The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-20
EXERCISING A GHOST.
Rites Performed by Priest to Rid
House of a Murdered Mans Spook.

Rites Performed by Priest to Rid q
House of a Murdered Mans Spook.
From the 81. Louis Globe Democrat.
TUxPAN, MEXICO. July 23.-The solemn
and impressive ceremony Of exercising an
evil spirit or ghost was to-day performed by
Father Tomaso, who had come all the way
from the monastery at the capital for the
purpose. the speoter having proven too
much for the local priesthood, aud Father
Tomaso having wide reputation as an
exorcist. The ghost Is that Of murdered
man, whose assassin Is said TO be still at
large and unpublished.
In 1887 a small wooden house on the out
skirts of the town was occupied by
foreigner-thought TO be au Italian-who
piled the trade of pastry cook, and who
was a surly Unconditional fellow. making
no friends, but many enemies. One morn
ing this Gambatl was found lying on the
pavement before his residence with a knife
handle protruding from his hack. and its
long, keen shaft completely buried in 1t.
About his neck was the RATA, or horse-hair
lariat, used by the Mexican hordor, and
which had been employed to drag him from
the house. AS the murdered man had no
relatives or friends, and there seemed
absolutely no clew TO the perpetrator
of the crime, the affair was
was found for the house. But the new
conner spent but one night in the place, and
the next morning left, declaring that he
had seen Gambati walking about the house.
The story was at first rtdiculed, but others
soon began to circulate the story that the
murdered pastry cook had been seen at the
windows. on the steps. and even lying as he
had lain dead on the pavement. No one
would or could occupy the place, some OF
the transient tenants affirming on oath that
Gambau had beaten on the doors, calling
to them to avenge him or TO depart at once.
The command UNDECIDED, the specter pro-
ceeded to render itself so dissgreeable as to
force the occupants TO evacuate the prem
ises. They were not even allowed to take
their meals in peace, the cups and dishes
being thrown to the floor by invisible hands,
the pots overturned on the oven and the
table upset or even broken. This resulted
in the place being abandoned, but the ghost
was not content with possession, and began
to extend its nocturnal performances to the
pavement.
1t Is claimed that passers-by were repeat
eddy startled to see the street door OF the
house fly open and figure thrown or jsrked
out on the steps, only to vanish at once, or
on coming that way late at night persons Of
reliability had found across their path q
dark unnatural shadow SO like a man lying
prone with halter about his throat that
they had fled in terror. As 10 was believed
that Gambati could not rest because of his
murderer's escape from punishment, re-
ne wed efforts were made to bring the
criminal to justice. but these failed
signally, upon which it was resolved
that a delegation OF the Deighbors
should call upon the ghost to request 1t to
name the one who made it such. This
was done at night by the delegates rang
ing themselves outside the house and bawl-
I II.
the door. Either the ghost was not at home
or was offended by the proceeding, for this
visit was followed by nearly three months
| of peace for the neighborhood; but just as
the community was oongratulating itself OF
| the radiance the nuisance broke ou5 far
worse than before. Shrieks and howlings
more like those of wild beasts killing each
| other than Of anything human, were to be
heard every night issuing from the old
house.
The thing got 80 bad, the neighbors say,
that it was determined to put an end to Ii
by burning the place; but the owner, an
American residing in New Orleans, getting
wind Of the intention, notified the police,
and measures were taken TO protect the
property. The first night the Waterman
was on duty he was SO frightened by an ap-
partition, which he described as a man fairly
dripping with blood, that he resigned the
post. The excitement was now at boiling
point, when it was proposed to call in the
aid of the church. Prayers were said, mass
performed and holy water sprInkled ON the
pavement aud steps Of the house, but seemed
of little avail, only quoting tue tumult FOR
a short while. Even the priests refused
to enter the house itself until the arrival
of Father Tomaso, who did SO alone,
and, after opening every window and
door, insisted upon his assistants
joining him in the building. Mass
was then performed, during which profound
silence reigned on the part of the invisible
tenant; but on the commencement Of the
ceremony of exorcism loud groans and cries
broke forth, apparently from every nook
Of the old shell, as IL the air was full of un-
seen souls in torment. This gradually SUBJ
sided, however, and ended In a loud bang
or thump that seemed to shake the house as
II by an earthquake shock, after which no
further interruption was made and the GER
emony continued.
Over 1000 people squabbled and fumed
about the haunted spot during the exorcis-
ing in the endeavor to see or hear whatever
demonstration the ghost would make.
Great diversity OF opinion is held In the
community, many believing and asserting
that only clever hoax is being perpetrated
on the TOR the most part ignorant commu-
nifty about, or that the vicinity is for some
reason being made obnoxious, while even
greater number are convinced of the super
natural nature Of the occurrences related.
Whether the disturbances will cease re-
mains to be seen.