The San Francisco call., 1901-11-30
MYSTIC CASTLE
NOW IN ASHES
Fire Destroys Ghostly
Mansion Where Magic
Reigned.
Flames Recall the Strange
Story Of Black Cross
Brethren.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
1112 Rroadwau Nov 90

" i,
Ills Broadway, Nov. %.
| Castle Peterhof, with it's strange mem
! cries of mysticism and magic, is no more.
| The rambling structure that overlooked
| Upper Fruitvale from the high hillside
| on which it stood was burned to the
ground this evening. All that remains of
| the mysterious home of the Order of the
Black Cross is a mass of charred ruins
| and the memory of the ghostly crew that
! once held forth among its uncanny en-
Vironments.
For miles around the mass of flames
that destroyed the big white castle was
visible. Hundreds of people were attract
ed to the scene, to watch the last of the
mysterious building, which was the CEN
ter of one of the most remarkable series
of episodes in the record of fact.
Soon after $50 o'clock this afternoon
the fire was discovered. Alarms were
given. and the volunteer departments of
Lower and Upper Fruitvale responded
But there was not drop OF water avail
able, so the fire fighters could only stand
around and watch the rapid destruction
of the famous old structure.
The place was tenantless and to trampS
is aScribed the fire that has closed it's
existence. Two months ago 1t was occu-
pied as Home for the f'riendless,'' but
the managers suddenly disappeared one
day. Since then wanderers have enjoyed
its hospitalities.
9t4 4dASC OLS4y S4 q ASAcbS1A S@OSSe
Castle Peterhof was located 150 yards
east of Fruitvale avenue, opposite East
Twenty-seventh street. 1t was the home
in his lifetime of DR.. Peter William Poul-
son, one-time successful dentist in this
city and one of the central figures in the
strange story of the Black Cross, which
startled Oakland few years ago. When
he appeared before public gaze it was as
Count Peter Poulson of Castle Peterhof,
founder and high priest of the Brother
hood of the Black Cross, a band of re-
ligious devotees who had united to uplift
their spiritual condition. AS high priest
DR.. Poulson composed strange ritual
calling for incarnation and conjurings.
The brethren assembled in a chapel the
walls and ceiling OF which were draped in
black, with streaks Of flaming red over
them. In monastic garb the worshipers
made their esoteric divinations and OBJ
served the ritualistic ceremonies Count
Peter had evolved.
He owned Peterhof and many other
holdings, the accumulation of his many
years of professional practice. Poulson
was at this juncture divorced from Mrs.
Berkeley. He became interested in a
clairvoyant, a Mrs. Staples of San Fran
cisco, who had a daughter, Alice. Count
Peter decided that he had been command
ed by voices from the unseen world to wed
the daughter. And in due time there was
a spirit wedding. The new mistress of
Peterhof was installed in the old castle.
BY and by trouble broke upon the high
priest of the Black Cross.
The very unspiritual divorce court was
brought into service. Countess Poulson
made very serious charges against her
mystic lord and master. He retaliated
with counter-charges. Before the litiga-
ton came to trial the Count decided Pc
terhof and a lot of Los Angeles property
to the accusing wife. They separated for
a time. but finally were reunited.
Troubles Come to the Count.
Across the path of the Count came one
Lizzie Carter, who had known the leader
lived in Iowa. Lizzie Carter tried to con-
vince the dentist that he should put away
his bride Alice and wed her. Miss Carter
was positive that the spirits had gone
awry, and that she, Lizzie Carter, was
the only true spiritual spouse for the
Count. Miss Carter enlivened the domes-
tic mixup by penning many remarkable
letters to the master of Peterhof.
A daughter. Deborah, had been born to
the Poulsons. Among the followers of
the Poulson mysteries was Mrs. Boul-
lion. She had son, mere child, who
was duly consecrated as the spirit hus-
band of young Deborah.
Another strange devotee was Prophet
Smith, who for several years resided at
alarm on the part OF the uninitiated
At last Count Peter departed and ended
his days at Council Bluffs, where he was
given peaceful burial. Mrs. Poulson, now
a widow, and with Peterhof on her hands.
discovered that litigation cost money. The
years OF DaIIl0 naQ edleIl the property.
1t came to be an object of a dozen law
suits. She defended her title and won,
but the mortgages rendered her victory
barren one.
The widowed Countess married again a
few years ago. She is now Mrs. Alice
Austin, wife of a San Francisco musician
residing at 1O8 Clara avenue.
Prophet Smith has gone to his reward.
Lizzie Carter is an inmate of the Iowa
State Hospital for the Insane and Peter
hof, with its ghostly towers and gables.
is heap of ashes