Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1874 — Mysterious Demonstration. [ARTICLE]

Mysterious Demonstration.

A rather tough story, and one to be taken with many grains of allowance, comes from Oakland, Cal. A few nights ago the residence of Mr. Clark, the paying teller of the Hank of California, was the scene of an extraordinary ghostly demonstration. The family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Clark and three young gentlemen boarders, retired about 11 o’clock. For a time everything was quiet about the house, and its inmates had all fallen asleep. Suddenly from the lower part of the house came a long, loud wail of anguish, as of some one in terror or pain. Louder and louder grew the noise, until the infernal clatter had awakened every one in the house. A desire for companionship seized the boarders, and they all gathered together in one room, ana were soon joined by Mr. and Mrs.. Clark. The noises still continued, but changed in character very frequently. An exploration was at length decided oh, and, leaving Mrs. Clark in charge’of one of the boarders, the party carefully descended the stairs. Each had a revolver ia one hand, and with the other nervously clutched the bannister. The hall was dark as Erebus, though when their yes became accustomed to the dim light they could perceive any object that might be in the rooms below. The noise continued, and now and then a note would be struck on the piano. Just as they reached the foot of the stairs a chair came gliding out of the parlor and took up its position in the doorway, bowing and podding as if to reassure their fears. Rushing past the chair one of the party entered the parlor and lit the gas. Here they saw a strange sight Every article of furniture in the room was in motion. The chairs and tables moved about like animate things, and appeared to take no notice whatever of the intruders. Gradually the noises ceased and the furniture became stationary. After waiting a while the party returned to their respective rooms. In a short time the noises began again, and again the boarders descended the stairs. To their inexpressible surprise they found the parlor door taken from its hinges and deposited on the floor. After that tjjiere was no sleep in the house. In the morning the furniture was found to be disarranged nnu much strained.' The outside bars and bolts were perfectly secure and there was no trace to show that any one had entered the house. An explanation of the phenomena is awaited.— Chicago Inter-Ocean. Virginia boasts of & blue horse, the only one ever heard of.