The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-31
Haunted House Sent
Chills Through keokuk

II there is any city or community.
! which does not boast of haunted
mouse that place is hiding it's light
under a bushel to greater extent
than that spoken of in the parable.
No matter how far fetched the story
may be; no matter if the ghost in
question proves under the spot light
! OF publicity to be only myth, there
, Is always the glamour attendant on
the words Haunted house." and it
is impossible for any structure once
so designated to live down the stigma
for generations.
keokuk has not been backward in
/ the matter of haunted houses and
ghosts. The most striking tale, how
ever, is one which is connected with
a house out on the Plank road. The
house is still standing. At one time
1T was occupied by shoemaker, who
killed himself in the house, stringing
himself up to convenient rafter
with the chain from the well. From
this on tradition had it that the
ghost of this shoemaker prowled
around at spooky times of the night
and clanked his chains in a most
blood freezing way.
1
hospital later. it failed to live down
the reputation, and even during it's
| occupancy as hospital there were
stories to the enect that the clank-
ing of chains could be herd often in
the dead of night.
Another SO called haunted house
was the brick dwelling which stood
at one time on Ninth AMI Blondeau
streets, across the Ninth from the
present George Washington school.
Why this house was so branded no
one seems able to recall.
There have been numerous tales
told, too, concerning small dwelling
on the outskirts of the city, where
it is said that ghosts flourish abun-
dainty. And across the river near
the old distilery there are frequent
reports of ghostly inhabitants stalk
Ing at large, lighting led fire and
carrying lanterns.
Perhaps one of the queerest mys-
teries-not ghost stories-is still un-
solved. In north side residence one
day years ago, on table were found
three drops of blood. The cats which
belonged to the family were neither
CT them in the house at the time.
There were no remains OF any mice
1 or rats or anything of the sort which
could have bled across the table and
1.-The incident is still one which puzzles
the members of the household when
ever it is recalled.
A Freakish Ghost Tale.
About as queer ghost tale as can
be told is that connected with one of
the schools One of the pupils play
ing under the arc light IL front OF
the school one night, suddenly let out
a shrek. He said he had seen a
ghost-a face looking out at him
from the upper windows of the build
ing. His companions first jeered at
him and then having looked, took to
their heels, for sure enough the face,
all white was to be evidently near
the window. On investigation it was
found that shaft of the light from
, the street lamp was shining on 3
mirror and this in turn was detected
to a picture Of Martha Washington
hanging on the walls AMI the illusion
was completed.
i Ghosts were plentiful at the time
of the medical college here. In fac'
it was not hard to COOK up any Klnc
of ghost fake then.
Keokuk has had spasms of seeking
women in white. or In black. JUS
whichever color the case happened tt
be. Practically every one of these in
stances were found to be hoaxes O.
, the worst sort. One or two turned
, out to be amateur Jack the Huggers
and in one instance the woman II
white" turned out to be an acit
thrower, who was really seeking hel
victim