Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-04-10
sPoOKs RESIST INCENDIARIEs.
Spirit of a Murdered sailor Prevents the
Burning of Hotel.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, April g.
An empty house standing in the sub
urbs of this city has become so noted
for being haunted by ghosts OF mur-
dered sailor and his murderers that no
one can stay in 1t, and its woodwork
refuses 10 burn, though 1t has been set
on fire several times for the purpose OF
destroying il.
The building was used as hotel, and
years ago, II is said, sailor sleeping In
il had his throat cut by strange guest
whose design was to rob the seaman OF
the money he had drawn as his pay on
returning from a long cruise. The
landlord shared the booty with the
stranger. and took the sailors
body to the cellar and buried IL there,
using quIck-lime to prevent any odor
escaping from the shallow grave.
CThe stranger then went his way, but
the public house soon became unbear-
able TO its customers from the fearful
noise that appeared to come from the
cellar. Such bawling, screeching. aud
knocking were heard, and at last drove
everybody from the place, but the un-
happy owner seemed bound to II by an
unbreakable tie. His dead body was
finally found in the cellar, lying on a
certain spot, where with his nails the
man appeared 20 be trying TO dig the
stones away.
Investigation was made, when the
half-eaten bones of man were found,
and in one of the upper rooms q written
account OF the murder by the landlord.
Search was made for the stranger, but
after lapse the of time. proved unsuc-
cessful. But, drawn to the scene Of his
crime, the wretch at last wandered
back, and one morning was found as the
landlord had been, lying on the floor OF
the cellar, bu. fearful TO see about his
throat were the prints of nails which had
soueeded out the life in cruel clutch
ings.
1t was thought now that the spirit OF
the dead man would rest, but the noise
kept up until an attempt was made TO
burn the house, but the flames, though
started several times, refused 10 catch
aud after fickering for time went out.
The mother of the murdered sailor ap-
peared and said that her son had come
TO her in dream and declared that he
could not rest until the money which
had been stolen from him and which
had been intended 10 keep her in COM
fort in her old age was restored.
The heir of the landlord, however,
refused to give up any OF his estate and
the noises have gone on ever since.
The sailor has been seen TO enter the
house, and sometimes the landlord has
been seen at the windows wringing his
hands, while the 8. s.r'nger walks the
house crying for me- y. A grocer OF
this part Of the city, a. an OF no more
imagination than post, few years
ago made a wager that he would pass a
night in the old "pub," and took with
him a dog as fierce as he was big.
During the night a neighbor was
awakened by this man knocking at his
door, and looking out saw the grocer
leaning against IL In a fainting con-
dition. He declared that he had been
pinched and tormented for hours by
unseen hands, which at last pitched
him from the house, and on looking
back he had seen three ghostly figures
chasing him, all with the blood run
ming from wounds In their throats.
Since then no one has been found OF
sufficient courage to spend a night In
the old house, and though other at
tempts have been made every now and
then to burn It, they have proved as
unsuccessful as the first.