The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-02-06
NATIONAL PHANTOMS
GHOSTS THAT HAUNT THE UNITED
STATES CAPITOL.

Eoid bs Dne OF the ,Oiu ehhrus'
Like most repositories OF good stories.
the ancient man who has spent dec
ades as guard in the capitol in wash
ington did not yield up the fullness OF
his narratory riches without struggle. |
Its unpleasant TO be made a mock |
Of by the skeptical," he protested. "Do |
you believe in ghosts, young manT
"If answering in the affirmative be- |
gets an interesting tale, do" returned |
the writer.
"Well, starting on the premise that
you do believe to some extent in the
supernatural, | will admit you to my
confidence" resumed the old guard,
and here goes for the authentic yarn
of the spooks that haunt the nations
capitol:
''In the long. monotouous watches OF
the night nnumerable are the spooks,
hobgobins and the eerie, vapory
things which glide from the Shadowy
hooks aud crannies OF the Intangible
nowhere to people the capitors vast
Stretches OF darkness. OF course you
know Of the extraordinary acoustic
freaks which obtain In many parts Of
the great buildlng-how a whisper, a
breathed word at one particular point
Is audible at another scores of feet dis.
tant? Yes. Now, at night these acous-
dc spirits simply 90 mad. Where they
by day were pygmies they expand into
giants, and a whistle, sudden sound.
football. resolves itself into a pan
demonium.
Weird. terrifying noises beat upon
the eardrums OF the watchmen as they
pursue their lonely patrols through the
Seeming miles Of corridors, and then
the spooks, the shades of the nations
great, the astral bodies of those that
toiled in obscurity for the nations good,
dodge the watchmen's step, some
grand and awful I'm their speechless
dignity. some creeping humbly about
In apologize silence, some laughing,
some sobbing, but all of them horrible
horrible"
The old man paused to muse.
do you know" he said, breaking
into his own reverie explosively, Feb
% Is a date dreaded by many Of the
capitol night guards? Ii was on this
day. in 1S4S. that John Quincy Adams
died in the chamber of the house Of
representatives. now Statuary hall,
where the exact spot is marked by a
brass tablet. Promptly at midnight
on every anniversary Of his death the
shade OF John Quincy Adams appears
In sort of phosphorescent glow over
this brass tablet oh. dozens OF guards
lao . to, frna
as l, and | can refer you to many Of
them for affirmation of my assertions.
"0nce over the spot the shade begins
to gesticulate. after the manner OF a
member addressing the house. Then,
all OF a sudden. the fine face becomes
distorted and agonized. the gracefully
waving arms fall convulsively. aud
down sinks the shade with all the
movements of an expiring man. Then
the phosphorescent glow fades away,
and the ethereal effigy dissolves.
But. although lost sight OF, its pres
ence is still made known by the 'clump
fop. clump. hop. of invisible foot
falls departing down one of the long
vacant corridors.
stranger than this is the ghost OF
the entire congress OF 1S4S. which ap
pears in vigorous II spooky session ev
cry once in awhile In Statuary hall. the
old hall OF representatives, as l have
previously remarked. Inaudible, but
spirited. are the debates; energetic tC
the bursting point OF vehemence arc
the silent political dissensions. Pro
voked by doubling Thomas. a mem
Der OF the capitol night watch severa
years ago made affidavit that he haC
seen this ghostly congress in session
Yes be was a sober man and true.
",rhe shade Of General John A. Lo
gan is frequeat visitor at the capitol
Almost every alternate night at hal
past II O'Clock this ghost materalizei
at the door Of the room occupied 10y
the senate committee on military ant
militia. Silently the door swings open
and out steps the looming and lumi
nous presence. TO stalk In stately dig
nifty away into the swallowing gloom
This Is a favorite phantom with thu
guards. Its conduct is exemplary.
"Then there is the shade Of Vice
President Wilson. who died in his room
in the senate end OF the capitol, yot
Will recall. Its peregrInations are few
and desultory. When IL does come
there is always an expression OF con
Germ and self absorption In the ghostll
face The movements OF the vapor,
body are restless and hurried
"All OF the older members of thu
night watch are well acquainted witt
Vice President Wilson's apparition ali,
never fail to salute 1t. although, trutl
10 tell. the shade remains haughtily In
different to their Difference. This spool
rarely falls 10 put in an appearance
when the body of a dead legislator o
statesman OF national renown IL lynn
In state In the capitol.
Deep in the subcellar vaults spook
of lesser magnitude revel in hordes
Immediately beneath the hall Of rep
rpaQnto fiyaa ovarV nipht ia To he fOuDl