Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-10-22

tnere are tales both pathetic and anus
ing. The antics of very lively ca
furnish a most amusing tale.
| When the body of President CARTEL
lay in state at the capitol an old engi
neer who was employed in the base
ment and who ridiculed the idea Q
ghosts decided to be avenged upon tn
watchmen and policemen who remain
ed in the building through the night
He procured two large English walnut
securely tied the half shelIs.on the fou
feet of the pet cat and carefully turnet
her loose in Statuary Hall.
The noise of these shells on the mar
BILE floors at midnight, in the semi
darkness as the distracted cat scamper
ed about trying to get rid of her new
shoes, gave the watchers the wors
fright of their lives. The inciden
though harmless joke, gave rise to tht
story of the spectral footsteps which
follow all those who have to cross the
rotunda i'll Statuary. Hall after the
building is closed for the night.
The wrath of John Quincy Adams
from all narratives on the subject
seems to be the one most often encoun.
tered. At times it is alleged that he
may be seen in Statuary Hall, former
ly the old House of Representatives. and
the scene of the death, accompanied by
the whole Congress of 184S, gathered in
ghostly conclave. He is also accredit-
ed with roaming about all parts of the
capitol and may be seen at almost any
time.
There is also story of Gen. Logan,
who returns, it is said, to observe the
doings of the Committee on Military
Affairs, of which he was so long the
chairman Those who claim to have
encountered the general say that he al
ways wears black slouch hat and re-
mains either in the committee room or
in the corridor adjoining.
According to one of the many legends
which have been gradually accumulat-
ing ever since the building was COM
pleted, corridor in the Senate wing
basement has frequent ghostly walk
er OF a foreign aspect. This tall, dis
tinguished looking individual is re-
ported to confine his activities to pac-
ing up and down that particular pas
sageway and giving a dignifed mill.
tary salute at frequent intervals. His
identity is still mystery to the init.
ated in spiritual lore, but it is believed
that it is the ghost of Major L'Enfant
the talented Frenchnaan who designed
the city of Washington.
The demon cat legend has been re
peated for the last fifty years as the
animal apparition which returns at ir
regular periods The story does moi
vary much, being merely that of ar
ordinary tabby at first sight, but which
grows to gigantic horror before the
eyes OF frightened observer. Sudden
ly this demon cat emits a fierce VOW
and with eyes ablaze and mouth open
leaps toward the spectator, but invaria
bly, leaps quite over his head.
In the library section there are two
ghosts always on duty. IF the solemn
word of the capitol policeman may be
believed. One of these, wrath of a
thin, little old gentleman, had been
frantically searching for years in one
of the sub-cellars for something hidden
among the volumes. During his life.
time he had the reputation OF being
very eccentric, boarding and hiding
many unusual things among the books
he loved. Just before his death he en-
deavored desperately to impart some
knowledge to those around his bed, but
being paralyzed, died without having
his last wish granted. Long after his
demise it was discovered that he had
slowed away several thousand dollars
worth of registered government bonds
among the musty volumes of that sub.
cellar.
1t was argued that until the bonds
were found and turned over to theil
rightful owners the troubled spirit could
not find any rest. When the new con-
gressional library was ready for the
books to be put in their places the bonds
were found, and at last the tireless
ghost teased its labors. Another ap-
partition declared to haunt this section
is that of man very busy stamping
books in a wire cage, the same place
that was assigned to him during his
lifetime.
The negro scrubbers tell narrowing
tales of the long halls in the house wing.
A long time ago one of their number
died suddenly while at work in the
early hours Of the morning. Now the
story they tell is that his ghost may be
seen and heard at work at regular times
The negroes tell that the splashing o1
the spectral water and the sound of the
scrubbing of the phantom pail as it il
moved along the marble floor in ths
progress of the work is as real as th&
noise of their own labors.
Before the White House was remodel
ed it was the trysting place of th'
shades of several Of our departed presi
dents, who used to be nightly visitors
according to the statements of an em
ploye whose term of service in tn,
White House lasted over quarter of ,
century after President Grant first in
stalled hiEn as general utility man. HI