The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-26
A MYSTERY SOLVED.
TWO SKELETONS FOUND IN CHAINS
IN EAST SUPERIOR, WIS.

stead I'm East superior, Wis, house
which has bccn landmark for years, tho
crumbling bones Of two human skeletons
were discovered few days ago by work
men. The owner OF tho property, a far
seeing contractor has ondolyorcd 10 Keep
the find secret, fearing that public knowl-
edge of the matter would iniuro the rcnt-
ing value of the Oats which he Is erecting
on the site The skeletons wero those of a
man and a woman, and were inclosed in
room OF solid masonry under wing OF
tho house. Judging from the position Of
"a short chain found near the persons whose
bones have been brought Co light they
were chained together in life and cast into
this prison 90 die 1t is probable that tho
authorities will hold somo sort Of ingcsti-
CATION, as there is considerable talk over
the matter.
The finding OF the bones recalls ghost
story, which has for years hung like par
over the house and which caused the place
10 be Stunned by all. No one has occupied
it for years, and it was bought by the
present owner for almost song. Eliza
Cutler, an old negrass, once a servant in
the Horton house, now living alone in u
small house on the steel plant division, is
"A central figure in tho story, and If what
sho says is true the evidences of foul
double murder committed years ago, arc
at hand.
In the early days of Old Superior Thom-
as Horton was one of the best known resi-
dents, and after making fortune in pine
and copper built the house which has been
torn down. Here he married Miss Ella
Reno, handsome brunette, younger than
seemed proper for the wife of SO old a man.
All went we'll for "A time, and then Frank
Boauford, who had been schoolmate Of
Mrs. Horton, appeared on tho scene.
Beauford and Mrs. Horton were often seen
in each Others company, and soon a scan
dial arose. Mr.. Horton gave no sign that
he knew Of any wrongdoing on tho part of
his wife On the contrary, he treated her
with greater kindness than ever, and on
the occasion OF the second anniversary OF
their marriage insisted that she should
give grand reception, which many of the
older residents Of the city will remember
on account of its sensational ending Mrs.
Horton was a charming hostess, and oven
those who condemned her apparent init
macy with Beauford could not help admir-
ing her beauty and tact. Beauford was
one of the guests of tho evening, and
shortly after midnight the discovery was
made that both he and Mrs. Horton were
missing.
They had last been seen in the wing of
the house in which was situated the pri-
vate study of Mr.. Horton. Here all trace
of them was lost, and-after- n thorough
search of the house had been made it was
agreed by oil that an elopement had taken
place. Mr. Horton refused all words of
sympathy and comfort; and after bidding
g., -l, s,,t .
house. with only servant or two for COM
panions, and there remained for months at
time, seeing no one and denying admis-
sion TO all callers.
Several years rolled by, and at last Mr..
Horton began To venture forth from his
retreat. Ho had changed greatly since
the supposed flight of his wife and was
now gray haired broken old man. Ono
day he astonished every one by beginning
an action for divorce against his missing
wife, charging desertion, and when tho
divorce was granted, with no appearance
having been made on the part of Mrs.
Horton, he sprung second and greater
surprise by marrying Mrs. Sarah Clinton,
widow we'll advanced in years, who had
been great friend of the first Mrs. Hor-
ton and a frequent visitor at tho house.
Soon after the wedding Mr.. Horton was
called To Madison, Wis, on business con-
nected with some pine land, and Mrs.
Horton was left alone with only Eliza
Cutler, the negro servant, for company.
The following day Mrs. Horton confid-
ed to the servant the particulars of u
ghostly scene she had witnessed in the
night and begged that she might not be
left alone again oven for minute. She
had been aroused from her slumbers, she
said, by light tread in the corridor out
side her door A second later the door,
which Mrs. Horton had locked before re-
tirinR, slowly opened, and the long lost
Mrs. Horton, the first, stood beside her,
not in the flesh, but as shadowy form,
through which objects could plainly be
seen. The figure beckoned, and under an
influence she was powerless TO resist Mrs.
Horton followed. Passing swiftly through
tho hall, tho white form led the way TO
Mr.. Horizons private study, into which
the living Mrs. Horton passed, shivering
with dread and apprehension. For an in
slant the figure gaZed in sorrow at the
frightened woman, and thon vanquishod,
apparently into the solid wall. Retracing
her steps, Mrs Horton was soon In her
own room again, where she remained un-
til daylight, sobbing Historically with
fear The following night tho faithful
colored servant shared Mrs. Horizons room
and once more the uncanny scene Of the
previous night was enacted. This time
however, the figure pointed TO the wall
through which 1t had disappeared tho
night before and made "a motion as though
to open door; then pointing a long, trans
parent finger downward IL vanished in
thin air, leaving two frightened women
clinging To each other in their terror.
With the sunshine of tho morning how
ever, Mrs. Horizons courage returned, and
she determined TO solyo tho mystery. Ac-
companied by Eliza she went To the study
and there, with hammer sounded tho
wall where the apparition had disappeared.
The search had not been a long one. when
n secret spring was touched and door,
skillfully concealed by the moldng, swung
slowly open, disclosing an iron stairway
leading down into the earth. From the
damp passageway arose rank. unwholc-
somo smell. and for time the frightened
women ,larod not venture into tho place.
Finally, carrying lamps, they descended