The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-06-13
BERKLEY SQUARE MYSTERY.
A REMARKABLE STORY IF
TRUE.

q luIS udN II remains lHNSle-
~, and it will probably ever re-
main so. There is no question of
discussion no one could or can
deny it. The facts are facts, plain
ana unvarnished. AS there is no
Use in alarming people, we shall
not mention The number of the
house. 1t is, however, on the west
side Of Berkeley Square, London,
W., and we repeat that The tale is
absolutely true. The house we
visited WAS at that time untenant-
ed. 1t was certainly in bad state
of repair, and as certainly not to
be lei. No tenant was desirous to
inhabil it; for, though a caretaker
and his wife lived in the basement
they could not enter the haunted
room. and the napsion had re-
mained empty in he whirl of May
fair. These we're the conditions
when a family from the country
came, and despite the exterior APP
pearance of the house, were Ger
lainly pleased with the interior ar
rangemenls. The house suited all
parties, and it was painted and
renovated sufficiently to satisfy the
tenants for the season. The trades
people were all on tip Toe Of eXpec-
tation, for 40 one had ever lived
in the house four consecutive
weeks. Rent had been surrender
ed and hurried departure had
again caused the advent OF the
caretalRrs, sit was their doing
was the whispered com
ment. "These people say the house
is haunted and so they have house
room" But they never dissuaded
a tenant. Many tenants came ana
went; sounds were heard and
something uncanny was IN posses
SION, for no one remained. The
family who came into temporary
possession of The mansion had no
idea offs history, and IT is at this
period-in the year 1S7l-that the
writer's acquaintance with the
house began. The new tenants
took possession and were handed
over all the keys. There we're oc-
cupants for all the bed rooms, and
one upper apartment was al
lutted to the house maid. 1t
was nicely furnished room at the
back of the house small, but, ey-
cept for a peculiar atmosphere,
very comfortable. "No one had
hitherto slept in that room," they
said, land it was very DAMP" so a
fire was lighted and The bed made
ready for its new occupant. The
girl came in good time aad went
mp stairs 10 bed. Everything was
in readiness for her, and the lady't
maid, who had indicated the
apartment, had left her. Ere she
had got into bed a piercing shrek
aroused the household, then a
heavy tall in the hOusemaid's room
caused them to hasten up stairs
What could be the matters Mis-
trpss and servants rushed up TO-
gether; master followed. The
room was broken open and a ghast
ly sight met the gaze Ol the inlru
ders. The poor girl, partly dress
ed, was lying insensible on the
floor in a dead faint. She was lail
on the bed and remedies applied
as soon as possible. The cOnvul
sive movements of her limbs wer,
succeeded by violent rawlings, anC
it required two men to hold her
so terrible were her struggles. He
appearance was that Of a maniac
and when, with assistance Of doc
tor. she had been calmed, it wa
perceived with unntterable terror
: that the poor girl was ravine mad
She was quite exhausted 10
awhile, but the paroxisms agail
began. She was removed as sOOl
, as possible, and after awhile a Ia
cid interval interyehed. To ques
iions addressed 10 her she only re
piled with terrified meln and name
less horror in her face, Eyes, sa'
lni / saw itl7 and relapsed INT
imbecilily. Now, what she ha
seen was a mystery. She neve
, gave any account OF the horubl
/ strange sight that met her gaz,
? The story got wind and was laugh
ed at; was credited wholly or pal
f;o11v aecorflinr n the cnnrfifufin