Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-09
sPOOK WITH POKER CHIPS.

An Uncommon Ghost In Columbia, s.
c., With the Powers of a Magician.
From the New York Sun.
For three weeks there has been a series
Of alleged spirit manifestations in an old
residence on Laurel street in Columbia. S.
c. The police are harassed by the crowds
that block the streets near the house; chill
dren are reduced to good behavior by men
ton of the spook, while citizens have Wis
tied the place with a determination to solve
the puzzle, and have turned away more
mystified than ever. The family in the
house has been so much annoyed that 1t
is about to give up the lease Of the house.
The building is a large, wooden, o1d-fash-
toned two-story affair, one of those that
survived the fire Of 1866. 1t Is occupied by
Mr.. John Bauskett his wife, three grown
daughters and a son. Mr.. Bauskett is a
very matter-of-fact lawyer about fifty years
old. He was United States commissioner
at Columbia during the Cleveland admins
tration The family was first disturbed by
bric-a-brac falling from the wall The wo-
men were alone and much alarmed, but
when Mr.. Frank Bauskett, who is rail-
road man, game in he laughed at their
fears. However. he was kept awake for
several hours; big brass key was placed
OH pllloN hAiu IL piSSS VA NoAAiAAoii Se'i Doii
on his breast
In subsequent days and nights all kinds
of things have been done. A set of survey
ing Instruments were removed from box
and scattered around; they were restored to
their places by'members of the family and
moved again. One of the young women
was curling her hair with the ordinary
tongs used for that purpose. She put them
down to answer a knock on the door; on
returning the longs were gone. One prong
was found in, the window. another was
found on her bed Young Bauskett found
the clock key on his pillow; he put 1t be-
another room. Another time on going into
his room, Frank Bauskett bolted the door;
the next minute the bolt was withdrawn.
Another member of the family was lying
lightly one the covering. Another slight
noise followed. and another. All the pills
from a little bottle on the mantel were
thrown on the bed. then the bottle fol-
One of ethe tfavorite Dastimes of the
"spook'' is to place something in the hand
Of a member Of the family or an investi-
gator. Two very skeptical men. one an, Of
ficiaI Of the Southern railroad, visited the
house a few nights ago. They had been in
the parlor only a few minutes, just long
enough to shut down all the windows, draw
the blinds and examine the walls, when it
began to rain poker chips, not hard show
err. but a soft pattering of the fascinating
whites. reds and blues. They did not fall
from above, and could not be seen till they
struck the floor. 1t was judged by the
force Of the fall that they were released
about eighteen inches or two feet from the
floor.
On another occasion the police were treat
ed to a similar fall OF brass-headed tacks.
And so IT has gone night and day. hum
dreds of people of intelligence have person
ally observed. If 1t is fraud perpetrated
by members Of the Bauskett family, some
one is wasting magician's powers that
would bring satisfactory returns II the
talents were turned to money making chan
nels.