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From: rnoe@ix.netcom.com
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.ghost-stories
Subject: Haunted Motel
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 1999 05:33:09 GMT
A few years ago my wife and I decided to go on a Memorial Day weekend trip. We went north from Los Angeles and went up toward Bishop. It was getting late in the day and we decided we'd better find a room before it got too late.
We arrived in a small town called Lone Pine just about dusk. A small town, about 5000 people or so, it bills itself as the "Gateway to Death Valley". After stopping at two motels and finding them full we were starting to think we wouldn't be able to find lodging for the night.
Finally at the outskirts of town we saw a small motel that still had a "Vacancy" light on. Needless to say we stopped immediately and got the last room.
We were tired after traveling and retired fairly early. Sometime during the night, I couldn't tell you the exact time, I awoke suddenly. The room was pitch black and it felt quite cold. For a moment I didn't know where I was and disoriented I felt around for a lamp switch.
All of a sudden I heard what sounded like moaning, mixed with the crying of a baby. My first thought was it was someone in the next room. The chill intensified and in the corner of the room, next the bathroom, I saw a dull light emerge. I was now thoroughly awake and saw that the light seemed to be coming from the floor and creeping up the wall. That got my attention and I stared captivated. Slowly the light got brighter and I could still hear the moaning and crying.
Finally I could see what appeared to be shadows in the light. They weren't caused by me - I was still in the bed with the covers drawn up. I saw what appeared to be a shadow of a woman, on her knees, rocking back and forth with something in her arms - a baby perhaps? I don't know for sure but I do know my heart is in good shape from the thumping it was doing.
I have no idea how long I stared at the light and shadows - it could have been a minute or an hour, I was both mesmerized and scared at the same time. Slowly the light dimmed and disappeared and shortly thereafter the moaning and crying stopped as well. It took me a long time to go back to sleep and I wasn't even sure I had witnessed the whole event. But the chill lingered in the air for quite some time.
The next morning we checked out. I didn't say anything to my wife about the experience. As we pulled out of the driveway and headed north we saw a cemetery less than a hundred yards from the motel. There was a historical marker next to the gate. I stopped and we took a look. In the late 1800s there was a huge earthquake that struck Lone Pine, killing over 150 people. Most were crushed as the quake hit in the middle of the night while they slept.
I have always wondered since then if that incident was related to a human tragedy so long ago.