Читать книгу Ghosthunting Florida - Dave Lapham - Страница 18

Miami River Inn is a cozy little jewel nestled on the Miami Canal just south of I-395 and west of I-95. And it is a real hideaway, nothing fancy but very comfortable, close to downtown Miami, the beach, and dozens of great restaurants. In former times, it was the destination of presidents, celebrities, and dignitaries. Henry Flagler even stayed at the hotel in the early 1900s. It is not only a hostelry of note, it is also haunted. The inn was built in 1910 and has seen several makeovers. Reportedly, it was once a funeral parlor. Maybe that’s why it’s haunted. Or maybe not.

In one of the rooms (let’s call it room 12), there seems to be a residual haunting that replays itself every day at 11 P.M., very inconvenient if you’re not a night owl. First, precisely at eleven, a door opens and slams shut, very loudly. Then what sounds like feet being wiped on a doormat can be heard. Next there is silence, followed by the sound of running feet—and it sounds like it’s coming right into room 12. Then the door of the room rattles, and the knob actually shakes, followed by crashing lamps, vases, pictures. In room 12, it sounds as if someone is ransacking the room above. Then more running feet, bounding up the stairs, followed by the sound of the door of the room above room 12 opening and slamming shut again. After a moment of silence, the furniture upstairs begins to move around, scraping, bumping, thumping, smashing against the walls and the floor. The vibrations can be felt in room 12. After an hour, it finally stops. Now, if you can, you’re free to go to sleep. Nothing will happen again until 11 P.M. tomorrow. If you’re a morning person and like to go to bed early, perhaps you shouldn’t stay in this room. On the other hand, if you’re not there for the nightlife, why are you in Miami?