Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-10-19

turned ihe good people OF LynchS
burg, have, for some DAYS past, been
greatly agltated by the appearance of a
Ghost, which It seems has located itself
in dilapidated lumber house, situated
in dark ravine, near a mill. which was,
partially destroyed by the recent freshet.
In this rude and forbidding mansion,
noises of a fearful description have been
known to issue, such as SCREAMING.
bawling, squeaking and dancing ais II
with feet of iron or brassn For the
purpose of ascertaining the character OF
this intruder upon the quiet and repose
of the Citizens, and to expel from it's
habitation so unwelcome tenant, an
expedition is formed by two persons, on
dark and tempestuous night, the Sc
sat Of which is thus described by ths
Virginien:
1t was on such night, that two gem
tlemen, carefully wrapped up, and car
rying with them dark lanihorn, to pro-
tect them from the danger of plunging
into some of the numerous ravines
| which intersected and surrounded their
path, secretly left their dsmciles, and
slorly wendell their way towards the
dwelling of the midnight disturber of
their rest. They had not proceeded
many yards, before loud and fearful
noise was heard, which seemed almost
to hush to silence the ragings of the tenn
pest Nothing dauuted however, the
| gentlemen continued to advance towards
the spot whence the sounds proceeded;
and presently, having arrived within
few steps of the old building dark fig
IRE was seen gliding, with ghost-like
noiselessness of tread, into an adjoining
thicket.--Who would not now haze
shuddered with terror? Even in recor.
ding the fact, our blood sensbly re.
| cedes to the heart! We know, under
such circumstances, we should have
proved to be a"white Iiyer'd runagatep
But the adventurous gentlemen, pres.
CRYING their presence of mind, and de-
termined to discover the character Of
their disturber, forthwith accosted him
in rough and surly tone "Who goes
there?n demanded one of them. "Wash-
ing!on" answered the respondent ia
hollow sepulchral voice, lambent flame
apparently issuing from his mouth and
nostrils, and playing around his form,
and his eyes cleaning with unearthly
fire. This flame, however, served RAJ
Their to obscure than to illuminate bis
features; for moment, the exploring
party was SO much astounded as to be
unable to repeat another word. Aftera
while, however, the ghost politely avail
ting their pleasure, they again advan-
ced to the charge. "What noise was
that we just heard in this housel" en-
CURED they. 81 don't know: | heard
none," slowly and solemnly replied the
ghost.--"Did you just now leave it,"
asked one of the gentlemen. III didw
answered the ghost; and, as he spoke,
the surrounding atmosphere became
tainted with sulphurous smell, bones
were heard to rattle for an instant, and,
as the "bIack figure" slowly vanished
into air, the very depths of the rayine
as well as every hollow in the sides of
the neighboring hills, seemed to echo
| and re-echo, his parting asseveration!
Since then, the noise has been again
I heard; but no one has been found chiv-
alrous enough to attempt second exc
ploration. Neither Of the gentlemen
were at all injured by his ghostship, and
they unite in representing bis conduct
to have been modelled on the strictest
principle of ghostly etiquette.
The Virginian contains an article up
on the subject of considerable length, a
small part of which we have copied for
the amusement of our readers. The
editors themselves contemplate a visit
to his 6hostship, the result of which 10
promised to the public.
IN Important Lottery. 1T has been
computed that among 10000 people, the
average deaths will be one day. II
this computation be accurate, person
in common health has a daily risk of
dying, which compared with the chan.
css of life, is in the same proportion az
an unit bears to the number $780,
This risk is seemingly so small that it
commonly gives no alarm, and is scarce
ly thought of; whereas, ifthe same risk
were placed on different ground, so as
to be seen in a different light, it would
be generally alarming Suppose for in-
stance, that to- morrow morning lottery
we're to be drawn of this kind: 1899
white balls, and one black ball, should
be thrown promiscuously into box, and
1 that 10000 neonle-s Won and I anop@