The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-01-29
Don't Fail to See
<fAHer the 6aw'
at
HIPPODROME
TURDAY-Matinee and Night.


haunted house, at the request of his
teacher, and read it before the school.
The gist of the story Is this: An
electrician was engaged to look into
the mysteries of a vacant house In a
neighboring town where flashes Of
light and crocking noises were seen
and heard every night from ten
o'clock to twelve.
the people. was this from the OLD pas
tor from a co1ored church nearby,
that it was the recruiting officer from
hell, ordering sinners to the place at
ten, and until twelve delivering them
to the devils headquarters by flash
from that place, and a report when
the lid drops after them.
The pastor said amen" when as
sured that the station would be re-
moved to a more suitable neighbor-
hood.
At the electric light plant he learn
ed that at ten o'clock the street lights
were cut off, and that the 500 v. cur
rent was very strong until twelve,
then all was shut down.
On watching the house that night
he found current reports correct. And
on examination next day found a
switch board, switch, and two 500
v. wires about six inches apart hang
ing down in midair. This explained
the matter. It was the connecting
of these wires. He recalled that the
current was stronger from ten to
twelve.
BY appointment he went that night
to investigate, with the neighbors
who came armed with the usual i'm
plements of ghost warfare. And at
9:55 were standing breathlessly at
the closed door Of the room. The old
pastor, also. To return to the story.
1--WE waited in silence at the door
until we heard the clock strike ten.
The flashes began lighting up the key
hole, then the reports that echoed
even in the hall where we stood. Aft
er the second report the pastor said
solemnly, Lord. there goes another
poor sinner to join the first in hell.
Il gave orders to get him-the re-
cruiting officer. They rushed into the
room. In a second they all let out a
screech of horror. It was too late to
run. I was inside the room and had
the door locked. When it was all
over, and darkness followed, I threw
on my flash light. The men were
scared stiff: but the colored pastor
was kneeling in the middle Of the
floor. with his Bible in his hand, pray
ing. o Lord. God Almighty give me a
patent on this machine. and a reverse
brake on it, amen, amen, and in his
imagination he could see the sinners
turn and head for the other place.
''The two cut wires would be drawn
tc1ether by the electricity, spark like
lightning and report like a pistol, be-
In positive and negative. This would
heat the wires. causing a red light.
Then thew would timber up and fall
apart. When cool they " uld spring
together again. This happens about
every FIVE or ten minutes. And this
is the mystery OF the haunted house"
This story. built upon actual events.
also explains the reappearance of the
"niggers' spooks" in the basement of
the old medical college, where cut
wires wera left hanging bv the me-
chanics who so thoroughly tested
the underground walls.
The beautiful Masonic temDle, soon
TO be dedicated which has been erect
ed on the site. but by purchase has
ACQUIRED a frontage of 112 feet on
BIondeau street. AGAINST 90 feet of the
original foundation. has modern
basement which among other COM
partments contains a large. ELEGANTLY
appointed dininp room, and beauti-
full. brilliantly lighted dance hall.
The gayIy clad fairies who will
hereafter haunt the place to fit with
tirne-directed feet over the self same
SPOT where once th., elusive spirit
held sway. will be-feuratively-
far removed from the abod', of their
predecessors as heaven Is from he'll.