people
moving about on the floor of the rotun-
da below, and whisper gentle things to
each other, meant for no other ears
but their own, they are often over
heard by innocent young men who
happen to be lolling on the opposite
side of the gallery, as far away as
possible. The young couple may
be startled by some most in
opportune remark sounded in
their ears when no one is near them.
At most tender moment, an IT.
reverent or jocular remark is startling
to their sense of security. When
parties of tourists climb up to the
dome they are often astonished to be
addressed by name in the most familiar
way by a voice from one of the al
legorical terrors painted on the canopy
above. Sometimes they are invited to
come up and take lunch. A party of
Ohio people were in the gallery talk
ing to each other about their home
matters. A young man on the other
side of the gallery listened until he
got the names of several of the party.
Then he called out: "Is that you, Mr..
Blank? Why, how do you do? Come
up here; we have lunch here for Ohio
folks" The voice apparently came
the canopy, from some cham
Der still higher up. They were not
that the Governments should
make special provision for the enter
tainment of Ohio folks and they
promptly accepted the invitation. The
whole party trudged up the very steep
and dangerous fight of stairs lead
ing up to the worm-light, at the
head of which they were met
with a notice: Visitors not
permitted to go higher" And there
was no lunch anywhere in sight.
Some of the ladies were anxious to get |
down as soon as possible.
Two colored men leaned over the rail
under the allegory and talked about
Lynchburg. whispering mysteriously |
about things strictly private to them
selves. A young man lolled against |
Ine rail- JuSt oppoSlto tHem-tOo Idr
away to hear. They did not mind him.
Directly voice came out of one of the !
painted figures over their heads, warm |
.ng them to go back to Lynchhurg, |
surrender themselves, and repent of |
heir wrong-doing.
WAS it murder?" the voice inquired. |
ssDe good Lo'dr' cried the two trem-
bling men as they made break for the
stairs.
Another very old ex-slave was ac-
FUSED by voice that appeared to come /
rom the mouth of the figure supposed |
20 look like JEFF Davis of being "a run
away niger" a1H threatened with the
or return to slavery.
These things surround the dome with /
mystery, but such would not be per-
nitted if the perpetrators could be
taught at it Washington Star.
EARLIER FIREARMS.
3evolvors That Were Used Centuries Be-
VII NJ N