The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-07-27
QUEER DOINGS IN NO. IA.


ports to-day, in case she was not knocked
to pieces last winter for firewood, an old
barge which was formerly sidewheel
steamer plying the blue waters, and
known as Il fayorite passenger steamer.
She was at the zenith of her popularity
in 1870. In June of that year, on her
third or fourth trip, there was developed
a mystery which was the beginning OF
her ruin. The particulars have several
times Scen referred to by the press, but
vnat is about to be related here comes dl-
rect from her then captain, who should,
above ali others, be well posted in all the
details. -
The steamer left one of her terminal
ports about 10 O'Clock at night On this
particular night to which we refer she
had about thirty passengers, most of
whom had retired to their berths before
she left port.
She was only about ten miles ont when
the occupant Of stateroom No. Il, which
contained only one berth, entered the
cabin half dressed and in a very angry
temper, and sent chambermaids Tor the
captain
''See here, sirr' he said TO that official
when he responded TO the call, Il can
take joke rs well as the next man, but
this Is carrying the thing too far"
=
joking with youf" asked the officer.
That's what want to know. was
scarcely in bed before some one entered
the room. Ny coat and vest were pulled
off the hooks to the floor, chair upset,
and the pillow was pulled from under nay
head"
at can't be, replied the captain.
'But I tell you it was" he persisted.
''Do look or act like lunatic? Am
drunk? Would leave my room If there
was nothing wrongr"
The captain entered the stateroom with
him and lighted the lamp. The pillow
was on the floor and the chair upset.
There was 10 entrance to this room eX-
tept from the main cabin. There was no
communication with other staterooms.
1t was absolutely impossible that any liv-
Ing person could have entered it after the
door was locked. He told the occupant
so, and by and by the man admitted that
perhaps be had been dreaming.
He locked his door and returned to bed,
but in the course OF half an hour he
bounded ont into the cabin again. This
time lie WAS greatly agitated. He de-
clarcd that his throat had been clutched
by r hand as cold as ice, and as the cap
tain examined it he found finger marks
TO prove the mans assertions. {
} Ii Was no use to argue-he would not
20 back. There were other UnOccGpied
staterComs, and he was changed.
81 believed, - said the captain, that he
was in tine first place overtired. He had
not made a steamboat trip for several
years, aud the motion of the boat was
new 20 him. Added 10 this, suspected
him OF being a morphine eater who was
ont Of his stimulant, or seeking 10 break
OFF tEl habit. Indeed, I could find
dozen cNcUS $ for his conduct. I had no
more idea that anything was wrong with
No. Il than l have that shall see the cid
boat sailing her route again"
The passenger left the boat next day
without referring to the troubles of the
night. At O'Clock of the second night
the steamer started on her return Tip.
No. IA was occupied by a lady.
The captain did not know this, as he
had not given the room the slightest
thought since changing the man the night
before. At about half-past 10 o'clock,
while yet a few passengers remained up,
he was sent for by the lady. He found
her on a sofa in the cabin, agitated and
indignant.
'.Sir," she began, "some scoundreI on
the boat entered my room just as l was
falling asleepr'
He asked If her door was locked, and
she was certain that such was the case.
A woman who sat on a sofa opposite the
door, intending 30 leave the boat at IL
o'clock, asserted that no person had been
near the door of No. Il for half an hour
previous. The captain then entered the
room and showed the lady that there
was no other entrance. 1t was not pos
sible that any one could have got il
there.
In reply she said that a hand had passed
L
she had certainly felt the presence Of some
one. She could not be convinced to the
contrary, and another room was given 20
her.
While this seemed strange" said the
captain, Il had no superstitions. Ii was
Just possible that these two persons were
alike in temperament. 1t might be that
! the jar OF the machinery somehow al Iected
! No. Il, although l had commanded the
| boat Tor three seasons previous, and had
/ heard no complaints. 1 could not Just
| then investigate this idea, my presence
! being required on deck, and the VOYAGE
continued without the matter troubling
me beyond few minutes"
The room was again given out without
the captain having knowledge OF the occu-
pant. This was Oh the third trip, and the
occupant was one Of the partners in a
! wholesale house in the East, who was
travelling for pleasure. he WAS n strong,
robust man, in good health, and lie re-
tired to bed about 10 O'Clock
Just an hour later he left his stateroom
in n very quiet manner, fully dressed, aud
hunted mp the captain and said:
you may think / am pretty soft
headed, but l tell You l cannot sleep in
| the stateroom assigned mc. There u
| something going on there which I can't
make out"
What has happened?" asked the cap
tain.
''Soon after I got into bed felt some
one moving about in the room. Then a
| hand clutched my wrist and tried TO pull
| me Qua of bed The clothing which Lad
hung up was flung down, and q chair was
| tipped over. There was light enough from
the cabin for me to see that l WAS alone.
but things happened just as have told
you"
''You couldn't have been dreaming?''
Queried the captain.
Dreaming! Why, man, no one could
he more wide awake. Even while / was
dressing l had To fight q something
away
And what do You think?''
| ''That / am either suddenly hrea king
down and about TO become an idiot or a
lunatic, or that No. IA is haunted Have
| You had any previous complaints2"
Il think | Will turn in there myself for
the rest Of the night. severed the cap.
tain, and he SAW that the gentleman got
| another room.
1T was It quiet night and no sea on. .
said the captain, "and the engines were
working very smoothly. The jar OF tke
boat was therefore reduced 10 a minimum
| / locked the door, and was only three oI
| four minutes getting into bed. Ior ~
guess that / was very wide awake, 7 did
not intend to go 10 sleep, but to solve the
mystery / hung up my coat and vest
and threw my trousers across the chair
Il had been in bed perhaps 1--WE minutes,
both my arms outside the coverings, when