Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-12-01
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Lookport Balance.
FATAL FROLIC


About twenty years ago, a young
gentleman, remarkable for his strong
nerve. was at a party consisting Of q
few friends, where ghosts and super
natural agency became the subject OF
conversation. After few remarks by
some OF the party, the young gentle.
mans opinion was asked, when he
hrmly declared he had no belief what.
ever in such nonsense, and that he
would as soon meet q herd Of ghosts
as Hook OF sheep. and that he would
no more mind passing a night in a re-
Puted haunted house, than by his own
hre-side. One or two of the party de.
termined to try his nerve, and one gen.
tleman In particular offered to wager
him dozen Of wine, that he would be
afraid to sit up all night with q corpse.
lie instantly accepted the bet, proyid.
ed he was allowed q FIRE, a pair Of pis.
tolls, and glass Of grog, and his own
house being made the scene Of the trial
OF his nervous faculties These terms
being agreed to, the parties separated,
and the next evening was the time an.
pointed for the decision Of the bet.
The next evening came, and every
thing being in readiness--pistols, fire,
and grog-the corpse was brought in
by the party who laid the wager, assist.
ed by friend, enveloped IN a large
sheet, and placed in a coffin. and sci
down IN the middle Of the room. At
this instant, the young hero was called
uowh from the room TO speak 10 some
person on trllling business. which he
instantly despatched and returned un
stairs. The parties who brought the
corpse in, after wishing him a good
night. were on the point Of departure.
when he earnestly said to them. Now
any tricks are attempted to be play
ed with me, l will fire at the corpsc. if
one II IS, for l strongly suspect il is a
living being They made him no far.
ther answer to this threat than these
ominous words Remember twelve
o'clock tie was then left alone. He
stirred his fire, slipped his groy, and
made himself as comfortable as he
could possibly do.
81 length the solemn hour arrived.
As the last stroke vibrated Oh his ear.
ne distinctly saw the corpse begin TO
move. lie snatcbed a pistol from the
table, advanced to the coffin, and ex-
clalmed--'lf you stir another stem. 4
will hre.' To this injauct ton he re.
ceived no answer. The supposed
corpse rose up from the coffin and
stepped; he repeated his threat-i,
still advaneed--he fired. and the bull.
let was thfewn back in his face by the
supposed corpse. lie fell to the floor
with piercing shrek, and rose a Ia
matte, IN which wretched state he re
NAMED tiIl his death. which happened
about a year after this tragic and truly
heart-rendlng scene occurred.
a more Iamentable instance of crueI
folly perhaps never occurred, Had lie
victim reflected but for n momen,. he
would have been saved; but the iJes
oil the bullet being returned, or per.
haPs that OF shooting fellow creature.
took such an effect upon his nerves, tina,
reason iorsook her empire never more
20 return.
During the time he was gone ont al
the room to speak 20 the person who
wished TO see him. who was a partv
eoneerned.) the bullets were drawn
from the pistols, and given into the
hands OF the corpse, who was likewiss
one OF the party who was present wher
the wager was laid. The occurrence
ls never thought Of by either Of tie &C.
tors IA this foolish affair. but il ocea.
sions sigh ora pang Of rsmorse.
II e safer TO be attacked by some
men, than 10 be protected BY them.