Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-12-18
HAUNTED HOUSES.


HAUNTED HOUSES.
Authentic and Strange Stories of the Su
pernatural.
An artist living in London received an
invitation from friend to join him on
shooting trip In Inverness. They
stayed at the house OF a well-to do farmer
who one evening mentioned in conversa-
ton that his pleasant home had come to
HIM In a somewhat singular manner.
Twenty years ago the pl zee was owned
by relative, ii steady, industrious mar,
VINO, unmarried, resided there with d
younger brother, who Was inclined TO be
somewhat wild. AS time passed on this
young man became more dissipated in his
habits, and was source of anxiety to his
brother, who at length persuaded him to
emigraie to America, he providing the
necessary funds.
HIS passage was taken. and the evening
before the day fixed for his departure he
Was met by an acquaintance, who rallied
him on his downcast looks. To him The
} -u-g fellow Deserved that he disliked
The ldea OF going to America, but added
that he supposed he should have to go.
Very early on the following morning a
shepherd employed by the brothers,
CHANGING to look towards high cliff in
the vicinity, saw against the skyline the
hgure OF a man. For few seconds it
stood, theo, throwing up its arms, ieaped
forwards over the preclpice
The shepherd gave the alarm, and the
mangIed body of the younger brother was
discovered at the bottom of the cliff. The
inquest which was held terminated In a
verdict Of suicide.
The strangest pant of the affair, how
ever, WAS that from the night proceed ng
the tragedy the elder brother mysteriousIy
disappeared At frs 1t W.. ought that,
unhlnged by the terrible mode of his
brothers death, he was keeping ont of
the way 10 avoid giving evidence; but as
long time elapsed and he did not return,
ne was advertised for in various papers,
British and Colonial; detectives were EN-
ployed, and every means used for his dis
covery, but without success Being the
next or KIN, the present occupier took
possession OF the place till such time, at
least, as the owner should return. Moth
ing, however, has since been heard of him
After lutte further conversation the
two sportsmen retired for the night, which
was dark, the moon not being visible.
After time the artist fell asleep, and
dreamed that on the wall opposite to his
bed considerable patch of light, like
that Of strong moonlight, appeared, and
that In the centre he saw the skeleton of a
man IN recumbent position, while at the
feet was piece of mortar upon which
was some writing which he was unable to
decipher. Awakening, the dreamer look
ed towards the wall, and saw to his sur
prise faint light, wEicA gradually grew
stronger.
1.-The moon is rising, he thought, what
a fool | am to be so much impressed by a
dream"
But the moon was not rising, and in
the increased light upon the wall be saw
distinctly portrayed the skeleton figure of
his dream, with the piece of mortar at
The ieet.
Rising, he Lit candle, and the appara-
ton having vanished, he proceeded to
Examine the wall. At first he saw moth
ing unusual, but, tapping it, it seemed as
II some cavity was behind it. By day
light he examined it again, and noticed
that some of the brickwork seemed to
bulge outwards.
At breakfast he related his strange
vision to his friend and the farmer, who
both laughed, and said he must have been
suffering from the nightmare.
An outside examination of that part of
the house, however, proved the wall to be-
about four feet thick, and as 1t was wet
morning, and they had nothing particu-
lar to do, the farmer proposed to pry out
brick. This was done, and Mr.. c.,
putting his hand into the Eole, discovered
ID cavity containing something. More
bricks were taken out, and ultimately the
complete skeleton of a man, the feet
resting upon piece of mortar was dis
covered.
The inference was that on the night be-
fore he was to begin his journey to Amer
lea, the Younger brother had quarreled
with and killed the elder, that he had
concealed the body In the wall, and after
wards. struck with remorse for what be
had done, committed suicide by jumping
over the crag.
In the fashionable Sydney suburb of
Woollabra stand an old house which for
some time has been tenantless, and is now
in bad repair. Although it has been let
repeatedly, no one has remained in it
longer than few weeks.
A Captain M, of the merchant SER
vice, leased it few years ago, and gave
the following account of his expert
ence:
Captain M saw the house advertised
TO let, and wishing to settle with his fami
ly il Sydney, lie looked over it, liked it,
and the rent being low, became a tenant
For the space of about three weeks moth
ing unusual occurred. The Ms made
no acquaintance in the neighborhood, and
heard nothing whatever of the bad repu-
tation of the dwelling. One summer
morning. about half-past six, Mrs. NJ.
lying awake, saw the bedroom door open
slowly, and the head of a negro was thrust
into the room. Somewhat alarmed, Mrs
M awoke her husband. The door by
this time was more than half open, and
both distinctly saw tall, powerful black
man, who stood looking around as if in
search of some one.
Captain M asked what was wanted,