The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-20
HEARD MARY'S VOICE.
Occupants OF Federal Street Building,
Boston Invesiig aiing a Mystery.

BOSTON, March 20 Very little work
has heen done since the first of the week
in the offices on the sixth floor Of the
building 10 Federal street. The occupants
of those offices are in state of nervous
excitement over the strange and inexpli-
cable happenings OF the last few days.
Mr.. William Merritt, the lawyer, whose
Office is in room 25, frankly admits that,
after having thoroughly examined The
premises and cross-examined everybody
who could in any possible way be con-
cerned, he can find no explanation at all
in reason. SO much in earnest Is he that
he has even offered substantial sum to
the person who will explain the seeming
mystery.
Mrs. Simonds, wife OF the engineer of
the buildings, no longer attempts TO con-
ceal her anxiety and dread, and Engineer
Simonds himself say 5 that, having scoffed
at the tales he heard, he is now con-
vinced that bis wife's fears are not ALTO
gether ungrounded.
The Spanish consul, Jose Maria Luck,
who has an office at the end of the corri-
dor, has not yet been disturbed by the
sound OF uncanny voices, but he Is the
only person on the floor who has not
heard them. This may be explained by
the fact that his office door is always
closed, and the sounds referred to appar-
emily come from out of the empty space
of the corridor, or from the washroom at
the further END.
This is not the first time that things
have happened in the building for which
nobody could find an explanation on any
practical ground, and while nobody con-
cerned Processes to believe in "spirits,v -
the name of Mary, who for many years
acted as charwoman about the building,
but who died couple of years ago, is re-
called whenever any mysterious occur
3 l.a ftxys hs hail ~
Periodically Mrs. Simoads is frightened
by an unknown something in the closet
on one of the lower floors, where she
keeps her mops, brooms, wash clothes and
otner utensils OF that character. she pro-
tests that she has seen Mary in that closet
on several occasions.
An nother mysterious happening In the
Office of Mr.. John III. Rice, civil engineer,
architect and surveyor, is now regarded
as very strange. Mr.. Rice abhors gas, and
will not burn II ! n his office. He cannot
use Kerosene because of the liability OF in.
jury TO plans and drawings. Therefore, he
burns candles Some time ago MIR. Rice
ana his assistant, MIR. s. Lee Durkee, were
working late into the evening by the
light of n number OF candles. Suddenly
the flames began TO waver as II a dfaught
OF wind had disturbed them. MIR. hice
closed the door, but as that had no effect,
he closed the windows. stopping all the
steadily, and finally, unable TO pursue
his work by the dancing. quivering light,
he was oh iged TO leave II untnishe
Mary's name has been mentioned in this
connection by those who are bit super
stitious.
IL is well known that Mary rarely had
sufiici soap at hand for her work from
day to day, and she felt Obliged Co pcti.
tion engineer Simonds frequently for
supplies Her requests Tor soap became
byword about the building. Now. Mr..
Simonds says he wishes he had furnished
her with two cakes for every one she ask
ed for.
Late Monday afternoon, Just before the
occupants OF the various Offices prepared
10 leave Tor tho night, be says, there sud
denly cime from nowhere, apparently,
the sound o hollow voice thst uttered
n single word thar sounded like "soap."
IL was SO peculiar voice that several
persons steI ped out into the hall to learn