[Brazil, Ind. Cor. Chicago Herald]
A short time ago the citizens of Harrison township, in Clay County, and of Marion township, in Owen County, in this State, enjoyed the notoriety of having on their separating line a veritable haunted house–one, in fact, so unmistakably occupied by spooks,and that, too, of such a character that the notoriety was the only enjoyable thing about it. The building, still standing, is an old-time, two-story log house, crowning a lonesome, wind-swept hill, from which leads a dark and deepening hollow filled with undergrowth. The ghostly presence and manifestations were at their height while the building was occupied by Harry Reynolds and his young wife who honored it by beginning housekeeping in it. Since their removal–they remained in the building nearly a year in an exhibition of pluck quite rare, especially in new beginners — the building has been occupied by one Mr. Moody. Mr. Moody was much annoyed for some weeks by noises altogether uncommon; especially was his family, who can not be induced to spend a night alone in the house. Gradually these noises have disappeared, until for quite a while there has been nothing uncommon about the premises. But the question is, can a house once completely possessed by spooks ever become rid of them? Even Mr. Moody seems much interested in the answer. The story, as gleaned from the neighbors, is as follows, substantially:
Soon after Mr. Reynolds and wife had taken possession of the house they were occasionally annoyed by strange noises in and about the premises, especially upstairs, in which had been placed such things as could not be conveniently kept below. The space between the roof and floor is ten or twelve feet. At first the noise resembled that of a weight falling from the roof to the floor. Mr. Reynolds could see nothing on going upstairs and searching for the cause. In course of time the noise increased in frequency and intensity. It seemed as though joints of stovepipe were being rolled and pushed about promiscuously, and as though greater weights were being dropped upon the floor. These mysterious phenomena occurred both day and night, but no time on going to look for the cause could any thing be found out of place nor any thing observed to which the annoyance could be attributed. Sometimes as Mr. Reynolds would go upstairs the noise would change to the closet under the stairway below, and then when he would return below it would reappear above. At times a noise would be heard on the porch, as though cattle were walking over it; yet there was no visible presence from which it could have been produced. Talking in low suppressed tones was frequently heard on the outside of the house, then would shake so as to throw the key out of the lock on to the floor.
As these facts became known to neighbors, parties would gather at night to witness the phenomena, but rarely did anything occur on such occasions. Nor did the phenomena occur with any degree of regularity. As much as fifteen days would pass without anything unusual been seen or heard; then for a time the manifestation would appear daily. One night, just after going to bed, Mr. Reynolds was brought to his feet by a crash of more than common force upstairs,as though the roof had fallen in, which was immediately followed by a brilliant light above,shining through the crevices of the upper floor. On striking a match and lighting a lamp the flame wouldleave the wick and ascend to the ceiling and then go out. This was repeated seven or eight times, and not until after the mysterious illumination had disappeared did the lamp hold its flame. The illumination did not last more than two or three minutes at any time, and was among the most remarkable of all the phenomena.
One evening, in company with Tom Foxworthy, of Woodside, Mr. Reynolds was seated on a log outside–between the house and the woods–when the sound of the footsteps of a man was heard passing them in the direction of the house, though nothing was visible.
Mrs. Sarah Price, Mrs. Reynold’s oldest sister, went there on a visit one day and heard the noise up-stairs, which seemed to descend the stove-pipe. Placing her hands around the pipe, it seemed to her as though it was all in a tremor.
The father of young Reynolds, living but a short distance away, persisted in his disbelief of such occurrences and in laughing at his son’s determination to quit the premises. He had been there frequently, but had never yet been favored with any manifestations. But on the day his son moved out the old gentleman was accomodated in his anxiety to hear something. As they putting on the last load in the evening in front of the door the noise was heard on the lower floor,to which the son directed the father’s attention, who jumped from the wagon and ran in. The noise then seemed to shift and locate itself among the dishes and cans yet standing on a table. On removing some of the dishes loud raps in quick succession were heard on the table. After several repetitions and several attempts on his part to ascertain the cause he walked away from the table, satisfied that it was the work of spirits.
The reports of these manifestations are made by reliable witnesses, whose word is unquestioned. Jacob Storm says he has heard strange and unaccountable noises in and about the premises. Frequently it would be the voices of invisible human beings engaged in conversation. Jesse Reynolds, a brother of Harry, William L. Price, A.J. Barrack and others who live in the vicinity and whose opportunity for observing has been good, all agree in testimony as to the mysterious nature of sights and sounds seen and heard in and about the premises.
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