Newspaper Clipping of the Day

Via Newspapers.com

This curious little tale of a haunted barn in Ohio (complete with Mystery Blood!) appeared in the “Logansport Pharos-Tribune,” January 15, 1894:

PORTLAND, Jan. 13,—Weird stories have been told for some time of the ghostly occurrences on the old Cantover farm, two miles west of Fort Recovery, O., and near the state line. Many years ago a death occurred there under peculiar circumstances, and a recent event added to the mystery. This was the suicide of Peter Fendle, an old farmer. He had fixed a rope to hang himself, but changed his mind and took poison, apparently. He was found dead in the barn, and the rope still hangs where he put it. Ever since then the barn, it is said, has been haunted. 

Not a night passes but that a light, as that of a lantern, springs up near the house and makes its way to the stable. When it gets there the doors are heard to open and close, yet do not move, and the air is full of weird sounds which no one has ever yet been able to describe. The animals in the barn show the greatest alarm, but have not yet been harmed. The most wonderful thing of all is the fact that they, as well as the hanging harness, are found every morning liberally sprinkled with fresh blood. This unaccountable spectacle has been seen by many reputable people.

A party from Fort Recovery concluded to solve the mystery. They slipped out without informing anyone of their intentions, and reached the spot at 10 o'clock. Quietly entering the barn they heard a moaning noise, but nothing happened until midnight. The interior then grew lighter, and a shadowy, bowed figure glided before them and faded from view, apparently into space. The awe-stricken watchers started to run, but were confronted by a tall figure which gave a shriek and for an instant blocked their way and disappeared. The ghost hunters got away as fast as possible, and they say they are content to leave the haunted barn a mystery.