Grand balls and parties were all the rage in the nineteenth century.  This gave John Harris a way to introduce his seven young daughters to the gentlemen in the area. On the fateful evening of May 14, 1841 they were giving such a party. 

Lieutenant Wenman Wynniatt, from the 83rd British regiment who was stationed at the London garrison was courting Sarah Harris.  At 5 pm as was the tradition the ball began and the guests were dancing in the library.  Sarah waited for Mr. Wynniatt and had convinced herself that he was not going to show up.  She was slightly miffed as she had asked her father to invite him.  At 6 pm as the grandfather clock chimed she saw him standing in the front hall.  Sarah had been dancing and was talking to three gentlemen.  Wynniatt walked right passed them, without seeming to recognize her.  She remarked to the gentlemen in a laughing manner how rude she thought he was being and followed him into the dining room.  This was apparently the last time she saw him, she couldn't find him any where.  She asked her father and sister who were in the dining room if they had spoken to him.  They said they had tried to but he had turned and left without speaking.  The ball continued without him to Sarah's disappointment. 

Early the next morning a London man found Lieutenant Wynnaitt's horse straying on its own and returned it to the garrison.  A search part was organized and eventually Wynnaitt's body was found on the banks of the Thames river.  His watch had stopped at the exact moment he had appeared at the ball.  Although Sarah never saw him again, people have reported that the ghost of a young man appears in Eldon House every so often, and it is wondered if maybe the young man is still trying to keep his date with Sarah.