Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-07
THE FISHER MANSION.

THE FISHER MANSION.
night, and all night the splendid rooms
were filled with guests and ablaZe with
light. After spending a full million for
his house the host did not stint his guests
in the matter of entertainment. The best
musicians, the best entertainers of every
kind, were paid princely sums for catering
to the pleasure of the Fishers guests.
Feasts and revelry were the serious bust
ness of all who were so lucky as to be in
yited there.
But the very gayety which made the
Fisher manor one of the most pleasant
spots in California was the cause of its
ruin. Wine, like all other good things,
was there in unlimited quantities. Mrs
Fisher soon contracted love for liquor
which nothing could hold in check. While
her husband was present she at first con-
trolled her awful desire, but when business
called him to London she threw aside all
reserve and all restraint and plunged into
the widest dissipation.
She was not a strong woman and it could
not last. One day her husband returned
and found her dying. Fisher watched over
her until she died in wild delirium, call
ing frantically for drink.
Broken hearted Fisher shut up the
house and lived alone. Losses came thick
and fast; his business in London failed and
he was unable to meet his bills. The resi-
dence was seized by the creditors and
Fisher returned to London drink COM
pleted his wreck, and he died, they say, in
an almshouse.
Then came the auction of the furniture
1t was all magnificent. Pieces were sold
for few hundreds which had cost twice
as many thousands. The place itself,
which had cost over q million of dollars,
was offered for sale at q third as much, but
found no purchasers.
Even then there was a rumor, vague dt
first, but soon grown into definite story,
that although Mrs. Fisher had left her
splendid residence forever her spirit was
loath to part with what had been its de.
light. Ghostly stories of woman in
white, who passed through the handsome
corridors holding to her breast a bunch of
violets were freely told. Many who visit
ed the magnificent chamber where Mrs
Fisher died averred that the odor of violets
in the room was almost overpowering, al
though there were no vioiets nearer than a
mile.
The creditors, despairing of ever selling
the place, hired person after person to live
in the basement and take care of the house.
They all left after a short stay, scared
away by the ghosts, people said. One old
sea captain alone lived there for over a
year, and the stories he told were fearful.
Finally he, too, left and died.
Then the trustees hired family named
Vertrang to keep the house. They had
been servants of the Fishers, and thought
they could stand the ghosts. One day two
years ago, however, a second tragedy was
enacted at the place. An artist climbed
into tree above the house and took poison.
His body lay there for two weeks before it
was found This of course gave rise to
even more stories of wraiths and spooks.
But Vertrang and his wife say that they
have never seen anything amiss about the
place. They still live in the basement, and
the fact that they have claim of 5000
upon the estate may have something to do
with their courage.