From: mcmurtrey@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.ghost-stories
Subject: Demon rider
Date: 8 Nov 92 17:54:13 -0600
Summary: first try
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

        Greetings, I found reading this group very interesting.  I have a story
that may contribute to your stories.  

        First a little background, I was born and raised in Southern Missouri,
down in the Ozark mountains.  Yes, I admit I'm a hill-billy.  If you want 
scary stories and superstition thats the place to go.

        This was given to me by my mother who was present although extremely
young when it occured.  It will be a little disjointed as I try to remember 
what she said.

        Back at during the 1920's (and before) in the Ozarks it was a common
practice to have a festival during the summer where everyone would get together
to eat, dance, fight, and basically carry on like fools.

        Back in those days, there were few if any automobils around and most
people either walked or rode horses or in carrigages.  As was the practice 
Many people who were returning to a common area (group of farms) would travel
together for companionship and safety.  Remember It would take most of them
several hours to reach home.

        The group that my mom was in consisted of her, her family, and the
family from 4 or 5 other farms.  It was late at night and the group was nearing
the first of the family farms.  

        They were traveling down a one-lane dirt road, the moon was bright
enough to see by.  However, as protection from the local preditors they carried
a few lamps on the wagons.  Most of the young children had fallen asleep in the
back of the various wagons.  A few of the young (teenage) adults walked between
the wagons since the night was so nice and it allowed them to talk without the
presence of the parents.  A few rode horse back among them.

        As they drew passed a clearing in the forest, one of the wagon drivers
spied a rider on horseback in the clearing.  He shouted a greeting to the
person partially in good mannors and partially to warn the rest of the group
to be on alert for trouble.  

        Before anyone could act the horse and rider jumped the fence bordering
the road, grabed one of the teenage girls (she was considered one of the
prettiest in the county), and leaped seemingly into midair and vanished.  

        A search was started immediately but the girl was never found.  All
present said that they should have seen the rider leave with the girl since the 
clearing on both sides of the road was large and the moon bright even without
the lamps.

        A few of the people who where walking with the girl swear the horse had 
wings like that of a bat and the man(yes, they knew that much) appear robed in
shadow.  They still talk about the demon on horseback and if I have it correct
this was not the first time this person had been seen, nor the first victim he
has taken.  His legend goes back to almost the days of the indians in the area.

        Was it accurate or not?  I don't know, I just know what my mom and a
few others said.



        If you guys like these, I've got other tales, like the tale of the
unknown soldger, ghost lights, the delemma of the hunters etc.


                                        Diana McMurtrey
                                        Accounting Dept.
                                        University of Northern Iowa