The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-09-01
A WEIRD STORY
About a Fine Mansion at New
Port. Which is
SAID TO BE HAUNTED

ouaDxe -rIBuTeS nave been seen III ant
About the Garden aud the ssHouse.
Strange Noises Have Also Been
Heard In all Parts of
the Big House.
The William Waldorf Aston house
on Bellevue avenu hauntedp
Imposslblel Ridiculousl
This is the query and some Of the
answers that have been floating about
the Summer colony at Newport this
season, says tho New York American.
The idea that one Of tho Bellevue
emu mansions, which has had AS.
tors and Vanderbilts for It's occupants,
could really be haunted" like an
Old-fashtoned New England country
house, and looked at askance by all
passers. by, seems past belief.
Yet such a tradition Is ATTACHED to
"Beaulieu," the big brownstone and
brick house that stands just south Of
the famous marble house owned by
Mrs. D. II. p. Belmont.
The taking of "Beaulieu" early In
July by the Thomas +. Washes OF
Washington, lately Of Colorado, re-.
vived all the mysteries and traditions
that cling round this house, which is
n Of the oldest Of the mansions on
lower Bellevue venue.
1t has long been quietly told on
shaded verandas In Newport that a
"hoodOo" hangs over what Is common
ly called the Waldrof Astor house.
Death, misfortune, loss Of riches and
other calamities have befallen the long
succession Of residents on this estate
during the past forty years.
Il. l.. Barreda, who built it In 1862,
then the finest house in Newport,
made a fortune almost in a day in the
guanO business In South America-and
lost his money and bis house almost
as quickly.
In the quarter century that followed
before the property was bought by
William Waldorf Astor, the "Rarreda
Palace" as 1T was then called, had
new owners aid renters who came and
disappeared In successive seasons, al
most as rapidly as jewellers in a city
tenement.
When Mr.. Astor bought the estate
1t was thought that then at last the
luck" Of the house and its occupants
would be changed. That was about
1880. But the. Astors occupied 1t only
three or four seasons and then went
abroad. Soon after that Mrs. Astor
died at ClivedeD, England.
ECLIPSE OF THE BRICE FAMILY.
The Senator Brices leased 1t for sew
eral seasons, bringing with them their
100000 a year chef, a big retinue and
all the other evidences of Cstentatious
wealth.
Then Senator Brice dicd-his re.
puted millions proved but an illusion,
his family dropped from alluence al.
most to perjury.
This and Mrs. Astor's untimely
death revived the story Of the hoo.
doc" that hung v the occupants OF
the 'Barreda Palace" which The pres.
tige Of an Aston could not wipe out.
Mrs. Potter Palmer next occupied
the house during the Summers OF 1896
and 1900. She entertained lavlahly
and brought her social campaign to 4
climax by the wedding OF Julia Grant
and Prince Michael C~antecuzcne OF
huSSla.
This ceremony, performed within
the walls Of the "Barreda Palace" was
one Of the most spectacular functions
ever seen In America. 1t was like
royal wedding in Europe.
Representatives of all the European
courts were present In the gold lace
uniforms and costumes of their coun
tries.
Yet, while the public was beipl
dazzled by such brilliant displays, 1t i,
said that Mrs. Potter Palmer, cool
headed, practical woman OF the world,
as she was, tremblcd within the walls
Of the old palace"
The ghost Of the Barredas, it wa,
limited, had returned, ard was haunt.
ing the halls and rooms Of it's -,
home. ol'
Mrs. Potter Palmer, 1T is said, a.,
ways felt a shiver as she went throukh
the big dark front hall, after the
guests had gone. Every door opening
out OF 1t had to be locked at night, as
well as every door that she passed on
the way up to her sleeping room.
For noises we're heard at night like
the rustic of silkcn skirts, as If the
unbidden guest OF the past were pass.
ing In and out the rooms and halls and
opening and closing doors.
The climax came n night soon az,
ter the Grant wedding, when Butler
White was putting out the lights on
the lower floor.
In half darkness, he saw an appari-
tion, in white ball costume, with a
Spanish mantilla thrown over her
head, as II she had stepped from g.
heated Lall rOom out upon the lawn
and been suddenly chilled by the night
air and mist lowing in from the sea
TIE BUTLEr Eel IN a SWOON.
The figure in white glided In
through the closed doors, swept past
the terrified butler, with a silken
rustic and passed up the broad stair
case. The ba. kward glance given as
she assembled the stairs, while the
mantilla fell from her head, revealed
q face Of dalK Spanish beauty. That
much Butler White saw, then fell
FRUSTRATED on the hall floor.
Two footmen, hearing bis fall,
rushed up from the basement and
picked up the butler. They said he
looked like " dead man as he lay There
with arms wide outstretched, hands
clenohed, and white, set face upturned
with wide open, but apparently sight.
less eyes, staring at the ceiling.
The next morning, When the butler