Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-24


OF the supernatural than DIR. Elliott Coues.
THE MOST REMARKABLE CASE.
In his opinion the most remarkable Of Wash
ington's haunted houses is q famous old house
in the West End. 1t is a very large structure,
partly octagonal in shape, and fifty years ago
was one of the most superb dwellings in Wash.
ington. Even to this day it is an imposing
mansion and yet no one cares to live in it. The
ghosts in it, according to all accounts, are alto
gether too seriously disposed to make their
company endurabe at any price. As to their
origin no less than three stories are told and
believed. One of them is to the effect that
former proprie tor was stakeholder and
very cruel man. In fit of anger he whipped
one Of his Negroes boy or a girl-to death
in the garrett But another account says that
he tortured his human chattel in the cellar
until the victim died. The third tale is very
different in character and concerns daughter
who was desired to contract marriage against
her will. She made vigorous protest and
quarrel with her father ensued upon the stair
case in the course of which she either fell or
was thrown down and SO lost her life Certain
1t Is that the disturbances in this old dwelling
have always seemed to have good deal to do
with the stairs, on which whispering voices in
angry tones are heard at dead of night, the
sound as of something falling down the steps
being subsequently audible.
FACES AT THE WINDOWS.
Many people have testified to having seen
faces at the windows Of the empty house as
they passed along the street and strange lights
moving from window to window, though such
Is the dread in which the haunted mansion is
held that the notion of its being occupied or
even entered by dishonest persons is hardly
conceivable Several parties of gentlemen, for
curiosity's sake. have at different times passed
nights in this residence and had most terribly
ing experiences. if their statements are to be
hnIInVa1-snnh ncnn hain tod For,
stance, as the death of dog from fright
Among the phenomena repeatedly observed
have been the clinking of glasses and the
rattling of dishes in what was once the dining
room. though no one was to be seen enjoying
the feast During the Sisters of Charity
occupied the house, after it had been purified
from top to bottom by sprinkling with holy
water. They were given II rent free, with the
understanding that they should get rid of the
spooks. At the end of year they moved out
and for some time after the United States gov
eminent leased the building. But for some
time past there has been no tenant obtanable
at any price, though lately an arts: lived there
quite alone.
RESTLESS SPIRIT.
On a prominent corner near the fashionable
center of the city is a large brown house which
has had the reputation of being haunted since
before the war. 1t was built by a certain COL
l., man of ample means and some distinc-
tiou ne was strlchen Dy u mortal illness soon
after the completion of the residence; but
possessing so much to make life enjoyable he
declared that he would not DE made to give it
up and stoutly resisted the approach of death,
disappearing and shrieking loudly as to at
tract the attention of the entire neighborhood.
People who have resided square away recall
to this day the appalling impression made upon
their minds by hearing the sounds in question
at that distance. The colonel died. notwith-
standing his violent protest, and his funeral
was scarcely over when his ghost made its
trst appearance. 1t was seen in various parts
of the new house, though more particularly in
the library, and the haunting was 80 agra
waited that it was found almost impossible to
retain any servants. Finally the family moved
out and the dwelling was taken by the then
Spanish minister. Many extraordinary stories
of things apparently supernatural that have
been seen in it are told. Many persons now
living in this city have strange tales to relate
of things they have themselves seen in the
L. mansion.
HOW PHANTOM WAS APPRAISED,
On the south side of IL street near 18th is
another house concerning which stories are
rife Of very extraordinary nature, the au-
thority for them being the present owner and
occupant of the establishment. An old COL
ored woman died there few years ago, and
subsequent servants could not be induced to
remain, because they said that their sleeping
quarters were haunted by the dead domestic
From revelations afterward made it would an
pear that the disturbances had connection with
sum OF money i'll bank notes which the old
woman had hidden i'll mattress with the in
tention of giving it to a relative She ex-
pired, however, without having an opportunity
to carry out her design, and hence the rest
less ghost. In some way the phantom sue
ceeded in explaining that there was something
to be found in the mattress that occasioned
her trouble, and the master of the house
ripped it open and found the greenbacks in an
envelope addressed to the relative aforesaid
The latter was given the money and the
specter never came back again. This is prob
ably one of the best authenticated ghost
stories known, vouched for as it is by naval
officer and his family.
GHOST OR AN OMEN.
There is house ON the south side of G
street near 10Th which has been the scene of
extraordinary phenomena. On one occasion,
for instance, young girl was sitting in the
parlOr, when she felt breath as of cold air
from the tomb upon her and saw a big lumi-
nous vapor body in the shape of a human
being go across the room toward the window
and disappear as il by falling out She was
much depressed by the unpleasant experience,
and two days later she was herself killed by
being pushed accidentally from a height AS
to whether the apparition was properly to be
regarded as An omen every one must judge for
himself.
An lNNlolBLE
A house on X street, formerly owned by an
ex-governor of Maryland, has frequently been
disturbed by the walking of heavy though in
visible person up and down the stairs.
illusions to such an effect are not infreauent in
the night when folks are in bed and all else is
silent, but in this case the walking was usually
done in the evenings while the occupant looked
on and heard without seeing. Much more re-
markable was viewless animal of some sort.
apparently either a cat OR dog, which was very
apt to be sitting on the stairs and to trip peo-
pie up. 1t was big enough to stumble over.
and, when struck with the foot, would ap-
parently get out of the way, though having no
visible existence just q real dog or cat would
do. As for the man on the stairs he was not
only perceived through the noise he made in
walking, but there was a consciousness of the
personal presence of somebody when one
passed him. In this house also came one night
the apparition of a gentleman who had fallen
dead on that same evening a few doors away
in his bedroom. 1t seemed if the phantom
had gone out in search OF assistance, naturally
seeking his most intimate friend in life the
then occupant Of the house in question. The
latter had no notion that the dead man was
otherwise than alive and well until the specter
appeared. OF all the disturbances in the house
the most alarming occurred Immediately before
the death Of a child, and ON this occasion the
whole establishment was searched from top to
bottom, the family being convinced that strange
people must be hidden in ii. The house was
| afterward occupied by an army officer, who
testified to witnessing the same sort of mani
festations. His children, to whom nothing was
aald n tina auhiaet WAL YOuCb aakOuiaho1 AT