An American Ghost.
About five weeks since, a family residing at the west end of Boston were very much annoyed by strange and disagreeable noises, which occurred at different hours of the night, but especially at the solemn hour of midnight. For a time these noises consisted only of shrieks, mournful groans, wailings, hissings, &c., but soon they were augmented by the chairs, tables, tin-kitchens, cradles, clothes-horses, and other indispensable articles of house-hold furniture, all joining in executing some of the most popular dances of the day with great energy, but each with the utmost independence with regard to the movements of its neighbour.
Such strange proceedings of course convinced the family that there was something awful at the bottom of the affair, and prepared them for what was to follow. One night, in the midst of their liveliest operations, the animated furniture all at once stopped; a vapour-like sulphuric light filled the room, and through a crack in the floor rose the ghastly form of a young girl in a winding sheet. The lady of the house was the only one to whom this strange sight was visible, and she, after the first shock was over, mustered courage enough to address the mysterious visitant, when, to her horror, she was informed that the room in which this took place had been the scene of a most diabolical murder by which a fond and doating father and affectionate daughter were both consigned to an untimely grave.
At this point the lady was so much affected that she fainted, and the apparition disappeared. The ensuing night, however, the ghost reappeared, and imparted the petrifying intelligence that two chests of money were buried, one in front and the other in the back cellar. Full directions were given as to the method by which to secure the treasure, but the family in their eagerness disregarded some of them, and, consequently, one of the chests vanished in a cloud of blue fire and mystery.
By exercising caution, and following the ghostly directions of their informant, the other has been prevented from leaving its place, and is still in the cellar, unless it has been dug up since this was written.For several weeks past the family have been digging in the cellar, and they have turned up the earth to the depth of several feet, but as yet without getting hold of the chest, although their faith in its existence remains unchanged.
Last week, some watchmen, observing a light through the chinks of the cellar window, listened, and were very soon impressed with the conviction that there was some stolen property secreted there. A message was sent to the marshall’s office, and a formidable posse entered the place, but, after searching, was satisfied that nothing of the sort was in the place.
Our readers may be satisfied that the above is strictly true, if the word of the principal actor – or actress – is to be taken; and as to the searching in the cellar, we can speak from personal knowledge. – Boston Chronotype.
Leeds Times, 7th August 1847.
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