Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-30

US. I am sorry my nrst experiment has
tailed, but trust alter remaining in the
castle with my daughter for a week you
Will all be convinced this ghost story Ii
the outcome of ignorant superstition,
remnant OF the many ina ginative negro
tales Of slavery days
Eagerly the twelve men besought Nj
lPhilups to abandon the idea OF remaining
4 In the ghostly castle, the minister and
priest urging him in earnest tones to come
away with them and leave the grewsome
place to the evil spirits, but Mr. Phillips
was firm, so they reluctantly went away
ana left him standing there with his
baby's hand held firmly in his own.
me next morning at dawn the village
was awakened by a mans aEonized cries
Tor help! Standing In the uncertain light
OF early morning stood John Phillips with
hair silver white. holding In his arms a
limp baby form-Mary Phillips was dead!
The doctors pronounced the cause OF death
heart failure from shock"
John Phillips never arterward spoke of
what happened during that awful night,
but horrible. indeed, must have been tho
sights and sounds which in a few hours
whitened the mans hair and stopped the
beating of that childish heart.
Ever since the fatal and tragical experi-
ment' OF John Phillips Castle Lamier has
been tenented only by the spirits OF those
long dead, vines have grown over the
windows and doors, the stone front has
crumbled away and of the original state
ly pile only part remains
Very soon the famous haunted Castle
Lamier will be only memory. but the
following story OF the Marquis the unfor-
tunate Antoinette Breezac. and the. dark,
sinister Mrs Pierre will never be forgot
ten. 1t has been told and retold by the
romance loving people of that section TIL
II seems part of the history Of Southern
Florida
In lS03 the Marquis Lamier. q man Of
handsome appearance, but of ungovernable
temper came to America, leaving behind
him in France an evil reputation. Having
drifted to Southern Florida, being attract
ed by the wild and beautiful scenery Of
that section, he bought a large tract OF
land on the banks of the Caloosahatchee
River, near the village OF Samyille. Here
he built fine mansion. which was after
ward known as the Castle Lamier.
Twenty stone cabins were erected a quar-
/ ter OF a mile from the castle for the &C
commodation OF the many slaves belonging
/ to the Marquis. When the mansion had
been finished ana furnished. the beautiful
grounds laid out and the broad shell drives
completed. the people or the village. who
had watched with Interest the Marquis
lavish display OF wealth, were surprised 70
sec the arrival upon the scene OF two new
characters. One a slender beautiful youne
girl. possessing a childish, almost infantile
face, framed with hair OF palest gold; the
other a middle aged woman OF dark. sin
lister appearance. The Marquis Informed
The very few people who gained admission
10 the castle that the young giri. Antoi-
nette Breezac. was a distant relative and
ihis ward; the older woman. Mrs Pierre,
was his housekeeper and the companion OF
Antionette.
ORGIES AND GRIMES.
/ During the next two years the slaves
gossiped much OF the queer Happenings
az Castle .samier, told OF the frequent
visits q men, from parts unknown. who
bore upon their faces the unmistakabls
stamp Of dissipation. Gallons OF rare old
wine were consumed nightly. the Marquis
and Mrs. Pierre with their guests. drink-
ms and gambling till the gray dawn
crspt IN at the windows. The beautiful
young Antoinette would sit during these
bouts In a secluded corner. her wide open
eyes full OF bathing and horror, seeming
70 see into the future the awful doom
awaiting her.
The Marquis guests during the long
hours OF the night would often look with
evf. bloodshot eyes at the young girl who
sat q miserable. silent witness 70 il ala
witness who each day grew more ethereal.
more wraith-like. This poor girl, alone ON
foreign soil. had but one friend 10 whom
aha could turn tor comfort and consolation