The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-20
FATAL STAIRWAY
IN ANCIENT Home |
Residence Near Charlottesville,
Planned BY Jefferson, Contains
Mysterious Death Trap. NJ
A STUDENTS MARROW ESCAPE
Violent Death to Guest Of House
First Owner Came Near Re
peating ITSELF

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There is All ancient home about seven
miles from Charlottesville, said to have
been planned by jefferson; as a farm to
the, gentleman who mad It built. The
family who live in 1t now are direct de-
scendants Of the builder. The house Is
stately old brick structure, capplng u
hill which overlooks branch OF the
James,
The present owner Of the house Is the
father of several very attractive dnugh-
ters, who are tho objects Of visits from Il
great many University students at Char
lottesvile Several weeks ago one Of
the regular callers induced friend who
was q very hard student, and gave none
Of his time to society, to go out with
him and have dinner at the house on the
hill. After drive Of an hour, the two
arrived at their destination, and being
expected, were warmly received ana
royalty Toasted.
After dinner the visitors and young Ia
dies returned to the parlor. 1t was not
long before the heavy student whose
name was Carter. and who WAS very
interested in ancient architecture, began
inquirlng about the age Of the house.
who planned It, and many other ques-
tons.
The house was planned by Jefferson"
explained the eldest of the three daugh-
tiers, land every thing was admirably ar
ranged, except the stairway, leading down
into the dining-room. Jefferson, as YOU
probably know, planned many fine houses
for his neghbOrs throughout this coun-
try, but he had one weakness which Is
common in most of his structures; and
that was the building of narrow, dark and
generally winding stairways. He SEEM
ed to think little Of how n person was TO
40, nd sacrificed stairs
for the better arrangement Of rooms and
halls
but your stairway here is very broad
and convenient replied Garter.
Put in New Stairs.
Eyes, but these now are not the ones
which jefferson built Our great-grand-
father had those constructed In 1910. after
a friend who visited him had fallen
down the others and broken his neck"
well, / declare. exclaimed Carter"
this grows interesting, What did you
do with the other staIrs?"
'r was just coming to the most In
teresting part. especially as you seem to
take SO much interest In the ancient
and mysterious. The fatal and original
stairway is still in this house. but no
one has ever trod its steps since 1910: for
at that date our great-granfather4 had the
lower door removed and the entrance
actly where lit was The upper door
was merely lockeu and the key thrown
away, and no one since then has ever
tried to open It, You passed the door
as we went down the end Of the hall to
the new stairway.
t'Do you mean to tell me- said Carter.
that your people have lived h-~ -
their lives without curiosity enough to
take a peek down that Sgreusome PASSAGE?
II lived here a day you can bet that
| would have 1t explored from end TO end
Why for all you know there MINT &c q
hidden treasure at the bottom"
''Or, CHASTITY skeleton" put In Car;er+
friend.
Decide to Open the Dood.5 's
Lets open It," finally suggested the
curious Carter. and everybody assented,
as though they had been sinking the
same thing.
II consider myself an expert on. locks. =
said Carter, as, led by the younger sister
they started for the hall. For several
years have been making a collection
of l1cys Of all kinds and descriptions.
and the idea OF door which has been
left locked for such long period III
terests me immensely.
A moment later Carter was sneelng
before the lock of the door y, question.
The lock was an immense ''Ga'r. and
was not fitted into e the WoOGWork as
modern ones are, but was merely screwed
to the panel. Carter STOPPED down and
examined 1t closely.
1T would take ten modern Keys to
make the one that fits this lock. We need
not have to pick It, however. Get me
screw-driver and I will have It open in
no time.
A servant was ordered to bring the re-
nulrcd instrument, while the party impa-
tiently waited for the result At last
the servant returned ana Carter was soon
unscrcwng the rusty fastenings After
! about I'VE minutes OF dexterous n1anipua-
ton Of the screw-drver. Carter removed
the last screw and the lock fell of with
n rafting clang The student pred the
| driver between the door and Its case
lncnt, and breathlessly the onookcrs
waited for tho squeaking Of the hinges.
| The door had settled In ltA easement,
and at first refused to give SUIT u was
finally started, and with some effort
slowly drawn back With the opening
Of tho door came n breath OF damp and
m,,sty air. A. narrow and peirlOusly
,tcen stairway was disclosed, descending
until 1t nnally lost Itself In inky bneK-
ness.
"Will somebody please descend ana
bring up the chest OF gold?' asked car
and be careful not to stumble over