The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-02
A HAUNTED HOUSE Is G oTHAm.
Young Schuyler Van Fystael's Effort
TO Solve the Phantom Mystery.
- IL <,t..

Young Schuyler Van FystaeIs Effort
TO Solve the Fhsntom Mystery.
From ths Nete York Sun,
The true history of a New York ghost tia.
FOR twelve years past has haunted house
not 400 yards from Washington square has
at last been ascertsined. Bona fide specters
are somewhat q rarity, and the Sun has the
story from q member of the family only on
condition that their name is not published.
They will, therefore be called tbs Van
BystaeIs
Old Schuyler Van Rystael tuiIt the
house more than sixty years ago. Ii sits
back somewhat from the north side OF the
street, and has g great hall that runs up
the entire three stories. At the back of the
corridor on the third door is the chamber of
young Schuyler Van Rystasl, a grandson
Of the old gentleman. .-.---.s .
Schuyler discovered the ghost on Christ
mas. when he was little more than u years
old. The roof was covered With snow, and
through a leak at the side Of the skylikht
trickle OF water was dripping. The steady
drop, drop kept the boy awake, and he
raised his head to call a servant aud have
basin placed to catch the water To his
intense establishment he saw a strange
old man in black clothes pacing the
hall deliberately, in time to the drop
OF the water. The intruder slowly
approached Schuyler's door and apparently
vanished into a pantry on the left of the
hall. Schuyler jumped out OF bed, locked
the pantry and called his older brother
from the floor below. Armed with pistol
the family opened the closet. 1t was empty.
and close examination of the doors and
windows showed no place where a burglar
could have entered. The family, therefore,
retired, making remarks about the effect Of
the Christmas pudding on Sehuyler's di-
gestion.
Nevertheless. the ghost continued to
walk, and always on moonlight nights after
pestersd by would-be adventures, who de-
sired TO see the spectral visitor. and ON one
occasion Frank r. Stockton, the novelist,
undertook to watch for the ghost. Though
all conditions were favorable, the specter
failed TO appear until Mr.. Stockton retired.
Then through the hall the weird intruder
paced 10 unison to the dripping OF the melt
ing snow, and vanished as Mr. Stockton
sprang TO his feet to accost him. The Van
RYstae!s say Mr.. Stockton had intended TO
ask the ghost whether the lady OF the tiger
came through the door. However,, the SUI
pernatural visitor came less frequently after
ward. aud was more unsociable than such
beings are commonly supposed TO be, and
until Schuyler Van Rystael came home re-
Gently from Harvard the identity of the
ghost was unreveaied. ------
The rain in the afternoon had started the
old leak, and the drops ghttsred in the
moons rays as they fell from the skylight.
Schuyler sat up in bed. and there stood the
strange old man at the opposite end Of the
corridor. With arms clasped tehind his
back aud head bowed as II in deep raedita-
ton, he came toward Schuylers door. -.
As soon as the young man jumped on his
feet the apparition vanished and, -turning,
Schuyler was fronted with the explanation.
Directly in the rear Of the manor is
boarding house of which tie third story
back is inhabited by. a Whimsical bachelor.
It is this man's habit to brilliantly illunli-
nate his room and pace the floor until late
hour. The food of light comes through his
window and projects his figure on the
blanket of moonlight that on clear lights
falls into the Van Rystael's ball, aud as the
bachelor walks toward his window the
ghost advances toward Schuyler's door.
When the young man springs from his bed
the focus is destroyed and the vision van
ishes instantly.
Schuyler now pulls down his shades, but
Mr.. Stockton, having given mp hope of
supernatural aid in solving his self imposed
puzzle, is us much in the dark as TO the fate
OF the Spartan youth as is the dulest Of his
readers. Perhaps it was choice Of evils.