Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1891 — A HAUNTED PILE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A HAUNTED PILE.

Tho Queer History of a Castle in Madison, Win. Madison, Wis., has a queer pile of ruins that in turn has been the home of an eccentric Englishman, the residence of a man posing as a doctor, whose record was uncanny, the trysting place of a gang of thieves, and now the supposed abode of spirits from another world. Mystery hangs over the ruins and every visitor to Madison learns portions of their strange history. In 1860 a young Englishman, Benjamin Walker, made his appearance in Madison, accompanied by his wife and two infant children. He had plenty of money and he spent it with a lavish hand. Soon after his appearance he began to build a castle, drawing his own plans, hiring his own workmen and superintending the work. The castle was mediaeval in design, with immense thick walls and underground chambers to connect it with the State buildings standing a short distance off. It stood on top of a steep hill, amid beautiful scenery, and with the waters of beautiful Lake Mendota almost laving its sides. The walls were so thick that ventilation was bad and the castle was consequently unhealthy. Soon after Mr. Walker moved into it, two of his children died and were buried on the grounds. Their death affected him seriously. He confined himself to the castle and was seen no more in society. Using the underground passages he spent nearly all his time in his stable and neglected his wife and household. An English doctor remonstrated with him and he sold the place and returned to England. He became a wanderer among men, finally locating in Ismailia, Egypt, where be devoted himself to the study of Oriental language, antiquities and history. There he died two years ago. Meantime the castle had fallen into strange hands. Mr. and Mrs. “Dr.” Thompson took possession of it. The

Latter was a tall, muscular woman with a heavy mustache; the former had sailed for years between Buffalo, Chicago and Milwaukee. They lived magnificently and rolled about town in elegant equipages. But there was something mysterious about the castle at night. Carefully veiled women were seen to arrive at the castle at the deep of night and find admittance there. Queer noises, resembling groans and shrieks of pain, were heaid coming from its walls. It was said “Dr.” and Mrs. Thompson followed a nefarious traffic. Then there was a son of this strange couple, a violent fellow and much given to liquor. Quarrels in the family were frequent, and one day the son died and was buried on the premises. An inqupst was held, but nothing interesting resulted, and soon afterward the strange couple moved away and were heard of no more. The castle remained deserted; no tenant would live in it and popular belief claimed that it was haunted by the restless spirits of the dead. These rumors of unearthly sights and noises began to circulate. Phosphorescent lights were seen to proceed from its window's and wild cries pierced the stillness of the night. At length the place was raided. The police found rich booty, the accumulated plunder of an organized band of thieves that had laid the country far and near under contribution, and that had made the castle their headquarters and place of storage. In the underground passages was found an immense quantity of riches, jewelry, finery, and furniture. And now succeeds decay. Caretakers can no longer be induced to live in the haunted pile. The once beautiful grounds have become a wilderness and rank vegetation spreads everywhere. The walls of the Englishman’s castle still stand, strong and massive, but the hand of ruin and decay holds it in an unrelenting grasp.

THE CASTLE.