Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-14
but 1 believe what Bill Newell says.

"Whv?" was asked.
Because never knew him to tell a lie. l"
Newell was then called in. He had read
THE DISPATCH story.
'How is that story?" was asked him.
cts all right, sir," he said. He had been
charging ovens and his face was grimy and
black. "Just go up to the house and see
nv wife; she will tell you the story. L will
take the short cut and will be there before
you"
About two hours later 1 drove TO within
200 wards of the Newell home. That was
as near the place as a wagon could get.
Mr. Newell was standing in his doorway
waiting for me. When jumped from the
buggy 1 seemed to disturb and unite all
the dogs in the neighborhood, and for the
time the air seemed full of bowling hounds
"Come on, psrd; the dogs won't hurt
you," Mr. Newell shouted, at the same time
Tattling of fully a dozen names for the
several dogs, and each in turn as he called
it hung its tail and fell back pert ectly harm
less
We proceeded to business promptly We
examined the haunted house rather crit
icslly. The exact spot where the bed had
stood was pointed out The corner in which
the mysterious rappings always occurred
was indicated. The very floor board was
marked upon which this or that man had
alighted when he was thrown from the bed
by the intangible something. The bed
clothing, which Mr.. Newell with both
hands r; lsed to high heaven declared he
and the ghost had torn into shreds in an
early morning contest, were displayed by
their proud posSessor.
Remarkable Story.
And then he told a wild, weird, remarka-
bic tale. While he talked he looked like
one telling the truth. In his homely way
he threw about his story that sincerity that
made it delightful, yet with all it seemed
tinged with the impossible, uncommon and
unnatural.
The mountain side is almighty queer
place" Mr. Newell began. Back nearly
hundred years ago old Jim Jacobs lived
in a hut just where this new house
stands. Jacobs was a hermit and
murderer He used TO kill the
drovers who passed through the mountains
from Pittsburg to the East. He is said to
have murdered more than 100 people in his
time. He would throw them over the
rocks near here, rob them of their money
and take their horses and cattle. 1t is told
Of Jacobs that he once attempted to kill
man and his wife. He did kill the man.
but the wife escaped. She made her way
through the mountains and took shelter in
Jacobs hut, where the old murderer found
her when he returned. She lived several
days and when she evidenced signs of re-
covering Jacobs is alleged to have poisoned
her. That woman is seen in these mount
aims to this very day. She dashes through
the bushes like a frightened fawn and
everybody up here has seen her often. 1t
is told that her spirit in white robes over
took Jacobs one night and so frightened
him that he committed suicide
But that has nothing to do with our
obOc+ - Nv Natra11
Ritter was the original owner of this place,
and it is his ghost that haunts the old
house. Ritter was bachelor The prop
erty was not very valuable, but it was all
he had. He was courting q girl up in
Somerset county, and Just when he was
about to get married this place was sold for
taxes
Like Modern Brides.
1.-THE girl refused to marry him when he
had no property. He agreed if she would
wait for him he would leave the mountains
and make money enough to buy back
his property. The girl they tell me died
while waiting. That was back in the
forties. Then they tell me Dan Ritter
cursed his luck and died too. understand
he died recently very poor somewhere down
in West Virginia.
81 bought this place eight years ago T
comfortable for the winter when heard of
Dan Ritter sdeath. The first night after
Ritter's death was announced Henry Bacon
who was working for me, was disturbed by
Fsppings in his bedroom, which was in the
garret of the old house. He was frightened
at the noise and he came downstairs and
slept on the floor. The next night Sber-
man Freeman, Lyman Gaut, Marion Will
son and Henry Johnston decided to
watch for the ghost. They spent
the evening downstairs. Everything was
quiet overhead until about o'clock, when
someone started t. play the organette. AS
Bocn as a sacred tune was struck the ran
pings began upstairs, and the ghost seemed
to be enraged. Two of the hoys ran nm
stairs, but they could see nothing. Abopt
an hour later the boys went up to he'd.
They climbed into the bed together. They
had scarcely gotten into the bed when the
Fappings began and the bedelotbing
disappeared. Then the rappings be.
came more violent and one after the
other the boys were thrown out of bed to
the floor Bacon made a desperate fight.
He remained in the bed the longest. and
when he found himself being dragged ont
he jumped up and ran downstairs. All the
others save Gaut had come down. We
went back and got him. He was unconscious
and seemed to be diving. We sent one of
the boys for Dr. Wilson, who lives at
hechsburg, and he remained with Gaut for
six hours before he brought him around.
A Protest Against Destruction.
''The next day Henry Bacon began tear
tng down the foundation under the porch,