The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-21
FrightfuI Experiences Of Family in
a Haunted House.
QUEER THINGS THAT HAPPENED
a Strange Presence Perceived by the
Residents OF the Building ana
O1hcrs-Futi.c Attempts 80
Catch the Ghost.

I
Newark Ohe real names and street num-
Der are Withheld by the SUM, are pre-
pared 10 testify that there are such things
as ghosts. and also that ghosts DO all
the unacountaDle things that have been
ascrlbed to them. All their doubts on the
subject have been removed during an &C
tive experience OF four years.
The Dioksoms took "a fancy to the house
because OF its appearance, us fourteen
spacious rooms. and its location near
the centre Of the city. The owner hau
much 10 say jn praise OF 1T, but pfupehly
withheld some very important inIofha-
ton. which would certainly have saved
the new tenants much anxiety ana con
siderable loss Of sleep. FOR instance ne
never said a word about the peculiar dOu-
BILE fasteners on the windows, nor ala
he tell why chain bolts had been put upon
the inner side Of every bedroom door.
After the Decisions had been in possession
Of the house couple Of nights some
members OF the household complained or
some rafting windows and Of the opcring
and closing of doors on the third floor
very late at night, when they were GER
tain that every ono was i'm bed. The
wind. Of course was blamed for disturb
ing them. bat an entirely different eXpla-
nation had 10 be found for n happening
few nights later. when certain door on
the second floor was repeatedly slammed
shut. and each time opened again, though
every one in the house knew that no one
was I'm the room or even on that floor
at the time.
SOUND OF FOOTSTEPS
Soon aferwafd Miss Rapp. who occu-
pied the largest bedroom on tho thifd
story was awakened one night by the
sound of some one walking about her
room. She sat up in bed and listened at
tenuvely. Plainly she could hear on the
carpet footsteps, now advancing. now re-
ceding. Stare as she might She could
see nothing. Soon the footballs ceased,
and Miss Rapp, having called out and re-
ceived no reply sank back on her pillow
and tried TO compose herself to sleep. She
knew she had locked the door and fasten-
ed the window securely. No one could
possibly enter in the morning she found
everything intact
Many visitors M the house remarked
after entering the parlOr that they were
sure some cue else had come IN from the
street after them, FOR they heard the
front door open and the steps OF some
one I'm the hall. Members OF the family
invariably found that no one could pos
sibly have followed the visitors into the
house. rs after the admission Of Ni-l-
Tor the door was Immediately closed and
fastened One evening Mr.. and Mrs.
Dickson returned home early after VS.
II to a neighb0r. and. after securing the
front door, went upstairs. IEey had
hardly reached the top Of the staircase
when they were startled by the sound or
the door swinging on hs hinges but
without the familiar click or the lock,
and some one seemed TO be walking rap
idlv through the hall. Nothing, they
aver. could be more distinct than those
sounds Immediately they both went 10
the first floor searched that thoroughly,
and then went through every nook ana
corner OF the basement. Not only cono
they find no intruder, but every uoor ana
window was fastened tightly.
SPRINkLED TACkS.
Miss Rapp was next disturbed by some
more strange walking at night IN ner
bed room. and, thinkinking she was me
victim of a practical joke. she determined
TO ascertain just how much sensiblAty
her nightly visitor possessed. According
~ she bought several boxes of carpet
tacks. and, without letting any one know
Of her intention. strewed them caretuly
over the carpet i'm her room. Ihat night
she took every prccantion aRtiuS, iH1i u-
sion. No one could possibly get into the
bed room except by violence. she went
10 bed. kept herself awake. and awaited
DEVELOPMENTS. About 1 O'Clock the mys-
terious walking began. The steps were
those Of a woman. short and rather quick,
and the FOOTBALLS indicated That the
walker was either baref0otcd or wore
stockings The moonlight which came
through the unobstructed window. tel on
the carpet. and there was enough ltn,
about 10 render an large objects plan
visible Backward and forward the Visl-
tor walked. the carpet could DE neaID
The walker was SIN invisible % mortal
eyos Tho tacks were thn~n but their
sharp points punc'ured DO feet and
caused no pain
Miss Rapp marycilel at the incident
IL was useless to call anyone 80 one
was playing a trick on her. She waited
until the footsteps died away. Then
sho stepped in her shoes tD The door
found tine chain bolt undsturbed and the
window fasteners iR place She prob d
with "a bi0oml under Che bed and in
closets and corners only to have tAe
conviction forced on Der that she was
absolutely alone end that no human being
bad entered her apartments since she zee
tired.
HEARD A VOICE.
sho had hardly settled herself Ia bed
when a womlns voice, strong and dis
tinct. but wholly unfamiliar, called out
"M0iHe" which Is her name. The tone
was very grave. there was IN ii am Unmis-
taxable note Of sadness, as OF some one
I'm distress This. Miss R4pp thought
would AFFORD her am opportunity to COM
mun!cate with emD0died spirit She
made haste 10 answer, la the hope Of
starting a conversation.
"Moiue." repeated tho strange voice,
and then 10 was silent. Tho EFFORT TO
make the spirit tell its troubles TN the
hope OF arranging terms OF peace was
vain.
Members Of the family noticed that Mrs
Dickson invariably lie the gas IN one
room. day and night. whenever she enter
cd it. and she was asked to explain her
action
Every time" said she. 81 enter that
room something comes into &c along with
me. and / feel more comfortable when
the gas is IT, il matters not how ! try 10
steal into the room, how little space
leave myself between the door and the
lamb I'm entering. something or sone one
IL seems 10 be "a woman. for / car feel the
rustic OK skirts close 10 me-always slips
into the room. Yet once In there ! am
never troubled"
The younger members OF the family
often complained that, while engaged at
night I'm their studies, an invisible some
thing would nutter about the room, dart
I'm and out of doors. steal about on tiptoe,
and even bend over Them az times In
most uncomfortable manner. They were
brave children and had been taught -
have no fear Of supernatural manifesto
tions. but the behavior Of the uncanny
things always made them I'll az ease. and
a.