The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-10
SP00KS OF MANY SORTS.
GHosTLY SIGHTS AND SOUNDS IN
OR NEAR THE CAPITOL

From. the st. Louis Globe Democrat
The United States capitol is full Of ghosts
At least three such apparitions are familiar
to the watchmen and attendants who guard
the great building and keep it In order.
According to their testimony, at 1920
O'Clock every night Gen. Logan comes out
of the room Of the committee on military
and militia, of which he used to be chair
man, beneath the Senate chamber. He
opens the door slowly, and. stepping out
closes it silently behind him, proceeding
shsreupon with noiseless tread along the
corridor westward. Nobody has ever yet ven
tured 20 follow him, so that nobody is able to
tell whittier he goes. Not far from the
same locality, under the portico of the
Senate wing, the ghost of an elderly oolored
man scrubs every night before daybreak
the same marble floors which no used to
clean regularly for years while living. His
name was Osborne and he died rather more
than twelve months ago. The phantom which
has been longest known at the capitol, how
ever. haunts the basement Of the House Of
Representatives. 1t has been seen by many
of the watchmen, who all describe the ap-
partition as that Of q tall military looking
gentleman OF foreign aspect. He walks
about the corridors in a melancholy way,
with his hands clasped behind him and
promptly vanishes when approached.
BULLET FOR HIS JOKE.
The watchmen at the capitol, who are
all men selected for intelligence and experi-
ence, say that the building is q grewsome
place TO walk about In at night The huge
structure is filled with mysterious sounds
the smallest noise being magnihed by rever-
beration. Strange voices seem to whisper
everywhere, from the corridors that run
hn 70 Nho x,la Of anh
called the "crypt," beneath. Walking
across statuary hall in the silent darkneOs.
where the marble figures ranged around the
great apartment seem themselves like SO
many specters on the watch, person ex-
periences a strange illusion. doubtless aris-
ing from the acoustic peculiarities of the
spot. He hears footsteps stealthily follow
ing his own, as If of some one who was pur-
suing him with an intention to leap upon
him. The footsteps seem to go lit-
tie faster than his own as il to overtake
him.
One night ten years ago a watchmau,
who had been newly employed on the force
at the capitol, was passing through statuary
hall alone in the darkness, when he heard a
groan and saw a spectral figure ali in white
glide out from behind one Of the statues.
He promptly drew his pistol and fired two
shots at it, His aim was disturbed by
fright, which was fortunate for his fellow
officer Of the guard, who had thought TO
play a good joke by dressing himself up in
o sheet and hiding. On account of this oc-
curence the watchmen have not since then
been permitted TO carry their revolvers at
night. Time and time again one Waterman
or another has been so convinced OF the
reality of these sounds as to pursue them in
rubber shoes, without light. The cats
which race In troops about the capitol at
night are doubtless responsible for many of
ha yhoaS ~ xuifh ba az p
ure.
The ghost Of Guiteau, the assassin of
Garfield, is said to haunt the United States
jail here, where he was executed. Negroes
confined there are extremely afraid Of be-
ing put In the cell which he occupied.
HAUNTED HOUSES GALORE.
Washington is the worst haunted town in
the union. The city Is dotted all over with
haunted houses, which remain unrented
year after year on account OF the hobgob-
Inns supposed 60 inhabit them. The most
original Of these local phantoms occupies a
house on Nineteenth street, between q and
r, which has been for rent and unoccupied
nearly all OF the time during several years
past, although its situation Ia in the most
desirable quarter Of the town and the price
asked for q lease of IL is absurdly low.
Nine years ago a man stood In front Of a
mirror which oveEhung marble mantel-
piece IN one Oh INC DeuTOOms anu CuV
his throat from ear to ear. Then,
as appeared from the condition in
which things were subsequently found, he
chung with one hand to the mantelpieoe
while his blood poured out upon the hearth
until he fell and died. Every night the
sounds Of blood dripping from the mantel-
piece are distinctly heard in the room, al
though nothing can be seen. The noises are
OF such distressingly suggestive character
that nobody can be found to occupy the
building for more than q short period. The
last tenant threw up his years lease after
five weeks. A number OF dwelling houses
In Washington have beeu torn down on ac-
count OF apparently supernatural manifesto
tons in them, while the foundation Of one
was actually torn up awhile ago to get rid
of ghost that was alleged to occupy
the cellar. The most famous of all the
haunted establishments in this vicinity is
the old Taylor mansion on the northeast
corner OF Seventeenth street and New
York avenue. For many years ID has been
empty no tenants being obtainsble at any
price. Parties of gentlemen have on sew
and have subsequently related most terrify-
ing experiences, such as the death of dog
by fright 10 once instance. Spectral feasts
are said to be held In the dining room, the
rattling of dishes and blinking of glasses
being heard, though neither table furnitui g
AOA kuootn Cdu 10 b6bus uc HbOElon
told respecting the origin of the
ghosts that haunt the mansion vary
somewhat one or them being to
the effect that the former owner q cruel
STAKEHOLDER before the war, whipped one OF
his human chattles to death in the garrett.
is otherwise related that he killed his
daughter by pushing her downstairs be-
cause she would not marry as he wished.
There are no ghosts IN the famous red
brick house on Lafayette square which Mr..
Blaine occupies. but it is said that death
haunts 1t. Something tragic seems to hap.
pen 20 every one who ventures TO occupy
IL. In 1856. when the mansion was occu.
pied by the Washington Club Barton Key
was shot by Gen. Sickles on the
pavement In front and was carried into the
house to die. On the evening OF April IA,
1865, almost at the moment when President
Lincoln was assassinated, Louis Thornton
POWELL alias Payne. entered the residence
Tor the purpose of killing Secretary Seward,
who was confined to his bed at the time.
With knife and a pistol he horribly
wounded Mr.. Seward and four other per.
cons. Since Mr.. Blaine took the house be
has lost two of his sons and daughter. but
he has returned to it, nevertheless, disdain-
Ing superstition.
One of the lieuteuants Of the watch al
the capitol tells a story Of a remarkable