The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-01
sPOuK WITH POKER CHIPA ,
An Uncommon Ghost in Columbia, 8. Cs
with the Powers of n Magician.

WIN the EoWorb VI n phhkh'Ah'
COLUMBIA. g. c. Aug. 31-For three weeks
there have been a series OF alleged spirit
manifestation" In an old residence ON Laurel
street in this city. The police are harassed
by the crowds that block the streets near the
house children are reduced 10 good behavior
by me ntion OF the spook. while citizens have
visited the place with dete rmination to solve
the puzzle, and have turned away more myst-
fed than ever. The family in the house has
been 30 much annoyed that they are about to
give up the lease OF the house.
The building is q large wooden oid-fash-
toned two-story affair, one OF those that sur
vived the fire OF 1865 1t 10 occupied BY Mr..
John Bauskett. his wife. three grown daugh-
ters and son Mr. Bauskett is a very matter
of-fact lawyer about SO years old He was
United States Commissioner here during the
Cleveland Administration. The family was
first disturbed by bric-a-brac falling from the
wall The women were alone and much
alarmed. but when ME- Frank BauSkett. who
lie a railroad man. came In he laughed at their
fears. However. he was kept awake for sew
eral hours: a big brass key WIS placed on his
pillow, and a piece OF common carbon on his
breast
In subsequent days and nights all kinds Of
things have been done. A set Of surveying In
struments were removed from box and scat
places by members OF the family. and moved
again. One OF the young women was curling
her hair with the ordinary tongs used for thHt
purpose. She put thsm down to answer
knock on the door: ON returning the tongs
were gone. One prong was found in the win
dow, another was found on her bed. Young
Bausk EFT found the clock key on his pillow;
he put 1t behind the clock In the morning 1t
was In 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the next minute the bolt was withdrawn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 on
her bed. when she heard som ethinK fall lightly
on the covering. Another slight noise fol-
lowed and another. All the pills from little
bottle on the mantel were thrown on the bed
then the bottle followed
One Of the favorite pastmes OF the "spook
Is to place something In the hand OF member
OF the family or IN investigator. Two very
skeptical men. one an official OF the Southern
railroad. visited the house a few nights ago.
They had been In the parlor only few min
utos. 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 shower. but soft patterinG OF tho fasein-
atinR whites. reds and blues They did not fall
from above. and could not be seen till theJ
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 treated
to a similar fall of brass headed tacks. And so
1t has gone night and day. as hundreds Of
people OF intelligence have personally OBJ
served. II II il fraud perpetrated by m en- bsrs
OF the Bauskett family. some one is wasting
magician's powers that would bring satisfac-
tory returns II the talents were turned to
money-makinR channels.