Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-07-16
LIBRARY Is HAUNTED.
Strange Visitations Disturb the
Quiet of Midnight Hour.
Heard-sound of Singing
and Prayer-Face Peers at Watch
man and vanishes Through Oak
Door-Eludes all Efforts at Capture
Local Tradition of Frenchman.

Do0f-Eludes all Efforts at Capture
Local Tradition of Frenchman.
The new University Library is
haunted. Several parties who have
| been around the building at the dread
hours when departed spirits are won't
to return from the grave, have heard
strange sounds and have seen strange
sights, but have hesitated TO let their
experiences be known, fearing public
derision. The ghosty yisitations
have become so frequent, however, and
the manifestations so pronounced that
it is impossible to conceal the facts
longer.
ii Hoffman, the night Waterman
is the man who has known most OF
these matters. Mr.. Hoffman came
from Preston county few months
ago to accept the position, He weighs
over two hundred pounds, has plenty
Of courage, and is not given to imagi-
native flights nor morbid fancies He
is what the story-tellers would call
sturdy knayea and is not the kind to
be alarmed by anything but real
spook.
His first knowledge that the library
was being visited by some person or
thing at an unseemly hour came a
week or two ago when he heard the
noise of footsteps ascending the stairs
He listened, opened the door, and
went in. The footsteps receeded rap
idly toward the cellar He hurried
after them, turned on the light, made
thorough search, but found no one.
Neither could he find a place where
anyone could have escaped from the
building Several times he heard the
noises, and tried to locate them, but
without avail. Lock doors and win
dows as he wonld, the sounds of foot
steps, wrestling of papers, and now and
then as book falling, was heard.
Fastenings of doors and windows were
never disturbed. Then Mr.. Hoffman
wrote to Geo. Cobun that somebody
was getting into the library at night
and asked him TO come and help to
catch the intruder, before mischief
was done. Mr.. Cobun has not gone
yet. Meanwhile there have been more
startling manifestations.
One night Mr.. Hoffman heard the
noises and rushed in to catch the un-
timely visitor. He saw face gazing
at him from behind pillar and rush
ed towards it. 1t disappeared. Mr.
Hoffman followed the sound OF foot
steps to the door, and down the stair
leading into the basement He closed
the door behind in as he went. Around
the basement fled the invisible feet,
and up the stair case. Hoffman again
saw the face, pale and shadowy, and
carefully guarding the narrow passage,
thought to capture the intruder. The
face turned full upon him at the door,
there was a low moan, and all was
silent. There was nothing in the
stairway. The strangest manifesto
tion was yet to come however.
One night about twelve o'clock, the
Waterman was startled by the sound
of voices, singing in the basement OF
the library. There seemed to be an
hundred singers, and they followed
with musical precision the measures
Of an old familiar hymn. lie heard
the notes and the time seemed famil-
lar, but afterwards he remembered
neither. When he went to the cellar
the singing stopped. Later, he again
heard sounds, and on listening intent
ly, distinguished the words and tones
OF man in prayer,
So far, these things seem inexplic-
able. It is a well-known fact that the
Library is built on the site of an old
Methodist graveyard, and that the
bodies were moved for this purpose.
There is tradition among some Of
the older residents Of the town that
the remains OF Frenchman, Jean
Mareschal, who came to this vicinity
years ago, and lived and died mysteri-
ously, were buried there. The
Frenchman lived alone, and although
no one knew him well. he was thought
to be in league with the Evil One. His
tastes were literary, and a short time
before he died, he burned all Of his
books. 1t was said by those who
claim to know most of him, that he
was banished by Marie Antoinette.
Whether his restless spirit is haunting
the library built upon his grave, or
not, can never be determined, but it
| is fact that certain volume on the
French Revolution has shown signs OF
much misuse lately. Its pages and
| binding have been found damp of
mornings, and once there were marks
of fingers stained with clay.