Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1829-08-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the C0rOlini0n.
THE EDGEFIELD GHOST.

THE EDGEFIELD GHOST.
. The following statement of facts in no
lation to matter which has produced
much inquiry and speculation in this Dis
trict, may be depended upon by the publ,
as having been carefully compiled by
gentleman of piety and Of strong and wei
cultivated mind. We are not disposed t.
believe that breach has been made in the
laws of nature, without any useful purpose
but we have not heard any satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION of the circumstances upon ration
al principles.
Messrs. E0litOrs,-As public curiosity
has been greatly excited and many tales,
more or less true, have gone out, concern
ing the mysterious and invisible being, that
has been heard at Mr.. Isaac Burnett's in
this District for some time, it seems proper
that the public should be in possession Of
the facts relative to this extraordinary
circumstance. The voice was first heard
in October last, initiating various noises,
such as that of a spinning wheel ,reel, ducks,
hens, &c. It was first heard by Mr.. Bur-
nett about twenty yards from the house,
:, which led him to suppose it was one of his
neighbours children, hiding in the weeds
and trying to frighten his children. 1t was
afterwards heard in the loft of the house,
and Mr.. B. supposing it to be bird, sent
a boy up to drive it out, but nothing could
be seen. 1t thus continued to perplex the
minds Of the family for some time, until, al
length, one Of the children said he believ-
ed that the thing could talk, and common
ced asking il questions, which it answered
by whistling, pretty much like Parrot
e This circumstance getting out, many per-
sons came to hear it. Mr., John Shepherd,
a pious and worthy citizen, who lives in
the neighborhood, conversed with it in the
presence Of number Of witnesses. To
ascertain the extent of its knowledge, he
asked it various questions about most per-
sons in the neighborhood, and their cir
cumstances, which it answered correctly.
1t told his name and the number Of chill
dren he had also, names of most persons
present. He asked what it came there
for. 1t replied, Z" Because it had no other
place to 20 to-" It was asked if it came
there to do the family any harm, it said no
it loved the family. Tt was asked finally
ifitloved Jesus Christie which it made no
! reply, nor answered any more questions
which Mr.. Shepherd asked. The 'eve-
ming after, it answered Others, but it would
not answer9 him. For the first three
months 1t was heard but once month, but
afterwards much oftener. 1t has been heard
at various times, both IN the day and night
but more frequently in the day. Search
has been made by the family and others
but nothing found from which the voice
could proceed. There is no place of con-
cealment about the house. It is small
house with but one room, loft of boards
laid across the joists, and piazza on one
side. The house is not underpinned, SO
that YOU could see from one end to the
other, underneath. For some time the
noise appeared generally to proceed from
the further end of the house, while it was
talking, or If any one would steal round
ever so softly to that end on the outside
of the house when it was dark, whilst 9TH
ers talked to it, il would instantly stop,
and when they returned. it would COM
mence again. This experiment was tried
one evening when number of persons
were there, SO that the house and piazza
were full. Some one from the piazza
without the knowledge Of those in the
house, who were talking to it, went round
on the outside to see if they could discover
any one, when it instantly stopped. II
has been known to whistle almost any
tune, sacred or profane, which any one
would tell it. MIR. and Mrs. Burnett APP
pear to be simple hearted, upright and ami
able persons, serious in their dispositions
and as far from encouraging any trick a
bout them to make sport as any one. Nc
one in the neighborhood, who know.
them, believes that they know any thing
about the matter. They have evidently
been much disturbed and alarmed on &C.
count of it, but having SO far experienced
no harm from ii, they have resolutely
maintained their ground. 1t manifests .
great partially for little daughter Of the
family, who is about eleven years of age
This 80 alarms her that she generally gets
sick whenever she talks to it, and she has