The Washington times., 1921-06-26
Sound of Woman Moaning In Mysterious Spook House
Be1DiLders and Afrights People of Bristol Nrginia
For Six Years a shriII Cry Has
BaffIed Efforts Of Psychists
To Locate Cause.
ny ROBERT MEX EE.

4 uhuer the Iloor OF tne nome OF AAf-
lshali Godsey here persists in its
manifestations even after an official
police investigation attributed II to
rats. and the thousands Of people
who have visited the house are more
curious than ever. II looks like the
police wili have the whole thing 10
do over again.
The shrill moaning under the floor
of, Godsey's house. whether II be
ghost or some freakish natural
sound. has been the sensation Of
Bristol for week. Hundreds OF
people visited the place every dav
and on two evnings II wa~ necessary
to call out the police to clear the
neighborhood. Automobiles lined the
street for two blocks and curiosity
seekers fairly fought for position
near the house where tho strange
noises were audible.
CURIOSITY UNABATED.
After striving with every means
al their disposal to divert interst
from the uncanny sound the police
decided the easiest way would oe to
let the public's interest wear itself
out gradually. but here they failed
10 reckon psychoiosically with the
curiosity of an eager throng that
daily became larger. At length the
authorities announced that the family
would move out, the place closed
and a thorough investigation made
| by the authorities and newspaper
men.
! AS the matter stands now. the po-
lice have officially declared rats
were the sole cause of the mys-
terious noise and that the cause has
been removed to great extent But
the noise continues despite the note
of nnality which was emphasized In
the police statement and public in
terest is still rampant. The day
following the official investigation
not more than nifty persons visited
| the house. The next day II was re-
ported that his ghostshlp" was still
on the Job and the crowd grew
larger, but II did not reach the pro-
portions of the week before. The
situation still has enormous possi-
bilities and the police see visions
OF more trouble ahead.
According to members of the God
sey family the mysterious sound un-
der the floor in a front room mas
been heard for six years, but only
recently did II become loud enough
Ito alarm them. Usually II was heard
about three or four times every
tone of woman moaning. IL was
more distinct at some times than
others and occasionally grew 50
sharp that II could be heard outside
the house when there ~as no crowd
about. Few of the hundreds of poo
pie who flocked to the place every
evening heard the noise because of
the commotion that a crowd inva-
riably makes. People, eager to hear,
on hearing the sonud remained at
the house all night. Some heard IL
and some didn't. Those who didn't
were skepticaL Those who did.
passed the word along to scores OF
others and interest in Godsey's
ghost" grew by leaps and bourds.
OCCUPANTS FRIGHTENED.
The noise was ghost" and the.
house was spoken of as being haunt
ed" because there were no better
names in such a situation where un-
deriying causes were unfathomed
Godsey. who Is employed at a -four
mill here. said he did not believe
the sound was made by a ghost and
laughed at the suggestion. He ad-
mitted frankly. however, that he was
perplexed and annoyed. His wife and
moved by feelings of mingled fright
and curiosity. They saw no plausible
reason by which to explain the noise. |
they were awed by tne excitement
that swept over the town, and by the
crowds that gathered at their little
home.
Two facts in connection with the
scare involve the number thirteen.
Thirteen persons live in the Godsey
house, and the case was frsS
brought to the attention of the
public on the thirteenth of the |
month. Before a single line had been
published about the ghost" hum
dreds OF persons visited the house
and public 1t served to stimulate Gu
riosity. tF
As soon as It became generally
known that the noise could not be
accounted for and crowds began
focking to the place. the flooring in
the room where the sound was heard
was torn up. and a thorough exam
nation made of the foundation of
the house = without results that
reached further than speculation.
Nothing was seen that had even the
faintest suggestion of a spook, but
the noise continued at irregular in
tervals. sometimes louder and plain
er than others, but always the same
In infection. intonation and shrill-
ness
Chief OF Police r. L. Morton said
he estimated the number OF people
that visited the place at between
1000 and 10 900. Special ghost
parties wero arranged by young
people and Gothers came from mile.
around, tust'to hear a noise that de-
fied explanation.
Godsey was bewildered and In an
EFFORT to keen the crowds away de-
cided to charge a small admission
price for, those who wanted to enter
the "srook room" People came in
large numbers and the price was
raised but the curiosity seekers paid
eagerly and. GLADLY. The. room was
rented by fhs night to- groups intent
on finding a solution OF the sound
and then Godsey appealed to the pub
lie through the local newspaper. He
asked that people stay away.