The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-29

about fireslde in their accustomed way.
They had remained up later than usual, the
time nearing the midnight hour. AS they
We're about to retire they heard heavy foot
steps coming down the sidewalk Nearer
and nearer they came until opposite their
door, when, with one loud stamp, the foot
steps ceased as If a pedestrian had sud
denly halted there. The family supposed
that 1t was a neighbor going by and gave
the occurrence only passing thought.The
following evening the same footballs were
heard and as before they paused in front
of the door This appeared to Mr.. Dixon to
be a strange affair and he quietly went to
the door opened It and peered out into the
moonlight. There was no one in sight or
hearing. Night after night the same mys-
terious footsteps were heard and no clew
60 the cause could be discovered
A constant repetition of the strange Wis
itation unneryed Mr.. Dixon and he procur-
ed a revolver and when his ghOstship
again walked the earth and stopped I'm
front of the door he fired two shots
through the door, the balls lodging In the
frame Of a dlapidated summer screen
which had not been removed since the
summer days had departed, but yet the
ghost would not down. The family now
became thoroughly terrorized and lived in
dread Of the return Of night. One night af-
ter the family had retired the footsteps
were again heard approaching, but in
stead of stopping in front of the door pass
ed around the house and stalked In at the
rear door, came up the basement stairway
and passed through the sleeping apart
ment and out through the front door. None
of the doors was noticeably opened nor
could any object be observed as the foot
steps, which were loud and distinct, passed
through the house.
hot hn Of
this mysterious phenomenon would be
enough to scare almost anybody into fit,
but worse was to come. The ghost after
tramping around the house week or so,
to announce his presence In the vicinity.
seemed to make up his spook mind 10
show himself that there might be no ques-
ton about his existence or non-existence,
whichever ghosts have.
on particular evening the husband
was called away from home for a short
time. leaving the wife In mortal fear of
the return of the nocturnal visitor during
his absence While he was away she went
to the back room for drink of water.
and as she came near the open basement
stairway she saw the form of an old man
with gray beard and haggard counten-
auce ascending the steps. She said he was
dressed in dark suit and wore red
shirt She fell in a swoon and did not re-
cover uIllll liiC ItihiI VI AtA hAFbHiths AAA1
story of her discovery and fright was re-
lated to her husband, and the premises
were Immediately searched The doors
and windows Of the basement were found
securely fastened as they had left them.
twice this mysterious old man appeared
10 the wife and along with these appara-
lions strange noises were heard, one being
a sound of dripping water on the floor,
in one corner OF a room, which the wife
described as similar to the dripping of
blood and so one sensation followed an
other until the family were almost fright
ened out of their wits.
Al last the family were compelled to
abandon the hause, since which time
neighbors. newspaper reporters and police
men have organized watch parties in an
attempt to solve the mystery. and al
though the same strange things occurred
N them their labor to find solution has
so far been in vain
The house was built only a few years
ago and no mysterious deaths or TRACE
dIes have occurred within its walls. There
is unauestionably a problem to solve in
connection with the strange noises which
have been heard by people who were not
frightened nor possessed OF the least par
ticle Of superstition. Mr.. Dixon and his
wife are possessed of a reasonable amount
Of Intelligence, and without further proof
their story deserves credence.
This is the first supernatural sensation
Fort Madison has ever reyeied IN, and