Barkerville, Williams Creek,
Cariboo
HAUNTED HOUSE
The writer of the following curious communication is a respectable widow
lady, residing not far from the Irish metropolis, at a fashionable watering
place:-The first day I came here some of the furniture was put into the
yard. At night I was awoke by a noise like moving furniture. I opened the
window and looked out, but could not see anything. Every night I was disturbed
with noises like a noisy servant going through the house. In the evening
knocks and creaking of the furniture went on so that the servants were quite
terrified. I was in hope I could account in some way, and did not feel the
alarm that they did.
Soon after I came they both took scarlatania, and I frequently had to get
up in the night and go to them and give them medicine. The noises were most
distressing to me, but after sometime I had other trials with my unseen
annoyance. There were many noises like the stroke of a whip on the furniture
and one night I was actually raised up in the bed. I often feel as if some
one lay beside me, and tried to crush me out of bed. The servants often
tell me of similar things happening to them. I have been trying to bear
with all this, and much more, because I have the house on a lease, and cannot
give it up to the landlady. Servants have left on account of the frights
but this winter it is worse than ever. I lately got a dog, and few nights
after he came he awoke us with barking, and we thought some one was trying
to break into the house, but there was no appearance of it in the morning.
A day or two after the servants were sitting in the kitchen when noises
were heard in different parts and the dog yelled frightfully. When we were
going to bed I said to the servant if she heard the dog frightened in the
night to go and bring him in to her bedroom. He yelled most frightfully
an hour or two after we were in bed, so much so that I went myself to the
kitchen and the poor brute was nearly dead with fright. I took him to my
own room, and in the morning I asked why she did not go for him; the girl
said she was really afraid to go on the stairs as she heard the footsteps
so plainly, and afterwards, (and whatever it was) went into the room next
to them.
Last night there was a knock at the ball door (there often is), and the
dog whined; he sleeps in my room. I thought there must be some one really
at the door, but, while I was thinking this, the dreadful thing, (whatever
it is), lay down beside me and crushed me. All I could do was shout; it
then left me. Now, you may make what use you please of this account, without
mentioning my name or residence. I can assure you I have not written one
word but truth, and, of course, have only given a sketch of what occurs
frequently; but I think the dog being so terrified has added to my own distress.
The servants say they see a little fat woman, but I never saw anything.-'Londonderry' Sentinel
