The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-08-19
WHAT WAS 1T?
Horrible End OF Tom White Seen by
Friends Many Miles Distant.


A Mr.. Erwell was staying at an old
farmhouse, occupied by Mr.. George
White and his wife, together with the
formers aged mother. The younger
son, Tom, was naval engineer abb
sent on a long voyage.
On a night toward the end Of Mr.
Erwell's stay. George White and his
wife were spending the evening with
a neighbor Erwell and old Mrs.
White sat before the wide, old-fash-
toned hearth of the kitchen, chatting
over old times, and lapsing now and
again into meditative silence.
In the midst Of one such pause
Mrs. White suddenly seized her com.
panion by the arm. and, pointing to
the fire, said in an awe-struck voice,
Look"
To his amazement, Erwell saw that
the ruddy glow of the coal was slowly
losing it's color. Even as he looked.
indeed, the fire became perfectly
black.
Now there came dull sound Of
tammering on metal. 1t ceased as
abruptly as it began. A door opened
at the back of the CRATE, and man
appeared, bearing in one hand ham
mer; in the other candle. 1t was
Tom White, the naval engineer.
The figure came into the crate.
looked around, placed the candle on
the floor; then, taking tool from his
pocket, advanced to a corner of the
fireplace, and seemed to be repairing
something.
This finished, ne took up the candle
and returned to the door by which he
had entered. 1t was shut.
He turned his head for a moment,
and Erwell saw on his face look of
horror and dismay. Quickly he set
down the candle, and, raising the
hammer, beat on the door with all his
might.
Desisting from this. he began to
walk rapidly to and fro. look of ago
ny ON his face. Next, he knelt for
moment, as If in prayer, but was
quickly up again and frantically ham
mering on the door. And now he kept
lifting his feet rapidly, as though the
floor was burning them, and seemed to
be gasping for breath. The candle
melted to running grease, and sudden
ly Tom White fell to the floor, and on
his face there was Q look of terrible
suffering. Twice he rolled over, then
lay still. His limbs seemed to shrivel
up, an odor of burning filled the room
and suddenly the whole thing van
ished. The fire resumed its ordinary
light, and Erwe1l, rousing himself
with an effort. gave long, shudder-
ing sigh, murmuring,
what terrible dream!"
With that, he turned to the old lady
by his side. she was dead!
About a month later Mr.. George
White received letter from foreign
port detailing his brothers death I'M
der the following terrible circum-
stances:
On the eve of sailing from an Aus
tralian town, Tom White was ordered
by the chief engineer to remedy a de-
feet which had been discovered in the
boilers safety-valve. For this pur-
pose the lad entered a small iron COM
partment Immediately above the boil
er and started work. Shortly after
ward the captain passed by, and, un-
aware that any one was within. closed
the door, which he found standing
aiar Poor TomtS fata wac seaIadf
Later in the day che vessel started.
and when young White was missed
and inquiries made about him. his
shriveled body was found on the floor
of the iron room!-From "a Sheaf of
Ghost Stories" in Parsons.