San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-10-06
A STRANGE SEANCE.
1T WAS HELD AT MIDNIGHT ON
THE ALAMO.
Raps Were Numerous, the Tables
Cut up Funny and the Dis
embodied Spirits Sang and
Spoke-ofhcer Pat Bsrgin's
Graphic Story.

SAuphAS obOEys
The old Alamo was wrapped in
the gloom OF one of those unpleas.
ant, drizzly nights that here in
Texas precede the spasmodic
spell of cold, denominated by US q
"norther."
Mounted Policeman Pat Ber-
gin, passed away the time slow
ly pacing to and fro before the
shed under which his horse was
tied. He had been left in charge
Of the little sub-station in the
Alamo, while his colleague had
gone to make a round Of the
streets of the suburbs in the east
ern edge Of the city.
In the station gas light flick
cred, giving low unsteady light.
Against one wall stood a dilapi-
dated office desk on which lay a
kind of police day book, used by
officers as a record of their calls
and arrests. One chair stood tip
ped against the opposite wall,
while another, with a rubber rain
coat, ready for use, over its back
rest, stood before the desk.
1t must have been IL o'clock at
night.
1t was something unusual for
anybody to be out on promenade
especially in such a night. That
is why Officer Bergin paid especi-
al attention to a party OF three
who were leisurely approaching
the little station at that hour.
The trio consisted OF two men and
a woman. They stopped before
the building and curiously looked
into the door.
Officer Bergin changed the d.
rection of his walk and paced to
and fro behind the party. This
must have disturbed them, for
they walked to the west side OF the
old mission. Soon they returned
and again peered curiously into
the room.
Suddenly the woman wheeled
around and addressed the officer.
She was frail built woman,
beautiful and about forty years Of
age.
Her dress was of a dark, winter
type. That of her escorts was like
wise plain but we'll fitted, and
gave to the wearers the tone OF
gentlemen.
"You are in charge of this place,
1 suppose" she said.
The officer acknowledged that
such was the case.
81 thought so, because you have
been watching us. We don't in
tend to harm anything" she con
tinued. ave are strangers here
just locking"
OF course, officer Bergin knew
that they did not intend to harm
anything, and he politely tipped
his hat as he said so.
"We saw the custodian" the
woman went on after this little
courtesy, "and he promised to lei
us in at midnight. We are spirit
ualists and hold quiet meetings
among ourselves whenever con
venient. In visiting this old place
today we thought it would be an
interesting spot to hold a quiet lit
tie seance, and you can attend the
meeting, IL you like to see thai
we do not damage anything"
The officer thanked her for hel
invitation and a general introduc'
ton followed. The older Of the
escort was her husband, the
younger, a youth Of twenty, hel
son. They lived in Boston and
were on a pleasure trip to Cali
fornis.
"a good many people have died
in this old building" the woman
inquired.
Officer Bergin assured her that
they had.
81 don't know what your faith
is but we would like to make you
a participant and give you a
chance to converse with the
Spirits" she kindly said.
Pat Bergin's faith is Roman
Catholic. He had heard consider
able of ghosts in his days, but
had never made their acquaintance
not even in his patrol Of the streets
around the east side cemeteries
Naturally the idea OF holding
familiar confab with the spooks
tickled him considerably.
At this juncture Capt. Tom
Rife, the late custodian, arrived
with the keys, and the three enter,
ed the building.
Officer Bergin reported to his
colleague, who had just returned
from his rounds, that he would
be gone a short time, and then he
too, entered the old historic mis-,
sion.