The Anaconda standard., 1895-05-19
GHOST IN A HOSPITAL.


| Spirits of . Dead Actress C1inks Her Glass
With Companions.
The Brookly Memorial Hospital for
Women and Children is occupying the
two old-fashioned houses Nos. 1445 and
1447 Pacific street while the new hos
pjital building, on Classon avenue. Is
In process OF erection. Not a man Is
allowed about the place, save the old
janitor. who goes away at s p. m. SO
well-observed il this exclusion that .
ghost which haunts the house at NO.
l4l7 has assumed the form of a woman.
The haunted house was at one time
the homestead of the Singer family. 1t
stands on knoll. high above the
street, and has a wide piazza across
the front and broad hall through
the middle. 1t is used as the main
building of the hospital and contains
the office and rooms of the superinten-
dent. Martha Black. and the house
physician. Harriet Knott.
When they moved In year ago.
after the hospital was burned. the old
house had been vacant for a long time.
There had been queer stories about
midnight carousals there by super
natural jewellers. Miss Black knew
nothing of this until one OF the nurses
told her she had seen a ghost. Then
the patients laid awake to watch. and
the attendants became frightened at
the slightest sound.
The last occupant of the house was
formerly an actress. whose real name
Is not known. She was beautiful
woman, who had retired from the
stage, according to accounts. to live
in luxury and revelry. In strange con-
trast to her manner of life, she al
ways dressed in black.
The house was furnished in style.
The walls of her boudoir. now the SUI
perintendent's room, were hung with
mirrors on all sides. There were bells
with wires running to every room.t On
the top floor was a large billiard hall.
The dining room was the scene OF many
dinners at which wine flowed freely.
Such life was too much for the ac-
tress. She drank deeply, always cham
pagne, and finally died of delirium tre-
mems, with a champagne glass In her
hand. An old coachman remained for
a number of years the sole occupant.
Not being seen by the neighbors for
several weeks. the police entered one
day and found his body. greatly de-
composed, lying in the hall. He was
stricken with heart disease.
The old coachman rests quietly, but
the, ghost of the actress. gowned In
black. with a champagne glass In her
hand. still haunts the house. At mid
night on certain anniversaries she
clinks glasses with unseen guests, the
ice rattles in the wine and corks are
heard to pop. AT dayDreak, Wnen tne
party is supposed to break up. she has
a farewell drink and vanishes. -
All this is vouched for by the nurses.
who have heard the convivial sounds
during the long night watches. and
once the woman in black was seen to
drink a glass and then pass through
a closed door. sr
81 don't believe in ghosts one bit"
said Miss Black to a woman reporter
yesterday, land though / have hunted
and watched for the mysterious woman
said to live here with us / have never
been able to see her. Late one night
a nurse called me to listen to noises
down stairs. We thought IL was the
ghost, but as / don't believe stories
about the spook / said IL was a burglar
in the kitchen. DIR. Knott and / crept
down and listened. Then we locked
the doors and 1 called the police by tel
ephone. We were not a bit scared but
were determined to catch the prowler,
whether 1t was a ghost or a man. Two
policemen came. and. after a cautious
descent on the kitchen. captured cat
After that / had less faith than ever.
My room Is the former mirror boudior,
but the lady of the champagne has
never ventured into IL. / would like to
know where she gets her champagne;
certainly not in this house. 1 am sorry
we haven't a genuine ghost for would
like to meet one"
Despite Miss Blacks scepticism the
nurses positively affirm that the clink-
ing OF glasses by gay spirits are actu-
al occurrences.