Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-07-30
THE EnGEFIELp GHOST
rFyOD, the Edgefsla Cuolinian, July II


The following statement offacts in relation TO amat-
ter which has produced much inquiry and speculation
sn this District, may be depended upon by the public,
rs having been carefully compiled by gentleman OF
piety and Of strong and well cultivated mind We are
not disposed to believe that breach has been made
in the laws Of nature without any useful purpose. but
we have not yet heard any satisfactory explanation of
the circumstances upon rational principles
MEssRs. EDToRs,-As public curiosity has
been greatly excited, aud many Tales more or
less true, have gone out, concerning The mys-
;crious and Invisible being, that has oeen heard
IT Mr.. Isaac BurHet's, in-this DIlrici for some
time, i, seems proper that the public should be
fTaordinary circumstance The voice was first
heard in Octobe- lss,, imi; ating various noises,
such as that Of the spinning wheel, reels, ducks,
hens Sc. II was FIRST heard by Mr.. Burnett, a
bout twenty yards from The house, which led
him TO suppose IT one of his ueighbor's children
hiding in tie weeds and trying TO f'ighten his
children. |, was afterwards heard 10 the loft
of the house, and Mr.. supposing it to be a
bird, sent a boy up 10 drive il out, but nothing
could be seeu. Ii thus continued 20 Ierpex
the minds Of The family for some time, until, a,
length. one Of he children said ne believed hat
thing could talk and commenced asking ques-
tions, watch it answered by whis,liug pretty
much like parror. This Circumstance ge,
ting out, many persons came TO hear il. Mr.
John Shepherd. pi,us and worthy ci'izen VIII
lives in the neighborhood, coDversed with i in
pre- sence Of number of witnesses. To ascer-
tain the extent Otis knowledge, he asked it va
fious question: q 'nut most perA ms in the neigh
borhood and their circumstances, wh,t h i ans.
swered correctly, il told IS name and the mum
Der Of children he had, also, the names of moss
Of the persons present He asked what II
came there for. 1t replied, " because it had m.
other place TO CO." II was asked if il came 20
do he family any harm il said mo-, loved the
family. Il was then 4sked finally if il loved
Jesus Christ, TO which il made no reply, nor
answered any more questions which Mr.. She2-
herd asked The evening after II answered
Others, but would not answer him For the
frsi three months il was heard only o1ce
month; but afterwards much ofiener. II has
been head at various times, both in the day and
q, night, bat more frequently in the day, search
has been repeatedly made by the family and
Others, but nothing found from which he voice
could proceed. There is no place of conceal
men, about The house. II is small bous-
with but one room, a lof, Of boards across the
ioists, and piazza one side. The house
is no, uDderpinned, so that you can see from one
end TO the other underneath. For some time
the voice appeared generally 10 proceed from
the further end Of The housa, opposite the fire
place and the upper part or loft. If any one,
except the children, woulG go 10 that end Of
the house, while 1t was talking, or if any one
would steal round ever so softly 10 that end
on the outside Of the house when it was dark,
and whilst others talked TO il, i, would inst at.
ly stop, and when they returned j: would com.
mence again. This experimen, was tried one
evening when number Of persons were there,
so that both the house aud piazza were full
Some one from the Pr 'zzd wrthou, ,he know
ledge OF those in the house, who were talking
TO il, went round on che outside to see if they
could discover any one, when il instantly stop
ped. IL has been known 10 whistle almost any
tune, either sacred or profane, which any one
would telI it. Mr.. and Mrs Burnett appear 10
be simple hearted, uprigh' and amiabIe persons,
serious in their dispositions, and as far from
encouraging any trick about them 10 make
sport as any one. No one in the neighborhood,
Who knaws them, believes that they know ANY
.ning about the matter. They have evidently
oeen much disturbed and alarmed on acc ount