Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-09
A NAVAL GHOST STORY
An Adventure Which is Located in Chi
nese City.
The Thrilling History of q HUNTED
House as Related on the
Quarter Deck.

Written Exclt svely for The Evening Star.
There Is a legend which, I am sure,
everyone having the remotest connection
with the navy has heard. know half a
dozen or more versions of it, varying great
ly in detail. All combine to lay the scene
in the east, sometimes in Japan, sometimes
in China What I believe to be the most
authentic form of the story places it at
Tien Tsin. 1t happened fifteen or maybe
twenty years ago. for, though the naval
actors in 1t are still lieutenants. they are
no longer in the first bloom of youth.
Twenty years ago, then, let us say. there
came to Tien Tsin an Englishman and his
sen. The father was a retired army officer
of some means and they were travelling for
pleasure. They. took a fancy to Tien Tsin
and decided to settle there for while
Looking about for house, they were much
attracted by one just outside the city,
which stood near the waters edge and
commanded beautiful view of the harbor.
Their friends, and more especially their
Chinese servants, cried out aghast: They
must not think of such thing. The house
was haunted. No one had lived in it for
years. 1t was as much as ones life was
worth even to pass it after nightfall. The
Englishmen, however, were not to be
frightened OF by any such silly stories.
several months all went well. Both father
and son were delighted with the place and
finally decided to buy it. One evening the
sen, who had been dining in town, came
home quite late. AS he opened the front
door, he heard what seemed to be scufhe
in his fathers room. Before he could reach
the top of the stairs, soul-piercing shrek
rose high above the confused din. Then all
was silent. Rushing into his fathers room,
the young man found him lying on the
floor in pool of blood. There was no one
else in the room, nor was there any APP
parent way for anyone to have left it with
out passing him in the hall. knife was
sticking in the breast of the wounded man,
a wicked-looking Malay Knife. with a
curiously carved handle. The young man
stepped into the hall to call the servants
to his fathers assistance. When he stepped
back into the room, a moment later, the
knife had disappeared!
The wounded man never rallied. He lived
several hours. but was not able to speak.
His face was distorted by an expression of
unutterable terror, and he died with the
look still in his eyes.
The associations of the place were too
painful for his son to remain there longer
He offered a large reward for the discov-
cry or his fathers murderer, and left a
minute description of the knife that had so
mysteriously disappeared. Then he packed
up his belongings and returned to England
The house stood vacant, of course more
dreaded than ever.
Hunting the Ghost.
Months passed, perhaps years; I do not
know. But after certain lapse Of time
one of our men-of-war visited the harbor
of Tien Tsin. Several of the officers were
ashore one night dining with a party Of
foreign residents at the club. Some one
told the story Of the haunted house and the
murdered Englishman, adding that the ma
tives said the murder was re-enacted every
night at the same hour. Our officers ex-
pressed lively interest in the narrative.
Lets visit the house some night" one
of them suggested. 'and see the show
"Why not tonight?" exclaimed a young
Dane. whom we will agree to call A. I'VE
have plenty of time, and the steward of
the club has the keys of the house. The
went away
The men were all young and keen for adj
venture. Perhaps the excellent club punch
had made them even drawer than usual.
Anyhow. the suggestion was received with
acclamations. The keys were called for
filled their pockets with matches and can
die ends. When they were ready to start
they looked about for A. He was nowhere
to be found. The party set forth without
him. One of our officers could not refrain
from expressing some amusement that the
organizer of the adventure should prove
the only one afraid to carry it through.
bers. You don't know him. He doesn't
know what fear means. I'll wager he's up
to some deviltry at this moment. Probably
he has gone on ahead to put on a pillow
case and play ghost for u.s.
They had to hurry to reach the house at
the intended hour.
There it is" some one said at last, and