The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-12
A MYSTERY in THE WALL
j. G. NEWPORT FINDS A QUEER
FORCE IN HIS CAPITOL-AvE. HOME
Hundreds of People Watch the Mani
festatiOns, but Are Unable to
Account for 1t.

People living in the neighborhood of Cap
itol avenue and twentieth street We're
greatly mystified and excited yesterday by
peculiar demonstration occurring at the
house of James G.. Newport, No. 1886 North
Capitol avenue. All day, at intervals, there
, was heard in the house a heavy rapping,
which sounded loud enough to be heard
plainly block away. Hundreds of people
visited the house during the day. Some
We're frightened at the strange noise, while
others, who sought reason for it, were
puzzled No solution could be offered for
the demonstration. and the mystery re-
manned as great at midnight as when the
sounds were first heard. Members of Mr..
Viewpoints family declined to remain in the
house over night, and went to relatives ON
Pratt street to spend the night while Mr..
Newport and friend remained about the
mouse with a crowd of curious neighbors
watching for every repetition of the noise.
The noise began at 10 o'clock, when the
FAMILY was about to go away to spend the
day. The house is on high lot opposite
G. Fred KissePs resort. 1t contains six
rooms on the ground floor and three rooms
above The children were in a small bed
room on the north side of the house when
they were frightened by fierce rafting of
the windows. The parents were called in,
and the rafting continued. There was no
one up stairs. There was no wind blowing
without. The noise kept up for an hour
and could not be stopped The windows
were held, they were wedged, they were
nailed, but still they ratified.
The report was carried about the neigh
borhood, and soon there We're hundred
people gathered near the house. Men would
hold the windows inside and outside, and
still there would be a trembling noticed
BY and by the scene of the disturbance
changed. Instead of rafting windows, the
strange power could deliver sledge hammer
blows upon partition wall. The wall is
that between two small rooms. The rooms
are not directly connected, but a door OPEN
ing from each into the sitting room makes
it possible for person to see both sides of
the wall at one time. The wall is made of
two-inch studding, lathed and plastered
The floor of the two small rooms was laid
before the partition was put in, and the
WALL therefore. sets on the flooring. Be
meath the wall is a strong brick foundation
laid on eighteen inches of concrete. Above
the two small rooms is a bedroom, the mid
die of the floor of which is over the wall in
question.
1t will thus be seen that the wall bears
none of the weight of the roof other
part OF the structure. 1t is merely di-
viding wall. Any disturbance of the ground
would would certainly have effected the
foundation in becoming violent enough to
make so loud noise and exhibiting such
force. The disturbance occurred at irreg-
ular intervals and was seen and heard by
several hundred people. 1t is described
as sounding like the discharge of a canon
at a distance. Accompanying the loud re-
port the wall could be seen to bulge out to-
ward the small room where the children
had first discovered the rafting of the
windows. One or two persons say they
were slightly shocked by leaning against
the wall at the time of the demonstration.
Albert Mueller, living at 1871 North Senate
avenue, placed his ear against the wall to
listen. He was knocked from his feet. The
blows seemed to become heavier as time
passed. Pictures hanging on the wall fell
to the floor. A washstand was against the
wall. This was Jared away distance of
several inches and a towel rack that hung
the wall beside the stand was knocked
down.
NO SIGN OF A TRICK
The first impression of everybody who
witnessed the thing was that it was some
kind of a trick, but the closest investiga-
ton failed to disclose ii. In the first place
the occupant of the house, Mr.. Newport
owns the property and has no object that
can be discovered in playing such game
The efforts of all who visited the house
were turned to discover the cause of the
disturbance, and all We're convinced that
it was beyond their ability to make out
While the noises were being made one
time there We're men watching under the
floor, there We're men in the room above
and men in both the small rooms down
stairs, in the sitting room and outside the