Vicious Ghosts in a Chicago Hotel.
Ghosts, invisible but persistent and vicious, have invaded a cheap Chicago hotel, and have spread such terror through the building that the police have been asked to protect the occupants from harm at the hands of the spirit visitors. More than twenty persons, including the proprietor and employees of the hotel, and many guests, declare that they have seen the uncanny manifestations on several occasions, and will not live longer in the place unless the ghosts are either put out of business or proven beyond all doubt to be fakes.
This is no ordinary ghost story. Ordinary ghost stories are played out from an American newspaper point of view. These hotel ghosts, however appear to be the real thing. The Assistant Chief of Police, who is a ghost expert – he performs ghost tricks in the police-station cellar before nervous prisoners – says they are genuine spooks. And he ought to know,anyway.
The first invasion of the spirits occurred about six in the evening last Friday, and continued for three hours. A maid employed at the hotel went into a room, but soon ran out, telling the others that the place was a chamber of horrors. As she placed a sheet on the bed it was jerked off and thrown on the floor as by an unseen hand. As she reached for the pillows they jumped high in the air and landed at the foot of the bed. Speechless with fright and surprise she stood looking at the bed. Then right before her eyes a ghost sat down on the bed. The maid could not see even a shadow, but the bed sank in on the edge. The bogie sat there a moment, then jumped up, quietly opened the door, and went out into the hall.
In the hall were other employes and a few guests. As the door opened they turned, expecting to see some one walk out. Instead, a chair standing near the door rolled down the hall, untouched by a human hand. This was too much. All turned and fled, followed by the girl who first entertained the spooks.
Although the police have searched every nook of the building to see if some hidden mechanical contrivance is at the bottom of the business, they cannot find the least sign of trickery. The hotel is half empty in the meantime, and the place is guarded by thirty police officers, all armed to the teeth.
Dublin Evening Mail, 23rd February 1907.