The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-23
SPIRIT RAPPINGs.
washington IN. c. Spec New York
World

washington IN. c. Spec New York
World
The citizens of this quiet town are
aroused as never before in the towns
history. The cause of this stir of our
citizens is due to a strange and unsee-
able something rapping upon a head
board of a bedstead in the home of
Captain George n. Howard, on Second
street. between Harvey and Market
streets.
This strange noise was first heard
one week ago. AT first the sound was
not 50 noticeable, and it was only
quiet in the house. Each night the
noise grew louder and it was heard
with more frequency.
This bed is the one Mrs. Howard oc-
cupies, and she was greatly alarmed
at this strange sound She is a woman
of much nerve and hence she thought
that she would show as little alarm as
possible. But last night the rapping
was very loud, and at intervals from
hve to twenty minutes apart and
could be heard in every room in the
house
She became very much alarmed, and
sent for her brother. as her husband is
the master of schooner, and away
from home.
Her brother c. E. Harding, who is
deputy register of deeds for the county,
youches for the truthfulness of these
facts.
To-day. the knowledge of the exist
ence OF this strange noise was heraIded
from house to house and hundreds of
men and women have been to the
house, and many of them have heard it,
and testify to the fact
The noise is not so frequently heard
during the day, but to-day great
many heard it while a great crowd
was there this morning. Among them
were to be seen lawyers and doctors
and many of the best people of the
place.
T The rapping was very loud and long
MIS-. Howard, who was standing near
the bed, in front of the fireplace Went
and placed her hand on it and asked
what it wanted. She asked if it wanted
her, her mother, her sister, and named
some other members of the family, but
1t made no reply.
She then asked if it wanted her hus-
band, and the rapping came quick,
loud and long, and the whole bed
shook and trembled like some one was
shaking it violently.
she asked if there was any trouble
with her husband and if anything had
happened to him; still it was silent
She then told it to rap twice if there
was nothing the matter with him, and
1t gave two distinct raps
She became so frightened that she
was unable to ask further questions
This news spread and the excitement
grew intense, until great crowds could
be seen frequenting the house
! The board of county commissioners.
| which was in session at the court
house, adjourned and went to the, house
with two physicians, the clerk of the
| superior court, the county attorney and
a number of others. The house and
whole premises were alive with curl
| OSity seekers
A thorough investigation was made
| of the bed and the arrangement of the
! room, and in no way could this strange
noise be accounted for by any one.
| There is nothing uncommon about the
bed or the arrangement of the furni-
/ ture in the room. It is the same bee
Mrs Howard has occupied for sew
| eral years, and up to a week ago she
| had not heard any unnatural sound
One of the physicians present sug-
| gested that her body must be charged
| with electricity and that it affected
the steel springs but it was ascer.
| tanned that it would rap when she wa:
several feet from it, and the sounc
was from the headboard, four or tiv,
| feet high.
The superstitious portion of our PEG
| pie think it is a spirit, and that it ha.
a meaning.
All admit that it is indeed strange
and cannot account for it. The Inys
terry seems yet to be solved.