The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1899-01-26
A TRIP TO FLORIDA.
GHOSTS AND TRAGEDY,
A Marietta Citizen Relates
an Interesting Experience.
A NIGHT OF TREPIDATION,
A Tramp Journalist az a Companion.
Sleeping i'm Church and Dis
tmbed by Ghosts.
A NIGHT OF TREPIDATION.

1t is interesting to hear Mr.. w. II
Fox. merchant of this place, tell of
his first visit to Florida 1t was years
ago. and some portions of it he footed.
He tells of falling in with n journalist
by the name of Mr.. James Gage, who
was tramping through the country,
writing a book on the "Travels and
Experiences of Tramp" He had no
money, but sachel, writing material
and manuscript by the pile. This jour
nalist, or tramp printer" was a very
intelligent fellow. He would visit a
town, 60 into a printing office, beg ex-
changes, and then as he journeyed
through Florida he would represent
himself as an agent taking subscrip-
tions at farm houses for the different
papers in exchange for meals, giving
receipt as part payment.
On one day they had travelled through
the pinery of Florida and struck a
church at night, many miles from any
ones house. Mr.. Fox proposed that
they sleep in the church that night
Mr.. Gage demurred, said he would not
sleep in church for any thing, that
ghosts visited churches, and he had n
superstitous and horrible dread of
ghosts.
Mr.. Fox assured his companion that
his fears were purely imaginary and MS
baseless as the fabric of dream; there
were no such things as ghosts, and he
intended to sleep in the lonesome old
church if he had to do so alone.
A window was raised and an entrance
effected. Candles were found and a
light made. They cooked their meal
and after partaking heartily, they
spread their blankets on the floor and
were ready for nights repose, the
journalist concluding to sleep in the
church rather than stay outdoors by
himself
Tired and weary, they were soon
wrapt in profound sleep. About mid
night, the journalist aroused Mr.. Fox
and stated that the building was haunt
ed, and that unearthly noises, the rat
Ting of chains, stamping of feet and
groans, had been heard and he could
not sleep.
Mr.. Fox told him that he was unnec-
essarily excited, there were no ghosts,
and that he probably had been dream
ing of ghosts, owing to the fact that he
had been talking about them before go
ing to sleep
The journalist told him to remain
awake few minutes and he would be
convinced by hearing the noise himself
Mr.. Fox says he waited patiently and
directly the noise began as if stamping
of feet and ripping of flooring and it all
proceeded from under the house. Cold
chills began to run over Mr.. Fox
and he was seized with fear himself.
He told his companion that he was GO
ing to investigate and find out the
cause. The journalist begged him not
to go outdoors, that he would be killed.
But seeing Mr.. Fox determined to go,
he thought the best part Of discretion
was to accompany him. Mr.. Gage was
a big strapping fellow but afraid of
ghosts. A torch was lighted and they
marched around the church and came
to descending steps to basement. The
door was partially open, filth and mud
had accumulated until it couldn't be
moved. The opening was sufficient to
admit mans body. Mr.. Fox with
torch in one hand and pistol in the
other, ventured in to the cellar, while
Mr. Gage remained outside at the door
peering in and ready to give assistance
if needed
Mr. Fox hadn't more than gotten in
side when his light went out. He
struck match and an unseen influence
extinguished it. Darkness impenetrable
to human vision. He looked around
and there seemed to flash forth hun
dreds of twinkling stars or red shining
eyes. Surely the spooks had him. He
decided to fire his pistol and see
the result. He told Gage to stand
at the door. Bang !" went the pistol,
and Immediately there was commo-
ton. Out dashed pell nell fifty goats
and sheep, snorting and bleating, each
bounding to get out at the narrow open
door Mr. Gage was knocked down and
tranipled upon by the fleeing goats and
sheep. He yelled, II am being killed p
The frightened animals, which had taxi