The evening times., 1896-09-21
Noises Follow a Ten -Year-0ld
Philadelphia Girl.
INQUIRY WITHOUT RESULT
Daughter of Detective Driven AL
most Frantic by Violent Knocks IN
Beds. Walls and DoOrs-She and Her
Grandmother Went to n Hotel Que
Night and Had Same Experience.

| in the western END or the 1hirty-secund
| ward, have been mystified by strange rap
| pings and noises in the house. The exact
| location OF Mr. Esten's home is withheld
| to save his family from annoyance, but the
story as related by his wife and several
| witnesses of undoubted standing is an ex-
| traordinary one.
Some persons Of susceptible temperament
! are disposed To think the noises are re-
| suit of "spiritualistic manifestations" but
cool anu far0-iI,a,ipu investigators are cOn-
| fident that the noises are the result of nat.
ural causes, although they have not
| yet discovered What these causes
| are. The facts related hereafter are
| youched for by two doctors, both
of whom are well known uptown.
Some time ago Edna, the ten-year-old
| daughter of MIR. and Mrs. Esten, became
| i'll. On last Saturday night, rappings were
| heard in her room. The child's mo.her re-
| paired a. once to the sick chamber, and WAS
| aStoundcd by the noises she heard. There
| We're several distinct rappings on the head
| board of the bed occupied by the child. Mrs.
Esten was at first mystificd, but after
ward became frightened, and when her nus
band, who is detective, connected with
| prominent gency in this city, came home,
| Shetoldhim OF the case.
THE RAPPINGS CONTINUED.
Mr.. Esten did not readily coincide with
| his wife's views of the matter. and said
| IL must be some trick of the child's.
| on Sunday night. however, he changed
| his mind. lie watched his daughter us
| she lay In ted. and saw that she moved
| neither hand nor foot. But the mysteri-
| GUS rappings continued first on the head
| board aud then Oh the foOtbuard of the bed
| The detective was puzzled as he never
| was in his life before He did not know in
| what manner to account for tie strange
| sounds, and determined to call in his family
| physician.
| On Tuesday evening, therefore, he sent
| for Dr. Frank I Hurlock. No. 1853 North
| Twenty-ninth street. Dr. HurlOck entered
the house aud at once proceeded to the
| girls roum. He had been treating Edna
| for several weeks, and the girl was re-
| covering from severe attack Of scar
let fever. He has also OF late been treat
| ing Mrs. Esien. who, is suffering with
| rheumatism.
DR.. Hurlock was at first inclined To
| think. with Mr.. Esten, that the strange
noises were imaginary, and TO attribute
| the statements that they had been heard
| TO the nervousness Of Edna and her
| mother. He said he was IN no sense II
| believer in spirituaTism, and that much
| would he necessary tc convince hun that
The noises were attributable to causes out
| of the ordinary. He remained several hours
at the house upon the VISIT referred to.
| He had the led upon which Edna was lying
drawn out from the wall. and there, with
| the several members OF the family about
| him. awaited developments.
| Soon the strange noises began There
| were light. regular taps upon the head
| board. They were rather indistinct at
J first, but finally became louder and more
| pronounced. Dr. HurlOCk still felt increlu-
lous. and watched Edna carefully. The
! child did not move hand nor foot. But
the mysterious SuocbingS came at inter
walls and with startling diStinctness. The
| physician confessed that he WIS completely
mystified. and, lea wing the house, in
| formed Mr.. and MrS. Estun that his GU
| riosity was aroused to such an extent that
| he would call in friend. Dr. Charles A.
| Gill. of 2Sis Diamond street.
on Wednesday evening both Of the doc
| tors called. The members of the family
were gathered about, together with Mr..
and Mrs. Gaylor. friends uf the EStons,
and a Mr.. Dobson, of Diamond street.
Little Edna was about the house, for,
| while not yet fully recovered from her
| Illness. the nervous strain for the several
| days previous rendered her unable to stay
| quietly in bed. She joined the company in
the sitting-room, which is located on the
second floor. and almost Immediately the
weird sounds filled the rooms. They con-
tinued for some minutes, but finally ceased +.
| and there was not the slightest unusual
| noise for several hours.
Edna retired to her room with her grand
mother, Mrs. Wright. Mrs. Esten's mother.
Edna undressed and went to bed several
minutes before Mrs Wright Thenthe noises
| came again, distinct aud hollow. They
seemed louder than before, ana the already
unnerved child jumped from her bed aud ap-
pealed to her grandmother for protection.
| KNOCKS LOUDER THAN EVER.
| While the family were discussing the
hall to Ednas bedroom resoundcd loudly
with several heavy. sharp raps.
DR.. Gill Cecided to further investigate.
| He visited Edna's room and saw that the
child's bed was in tie center OF the floor
|
he might listen, and then, if any raps were
heard, he proposed toopen the door quickly
and see if the child had moved.
| The doctor had no sooner closed the bath
room door behind him than loud noise.
as though produced by a heavy striking
| OF the bathroom door, almost filled him
with alarm. instantly he entered the chile
| room again. but Edna had not moved. As
| the doctor stood in 'wonderment n second
and louder knock came on another door,
| leading also to the bathroom from the hall.
The hall ended but "a few feet away, and
there was no person init Neither was there
| anybody in the bathroom. DR.. Gill's feel
ngs were now combination OF mystery
| and uneasiuess, and he retired to the living
| rooms below. i'tn
! A reporter visited the Esten residence.
and to him Mrs Esteh pro ceeded to explain
the mysterious experiences of TIE family.
While Mrs. Esten was talking fearfully
| weird raps resounded from the second floor.
In Edna's face there came 4 look of intense
fear, but her kindly grandmother spoke to
her and quieted her. Mary. the colored
waitress, came from the kitchen and asked
| in n frightened manner il tile party In the
hall had heard the noises Thet two younger
Esten children clung about their mother.
AN REPORTER.
Going to the second floor, the entire par
| ty together rappings seemed to follow,
and then to canter in the room which had
been occupied by Edna during her illness
| 1t was now the reporter sturl to be amazed.
The knocks came in groups OF three and
| four 81 tn sneak. Then all wa still. little