The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03
THREE SAW THIS GHOST.
STORY OF HAUNTED HOUSE ON
SANTA CATALINA ISLAND.

Donovan, n Beachcomber, Tells of the
Expert ences Of Johnny CRAZY. the Old
Collector and Bims.lf-woman In White
and the Man Who Murdered Her.
PASADENA. Cal. Nov. 24.-"Did ever hear Of
Il? May the saints preserve me. have said
beachcomber. who might have been college
professor long years ago. but very long. keep
that In mind. His name was Donovan. no
said. and all through our acquaintance knew
that II was not his right name. and he knew
that / suspected Il, but. as he never mentioned
his affair. l never attempted to open the door
Of his past life-the present was bad enough
lie was Just what he saba human dere-
lct hunted perhaps by his Imagination
or something worse. and living in rough
board shanty on the borders OF the great
Kurusiwo current that sweeps down through
the California islands To his patrons he pre-
tended to be beachcomber. making bunR-
ling pretence at ignorance, but one day when
he was rowing me TO the fishing banks l
CHANGED 10 quote or misquote n line from Ovid.
when he said: Il make IL this way, sir" Civ
ing the line correctly. l turned quickly. as
had my back to him. He caught my look OF
inquiry and then glanced around wildly.
sweeping in the sea. ths distant mountains;
| then dropped his face upon his rough Scared
hands for moment This was the man who
| told me the story.
| Have l ever heard OF III he repeated.
THE first time heard II was one night nearly
| twenty years ago. when I nrst came here.
You mind old Johnny Gralyr There's little
soclability about him: for five Year, he lived
over the divide Jest yonder on the harbor side.
| and lived here on the beach; but We never
spoke He was In the shark-a line. selling to
| the Chinese. and I was lobsterin'. But one
| night a southeaster came on-the like I've
never seen. The sea came piling in. threaten
| ing to sweep the beach away. and there
| was a strange moaning sound In the
| wind that took my heart away; II
| sounded like a thousand men wailing
aud moaning. could hear IL coming on the
storm. now low and muttering. gradually
rising and sweeping around the bit Of house
like some one screaming for help; then It
would die away over the hills to come again.
The wind tore hole In the roof and the rain
poured in. but dared not go out-I was Jest
afraid To face them. that's all there is TO IT,
| As stood there listening l thought heard a
| voice, and then my name. Don van help
helpv l swear thought II was coming up
| from the sea.
Drunk No. hadn't had q sup. sir. for
weeks ] barred the door and sat against It!
| Don o-vanl' II came again, now on the wind.
| and then some one struck the door a blow and
| a voice cried Donovan. are you there? In Gods
y.
said the voice: In Heavens name, let me in. ;
l unbarred the door, and John CRAZY rushed
| in with as white face as l ever saw
| on mortal man. He snatched the bar from
| my hand screaming. Hold It. hold II. man I
for something tried to tear the door open
while We fought to hold It, Finally we got
| the bar in place then CRAZY fell on the bunk
like one struck down. What Ia it?' l asked.
grabbing him by the shoulder. and whrl-
him about; are ye madT No. Donovan, I'm
not he said. when he could get his tongue,
but there's abroad them that is saw the
man was almost crazed with fear. ard after a
while. when I'd given him drink OF coffee. he
told me this; First Donovan ne said, point
ing to the chair Twas sitting on where did ye
get that chair: It's from the hill yonder at
Johnson'sT Yes I said. Put It out, Dono-
van, he cried, put II out; there's blood on II.
You'd have thought he saw a ghost by the ex.
| preston OF his eyes. and TO calm him l raised
tho window and set the chair outside. Is there
anything else here from that houseP he then
asked. looking around Not thing.' said.
which was true enough as 1t was the only
piece OF furniture In the shanty.
Dye know he began. dye know I've
been on the end OF the island for two days
after abaoneA. and on my way down to-day I
was caught In the storm Jest at Brooches house.
save the mark. crossing himself. I don't
know what made me- but the rain was nigh
washing me away and was forced In. and In
wspt,mores the pity There It vas. all fur
nished; the table set the same as Us been for
windows and locked the door on account OF the
SsaA T anS dI, T mS.. 0H TS TS the
while was growing worse and worse. had
sssSasl 4. Boa! .sS P' &, sss VT" .l