The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-11
pLYMOUTH'S HAUNTED HOUSE.
strange Rappings Which frightened
Mrs. Titus and Her Neighbors.

From the Wilkes-Barre Times,
Down in Plymouth the people have
been having quite an experience with
haunted house. This supernatural
place which was stunned by the neigh
bors was the residence of Mrs. Mary
Iltus ON Vine street Mrs. Titus Is a
WIDOW and has resided in the house
with her married daughter, Mrs. Cora
Shaw, since the death of her husband,
Dennis Titus, who was killed in Della
ware and Hudson mines No. ., thirteen
years ago, by fall of rock
For the past week strange rapping
noises, apparently emanating from the
cellar, have been heard through the
house. At first Mrs. Titus was inclined
TO believe they were caused by some
natural action which was concealed,
but as the strange sounds were con-
tinually heard, she became alarmed.
To the neighbors whom she told the
story it appeared ridiculous. But they
also became convinced that some su-
pernatural being was haunting the
premises, sftcr being in the house for
some little time, for they too heard the
strange rapping. A large number of
people visited the hous= and will swear
they heard the ghost knocking on the
floor, for the sounds were plainly heard
The neighbors began to talk about
the matter and the two women who
occupied the house were nearly fright
cned out of their wits, for incessantly
they heard the ghostly rap. A circum-
stance which lent color TO the story of
the haunted house was the opening up
of the abandoned district in the mine
where Mr.. Titus was killed. Shortly
after he was killed by the fall of rock
the whole section near caved in and
has never been worked to this day. A
few weeks ago the company determined
to again operate the abandoned section,
and about the time the ghost made his
appearance at the Titus house, the
workmen reached the point where the
unfortunate Mr.. Titus had met his
death.
This fact was enough to set the SUI
perstitiouS all agog. The old miners
who were called to the house said the
rapping was identical with that heard
in the mines when men were entombed.
The spirit of the dead man had re-
turned, and was rapping on it's threst-
old, for release.
The object of the ghosts persecution
seemed to he the daughter, Mrs. Shaw,
who is nervously affected, subject to
Mysteries and afflicted by that terrible
disease st. Nitus' dance. Wherever
she went, there followed the ghost,
from room to room, wherever she tar
ried for a moment there around her
sounded the death-lilte rap. The poor
woman suffered terribly, others might
avoid 1t but she could not. She was
nearly driven crazy, and the distract
ed mother was little comfort. a day
or two ago, the mother sat down by
the side of the daughter to discuss
the terrible misfortune which had over
whelmed them. Suddenly there came
a rapping. rapping! from beneath the
kitchen floor. AS the women became
more frightened more audible became
the ominous knocking.
The mothers eyes were closely fixed
on the daughter. she heard the tapping
plainly ard discovered something
which shocked her more than all the
ghosts in creation could. She had dis
covered the wonderful supernatural
being, the ghost who had haunted the
house, and mystined the wiseEx neigh
bors. 1t was st. Vitus. The daughter
when seated was unconsciously tapping
the floor with the heel of her shoe.
1t is not gainsaying that the women
were greatly relieved and like all 9TH
er ghost stories, this one was easily
explained.