Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1903-03-11
NATIONAL PHANT0MS
GHOSTS THAT HAUNT THE UNITED
STATES CAPITOL.

Told by One of the Old Guards.
Like most repositories of good stories
the ancient man who has spent dec
ades as a guard in the capitol in Wash
hgton did not yield up the fullness o
his narratory riches without struggle
ITS unpleasant to be made mocl
Of by the skeptical," he protested. "Dt
you believe in ghosts. young MANI"
IF answering in the affirmative be
gets an interesting tale, do" returned
the writer.
well, starting on the premise tha
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 yarI
of the spooks that haunt the nations
capitol:
I'm the long, monotonous watches OF
the night innumerable are the spooks
hobgobins and the eerie, vapory
things which glide from the shadowy
hooks and crannies of the intangible
nowhere to people the capitoPs vas
stretches of darkness. OF course YOU
know of the. extraordinary acoustic
freaks which obtain in many parts OF
the great building-hOw whisper, 8
breathed word at one particular point
Is audible at another scores Of feet dis
tant? Yes. Now, at night these acous
tic spirits simply 20 mad. Where they
by day were pygmies they expand into
giants. and whistle, a sudden sound
football, resolves itself into 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 in their speeches.
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? 1t was ON this
day. in 1913, 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
have seen it from time to time as well
as |, and can refer you to many of
them for affirmation of my assertions.
"Once over the spot the shade begins
to gestculate, after the manner Of
member addressing the house. Then.
all of sudden. the fine face becomes
distorted and agonized, the gracefully
waving arms fall convulsively, and
down sinks the shade with all the
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 kaewn by the 'clump.
flop. 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 if 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 to
the bursting point of vehemence are
the silent political dissensions. Pro
voked by doubling Thomas, a mem
Der of the capitol night watch several
years ago made affidavit that he had
seen this gboStly congress in session
Yes. he WAS Il sober man and true.
"The shade of General John A. Lo-
san is Il frequent visitor at the capitol.
NNCiy Ut IulI
past II O'Clock this ghost materializes
1t the door of the room occupied by
he senate committee on military anG
militia. Silently the door swings open
md out steps the looming and lumi
lous presence. to stalk in stately diG |
lity away into the swallowing gloom. |
This is favorite phantom with the |
yards. Its conduct is exemplary.
"rhen there is the shade Of Vic,
President Wilson. who died in his roof
II the senate erd of the capitol, yon
will recall. Its peregrinations are few
md desultoiy. When 1t does come.
here is always an expression Of con
ern and self absorption in the ghostly
ace. The movements of the vapOry
'ody are restless and hurried
"All of the older members Of the
light watch are well acquainted with
lice President Wilson's apparitiOn and
ever fail to salute it, although, truth
o tell, the shade remains haughtily III
ifferent to their Difference. This spool;
|
When the body of dead legislator or
tatesman Of national renown is lying
D state in the capitol.
Deep in the subcellar vaults spooks
lesser magnitude revel in hordes.
beneath the hall Of rep
every night Is to be found
tall. erect. gaunt specter, whose iden.
ty has remained a mystery for years
] spite of unceasing efforts on the
art of the night watch to uncover
ne secret Of its origin and anteced
nts. Its hands are clasped behind
s transparent back in convulsive
lutch. and the face evinces q cOndi-
on of emotions prodigiously wrought
pom. Many attempts have been made
y guards with rubber soles on their
hoes to catch this wrath unawares,
ut failure is the invariable result.
resto. 1t has blown into thin air be.
)re the sleuthing Waterman is within