The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-16
THE SCARLET SPECTER.
BE MAKES HIMSELF TOO MUCH AT
BONE IN a HOMESTEAD.

Him He Tries All He Can to Make
Their Lives Miserable.
From the PhilddeIohid Times.
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA. Jan. l.-Loveridge
Mason and his wife are much concerned
just at present over ghost that is making
itself too much at home IN their domicile
and resenting their presence in various
ways more or less disagreeable 70 the
Masons. This ghost, Mr.. Mason says, is
that of a man dressed in red uniform re-
semoling that worn by e sergeant in the
British army. He is usually seen at dusk
entering or leaving the house, though be
gives evidence Of being about during tbs
day, but remains invisible to the human oo-
cupants.
The house in which the Masons live is an
old one, built nearly seventy years ago, and
was owned for fifty years by an old couple
named Brewster, who sold it about year
ago to the present owners. On the ghost
making its appearance, and the phenomena
attending 1t arousing suspicion as TO its
nature, Mr.. Mason called on the Brewsters
to know II they knew anything of the red
coated phantom, when Mrs. Brewster, turn
ing TO her husband, said:
"Why, be means our soldier. Yee, sir,
Va GOCAob We udfS H55D aIu ubATu aDDuL ble
rooms the thing you are speaking Of, but it
never molested us in any weY, nor did we
bother it. JUDGED, we got so used to it that
we ceased to notice it,
Mr.. Mason then related the WAYS in
which he ana his wife had been annoyed by
the phantom. aud Mrs. Brewster declared
that lit must not like the change. | sup
pose it had got used 10 Us. and not knowing
you is put out"
Mr.. Mason says that they had only been
domiciled few days in the house, which
was put In thorough repair after the Brews-
ters left, when one evening at dark and
just as he was ascending the porch steps,
a man pushed past him, up tie steps
and into the house. Mr.. Mason followed
quickly, thinking it some one making en-
tirely too free with his premises, but found,
to his surprise, that the street door was fast
locked. obliging him to ring to gain adj
mittance.
He inquired of his wife as to who had
just entered the house, when the lady IN
evident surprise declared most positively
that no one had opened the door, which was
In plain view from the room in which she
was sitting. and that Furthermore she had
unlocked the door herself for his coming.
She could not believe that her husband was
IN earnest, and half persuaded him that it
was all fancy On bis part. The next even-
ing the range visitor again made his
appearance, and Mr.. Mason caused the
entire house to be searched for him. but
nothing was found, although with his own
eyes the gentlemen had seen the man enter
the street door and pass into the house.
M S. Mason, however, still protested that
no one had crossed her vision as she sat in
the sitting re, m, and was still rather dis
posed TO set the whole thing down to a T. eak
OF her bus and's Imagination until the fol-
lowing day, when passing along one of the
upper halls. she saw just ahead of her man
in q red coat, who walked as if at home
aud went slowly into one of the
rooms, closing the door after him
Mrs. Mason, who is q woman of intrepid
and determined character, held onto
the outer knob of the door Of the room and
called for the servants to aid her in captur-
ing the init uder or burglar. whichever it
was. Bat on opening the door in the pres
ence of the household the room was seen to
be empty. As it had but one window, which
let out upon the street, a distance of thirty
feet or more, and as there existed no other
exit from the apartment the lady was nom
pused and the servants SO frightened that
several of them left the next day
Then began scene Of remarkable occur
rences in the house. all attributed to the
ghostly inmate. Bells were runS at all
hours of the day and night, the water
turned on into basins and bath tubs the
dog was whipped out and severely beaten
by invisible hands whenever he attempted
to re-enter, and the plants and shrubs were
pulled up by the roots. The maids were
often startled at their work by having the
windows violently let up and down, and
by seeing the relocated figure push past
them in the halls and kitchen.
A little niece of Mrs. Mason visiting from
Boston was able TO see him at any hour of
the day. and seemed to be rather a favorite
OF the ghost, who appeared to hang about
the child, who never realized that her
friend was not Of the same make as herself
She would run to her aunt and relate how
the pretty man in q red coat had caught
and tossed her up in his arms 1t was
thought best not to tell the child the truth.
as IL was feared that it would startle her.
SO she was left TO consort with her extra
ordinary friend, though an effort was made
TO Keep her away from him, but owing to
his lnvisibility to others this was difficult.
On one occasion, the little girl, who is
only years old. came running to her aunt
complaining that the man in the red
cont" had kissed her, and that his month
was cold. SO cold that IL had made Annie
SILVER" Fear at once suggested that this
death-kiss boded ill to the child, and she
was at once sent home, aud, though no
harm came to the little girl, the specter was
to be seen roaming about the house as IL
looking for her.
Inc cat seemed to De faVorits OF the
phantom, too, aud will often rise when a
door blows open and walk forward to rub
and arch itself against some one Of whom it
is fond
Beyond the door Of the house the specter
is never visible, but suddenly appears lust
in front OF the steps leading to it. 1t pushes
up these as if in haste, enters the house and
disappears to be seen here and there about
the place at certain intervals. He hangs his
head until the chin touches the breast, and
beyond large grizzled heard nothing is to be
seen of his face, sort Of forage cap hiding
the upper part. The brewsters say that this
figure has haunted the place ever since they
eau remember, and that Mr.. Brewster's
father and mother, from whom be inherited
the place, often spoke of him as 'the
soldier but paid as little attention TO him
as they did
Mr.. Mason is puzzled to know what to do
with tenant so unwelcome and who will
not be ousted. He had prayers said few
weeks ago for the repose of the dead, and
while the clergyman remained In the house
the phantom was not seen, but on his visit
ending 1.-THE sergeant came back aud is az
noisy and mlschievous as ever.