Evening star., 1907-09-01

given place to modern resi-
dences and business offices. Probably the
best known of these reputed haunted
houses is the Octagon House, on the north
east corner of New York avenue and 18th
street. 1t was built by Col. John Tayloe
in 179S AS is well known, when the White
House was burned by the British during the
war of 1912 President and Mrs. Madison
occupied the Octagon House until the ex-
ecutive mansion was rebuilt. There the
treaty Of Ghent was signed in the circular
room over the entrance hall.
1t is a wonderful old house, with many
secret passages running through it. Old
negroes living in the vicinity insist that its
particular "harnts'' are the shrieks and
groans and clanking of chains supposed
to be caused by the ghosts of Col Tayloe' S
slaves, whom he imprisoned in the cellars
and secret passages.
During the civil war this house was occu-
pied by the Sisters of Mercy and used for
a girls school. The sisters were never an
noyed by these noises, but the ringing of
bells through the night (Which might have
been caused by rats in the walls) had a
demoraliing effect upon the pupils, which
was so great that most Of them left and
the school was broken up.
Not very far from the Tayloe mansion
is the old Meade residence. on F street. 1t
is now occupied by the Juvenile Court.
Old Mr.. Meade was said to have been domi-
neering and very profane IN his speech. and
was the terror of all the negroes in the
neighborhood.
One day while a terrific thunderstorm
and abusive than usual. He was sitting
by a closed window, when suddenly blind
ing fash Of lightning and dreadful crash
of thunder startled the people in the room
When their fright was over they discovered
marked on the window pane the profile Of
Mr.. Meade's face, clear and distinct in
every feature. This curious freak of nature
caused such an excitement that the old
mans relatives were tormented by requests
Of men, women and children to see this
phenomenon, which was probably an exhi-
bition of electric photography, though by the
supersutious it was laid to other causes
Finally in self-defense they had the gless
taken out of the window and another
put In.
The owners of q house on the corner of
11th and D streets northwest had a great
deal of trouble renting it. no matter how
low the terms they asked for it. 1t was
fine old house, built years ago, with large
square rooms and central hall running
straight through it.
Tenants would occupy the house for few
days and then no lease, however binding,
would prevent their moving out. In very
desperation the owners went to Father
Boyle, well-known and much beloved
priest. and asked him If he would not exor-
else the evil spirits for them.
Father Boyle consented, and one night
he and an assistant priest of St. Patrcks
Church went to the empty house. 1t was
about IL o'clock when they entered it and
then lighted the gas. They went from room
to room, closing and boiling the heavy
wooden shutters, windows and DOORS They
also shut and locked the big front door
putting the old iron bar across it in is
place. Then they turned out the gas except
in the large square hall, where 1t burned
very dimly, and. seating themselves, read
their breviaries and waited.
Suddenly the old hall clock chimed the
hour of midnight, and instantly every
tightly locked window, shutter and door
flew softly open-even the iron bar across
the front door was removed and put in
corner behind the massive door as it swung
wide open.
According to the story, the two priests
could see nothing and almost doubted the