Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-21
A GHOST DISCOVERED.
Thrilling Experience in a House Said
to Be Haunted.

to Be Haunted.
ITO be seized by a supernatural presence
in the dark and in a house reputed to be
haunted. must produce a severe tension of
the nerves." said well-known correspond
ent today, and | will relate such an I'M
usual experience in the language OF the
lady who was thus signally honored.
After we moved into the house she told
me. we learned that it bore the reputa-
ton Of being haunted. II was a large brick
mansion in Virginia, three stories in height
the third story being considered the gar
ret. though there were several living rooms
on that floor These We're reserved by the
owner, who resided in an adjacent town.
Inc mouse was situated upon a commanding
eminence and was a conspicuous landmark
for miles around. Several staircases led to
the upper floors and one, a private one In
the rear. could be used and none would be
the wiser 1t opened out upon the rear Of
the lawn among thick shrubbery and trees
in an unfrequented part of the grounds
We soon learned the story Of ghostiy
co-tenants. which was briefly as foIow:
During the civil war the mansion lay
in the path Of Grants march upon Rich
mond. and for time was occupied by a
detachment of his men in command OF a
handsome young captain. He fell des-
perately in love with the daughter of the
manor. whose father and brother were in
Lees opposing army. II appears also that
the girl was loved by a neighboring
fathers regiment. The federal captain had
prevailed upon his commander to withdraw
the troops from the mansion. out of defer
ence to the ladies' and IL was his habit to
visit his sweetheart on horseback from the
federal camp a mile away.
One night he visited the mansion unex-
pectedly. and also stepped into the presence
Of Miss =. who was conversing with two
confederate officers. They were her brother
and her southern admirer. The three Of
ficers at once drew and opened fire with
their reyoivers. When the smoke cleared
away. Miss stood horror stricken in the
presence of the dead bodies OF three young
men who had fought for her sake and their
cause. She lived a month. dying a raw
ing maniac
1t was her ghost which was said by
the countryside to he seen at the windows
of the mansion. and when the storms OF
winter walled through the fir trees the
negro mammys frightened their children
by telling them that the sounds were the
maniacal cries OF the dead girls spirit Ny
sleeping room was on the second floor. Dur
ing the earlier part Of our occupancy 1
thought 1 detected on certain nights the
sound OF footballs above me. i knew that
the rooms We're unoccupied and that the
doors We're locked. the owner stating that
they contained only old personal effects.
The footsteps were sufficiently distinct to
lead ME to the conclusion that they were
those of woman.
Nearly every night thereafter / heard
the soft footballs of the maniac girls ghost
4 plushSu up courage one DflSlt. sunny day
to ascend to the garnet and try the doors
They Were securely locked. and upon peep
ing through the keyholes l saw. only dusty
old furniture. II then In November
and the winds were especially severe One
night when they were sweeping around the
angles of the mansion. and causing the
pines and frs TO moan most dismaiiy, 1
heard the patter, patter Of the gnosts feet
overhead. Then came a fearful crash fol-
lowed by a piercing shrek that rose high
above the bowling Of the gale. l happened
to be dressed. / rushed out into the hall
very much terrified. The lamp had been
eXtinguished and Il was almost pitch dark.
AS / stumbled my way toward the family
lighted and distant staircase / ap-
preaching me an object all in white with
arms extended. the evident appartion Of
the demented girl. She ran straight toward
me- screaming loudly. clasping me tightly
In her embrace.
The yell, as my brother afterward said
l let loose" put the screams Of the ghost
and the walls of the storm TO the blush.
The apparition held me closely to her
begging me inarticulately in English TO
save her. AS soon as felt the warm EN-
brace of her arms L knew that ii
flesh and blood and not a spectral presence
which had hold of me. and my fright sub
sided. st-..
THE ghost turned out to be the par
TALLY imbecle relative of the owner. who,
for reasons of his own. kept her secretly
confined in the upper story of the mansion
under the care of colored attendant who
used the rear private staircase. thus pass
ing in and out unseen. The girl was re-
moved the next day. The crash which had
revealed her presence was caused by the
gale blowing a tall chimney on the
roof, the noise frightening the girl that
il gave her strength To wrench the fasten-
ings from the door and escape down the
staircase
The story of the "ghostesses' of the
mansion. as the colored folk said. was ex-
ploded.