Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-08-17
A Naval Ghost Story.

There is legend which, i am
sure, every one having the remotest
connection with the navy has heard.
l know half q dozen or more versions
of it, varying greatly in detail. All
combine to say the scene in the East,
sometimes in China. What l be-
lieve to be the most authentic ac-
count of the story places it at Tein-
Tsin. 1t happened fifteen or twenty
years ago, for, though the naval
actors in it are still lieutenants, they
are no longer in the first bloom of
youth.
Twenty years ago, then, there came
to Tien-Tsin an Englishman and his
son. The father was retired army
officer Of some means. They were
travelling for pleasure. They took
fancy for Tien-Tsin and decided to
settle there for a while. Looking
around for house they were much
attracted by one near the waters
edge and commanded a 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 worth
as much as ones life was worth to
pass it after nightfall. The English
men, however, were not to be fright
ened off by any such silly stories.
They rented the house and moved
in. For several months all went
well. Both father and son were de-
lighted with the place, and finally
decided to buy it. One evening the
son, who had been dining in town,
returned home quite late. AS he
entered the front door he heard what
seemed to be scuffle in his fathers
room. Before he could reach the
top OF the stairs asoulpiercing shrek
arose high above the confused din.
Then all was silent. Rushing in his
fathers room the young man found
his father lying on the floor IN
pool of blood. There was no one
else in the room and no apparent
way for any one else to have left it
without passing him in the hall. A
knife was sticking in the breast OF
the wounded man, a wicked looking
Malay knife, with curiously carved
handle. The young man stepped
back into the hall to call the servants
to his fathers assistance. When he
returned q moment later the knife
had disappeared. The wounded
man never rallied. He lived several
hours but was never able to speak.
His face was distorted by an ex-
preston of unutterable terror. and
he died with the look still in his
eyes.
The associations of the place were
too painful for the y Dung man to re-
main there any longer. He offered
a large reward for the discovery of
his fathers murderer, and left
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 dread
ed than ever.
Months passed, perhaps years; 1
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 as hore
one night dining with club of for
eign residents. Some one told the
story of the haunted house and the
murdered Englishman, adding that
the natives said that the murder was
re-enacted every night at the same
hour. Our officers expressed live
y interest in the narrative. "Let's
visit the house some night" one of
them suggested, land see the show"
"Why not tonight" exclaimed
young Dane, whom we will agree to
call A. ave have plenty of time
and the steward of the club has the
keys of the house. The Englishman
left them with him when he went
away
The men we're all young and keen
for adventure. Perhaps the excel
lent club punch had made them even
more brave than usual. Anyhow,
the suggestion was received with ex-
CARNATIONS. The keys we're called
for,and some one produced a lantern.
The rest filled their pockets with
matches and candles. When they
were ready to start they looked
around for A. He was no where to
be found. The party set forth with
out him. One of our officers could
not refrain from expressing some
amusement that the organizer of the
adventure should prove the only
r y 4