Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-16
Lights Go Out, the Chairs Are Over
turned and Mysterious Foot
steps Are Heard.
A RESIDENCE THAT is HAUNTED.
Edward Ascher Tells Story Of the Rxpe.
rienceS Of His Family Which Is
Indeed Remarkable.
THEY HAVE SOUGHT ANOTHER HOME,
While Couple Blessed With Deafness Are Wrestling
With the Ghosts.

A 'shaunt" walks on the wild hillside
above the rope walk on the Evergreen Road.
1t is quiet, lonely kind of a place, and to
the superstitious Germans in that locality
even the shadows of trees on a
quiet night are enough to call up
visions of visitauts from another
world Atmospheric conditions and
the size of the evening Jag have been known
to increase the number wonderfully. This
form of ghosts were not minded much
save that they shortened the hours which
lovers stayed at night.
For weeks these spiritual visitors came
and went with the regularity of nightfali
and daybreak. Among others who
met with these strange visions was
young Edward Ascher. He is teamster for
Councilman John Stacey, scrap iron dealer
at Madison avenue and Sawmill alley, Ale
cheny. He, with his mother and several
brothers, live just above the Evergreen
road The house is an old one, and con-
tains seven rooms For almost a year they
lived there undisturbed, and farmed the
five acres of land that surrounded the cot
tage.
a Shock and the Lights Went Out
One evening late in October, while the
family were gathered around the open fire
place, suddenly the house shook ali over
and the light went out. Steps were heard
indifferent parts of the house and chairs
were overturned. The members of the
fsmily were so scared they ran out of the
house. At first they thought it was high
wind, but when they recovered their senses
they saw it was as quiet as night in June
Finally they returned and were undisturbed
for the balance of the night.
Since that at various times chairs have
been overturned at night and footsteps
could be heard pacing up and down the
room, though no one could ever be seen.
Ascher told Councilman Stacey of his
troubles, but the Allegheny lawmaker
laughed at the idea of ghosts and tried to
reason him out of the notion. 1t was
waste of words, however, for
each morning the man returned
of the uneasy spirits who broke out of their
confines and disturbed mortal man.
He stood it all until one night he was
awakened from deep sleep by the foot
steps approaching the bed and it seemed as
if an unknown invisible something fell
acr>ss him. He could feel weight yet saw
nothing.
Endeavors to Break the Spell.
That experience almost settled the idea of
suburban home with him, but he did not
wish to give up. Horseshoes were nailed
above the door and the house was riddled
with bullet holes until it rivaled
the Revolutionary cabin in Schenley
Park, but even these time-honored
barriers for holding back those
beyond the veil of death were Intellectual,
and with each recurring sunset came the
footsteps as plain and clear as if person in
flesh and blood walked over the floor.
One night even mirror fell from the
wall and broke. The string was still intact,
and the nail from which it hung was still
sticking solid in the wall.
That experience settled the suburban
home for him. He gave up the place and
moved to Allegheny with the family, and
since then has not been disturbed.
No Explanation of the Mystery.
Yesterday he was visited at Councilman
Stacey's place of business and told the
above story. He is a handsome Ger
man. about 81 years of age
and is too intelligent looking to be deceived
by mere superstition. He could give no
explanation of the mystery and said he
knew of no history connected with the
house or the locality that would cause the
appearance of ghosts there
In speaking of it he said: 81 would rot
stay another night in that house for a for
tune. Sometimes L could hear tin pans rat
tie and then there would be the footsteps.
Since We left there an old couple have taken
the house They are old and so deaf they
could not hear clap of thunder"