Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-05-16
Knocking
Ghosts Battling
New York


- Raven ?" quoricd the harassed officer.
Yep" the reporter said Edgar Allan Poe stuff
yknow. this trapping, overlapping
This for a raven the cop couutered
casticay What need here a Houdin We've been
from the basement to the roof dozen times We just
can't find the hnocler- Beats me-
This conversation occurred recently between New
York reporter and policeman both of whom trying
yanly solve the mysterious GonEs-on in apartment
West 45th Street Manhattan mystery which
had given the whole block a of the jittcrs.
At first il just plain funny.
1t all began when mcrrymakers celebrating ami
vorsay were winding up the affair at two a m Suddenly
there four knocks followed by a pause
Knock knock. Who's there % asked the cele-
This clever indeed at that time of the morning
uproarious laughter followed
only the outside of the door another
knock Then six in rapid succession.
Suddenly the guests stopped laughing Someone raced
TO the door opened IT, and no one was there
guest bewldered closed the door and rejoned the
party Soon forgot the incident but not for long
In few minutes there more knockings, this time
the merymakers apartment alone but the doors
practically every in the building The occupants
reported an procedure every they to
open up the early morning visitor each tenant
met only by blank silence and empty halls
The walls of babies and babbing voices of excited men
and women caused a of bedam in the building
umpy persons in night clothes raced up and
the starHays trying to find practical joker and
give him what he deserved.
It's ghost someone suggested and this started a
Dozens of families hearing this back
their and boted their doors Others called the
police and radio was sent siren screaming to the
address,
Aided by reporters every nook and Granny Of the apart
ueut carefully searched basement.
When the search ended failure everyone went back to
bed The police departed shaking their heads and soon
again the episode only memory Some of the resi-
who awoke the nest morning thought they had been
suffering from nehmares But everything Gained down
and the lives Of Tie apartment dwclers apparently were
restored 10 normal
Tlt a week later the knocking as though by some long
Ehosly hand which could reach with from The first
the very top OF tae bling repeated. this
time not only in ee original apartment house but in adj
d.
The snorss came simultaneously This time they were
louder t.,r before y reality lghbors said
This v7s too Huab Nervous scrpers jumped ont Of
half panic Again tho tenants fell another
raIanas AND nieiteowns CHASING they knew not what
mp ana d''n the stairs AGAIN the police were hastily
called once careful. chccl, made all thu
bindings Flashlights stabbed the tnicst nook ana
Granny This Investigation. as had the other, ended
tafHuc The phantom snucter ro0here 20 Doe seen
Thor, llttl, sleeping the block night. GSos'
aaaiH and the babies louder ever
Women tarned pae and their husbands were ymry and
..a"pei NJ everyhoiy
What could 1t hcr"
Experts are s.u searching fars solution some have
advanced theories bIt hc1 satisfies Tho people who
l.re me block
one said a.nearby ro,yerhouss might have something
'' DO @ 'he cee tapping. Another advanced The theory
'ha' rho knocking COULD have been caused hl The presence
# aIata repair shop N the basement of Of The buII
But oven the experts arsut sure The ONLY s,.rc thing
1lt tNse opiaH't7ns that they leave .hc residents
..s,r.as with ther blood running cold
IFhoev.r heard "a rp,l9 shop zone said .o,l .e
Nor eveIy doQt n on apartment building at two a. M
Ntah-E nee-f g.t either, -
H.. Radio shops don't walk I ten yua And 81. q. t..
PoN1arha-z- t--l-a AL f-l--.s--. Es--te 4--,i
IletI-s. j.. l..ll.iI door. .t af ID, t., I'd,
acre .all it...e taa Tho, buildings. .aut rumble
The wHdys ltat rattle III 1s iusf o4-faouyi cycrv-
day door IHoeait
.lcaaa s'a. '.lt su taa ghost
Tho CHEST sr, has ts tho aaIorIty or support rs 1
the ncgLbJfhoof ard ayT,u syI r. KNOCK asa pr is tine
question that s. t.H.rra eg....are.