Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-11-20
Pro. ts< .Nsrwt Dssiy -fsiteyaser.
TALE OF MARVEL.

d W
ness IN the afternoon to procure more
particular information. Our agent, after
the fullest opportunity of observation,
has returned this morning and cornmu-
nicatcs the following facts which we
give without establishment, as he re-
lates them.
On Monday night of last week the
family Of MIR. Joseph Barren, living in
the township Of Woodbridge. about three
miles from Railway in this county,
were alarmed after they had retired,
by loud humping against the house.
MIR. B. first impression was that some
person was attempting 10 break in. but
further observation soon undeccive d
him. The humping, however, contin-
ued at short intervals. until the family
ibecame 50 alarmed. that Mr.. b. called
IN some Of his neighbours, who remain
ed up with the family until day light,
when the humping ceased.
The next evening, after night fall the
nose recommended, when it was ascer-
tanned TO be mysteriously connected
with the movements OF a servant girl
IN the family white girl about II
years OF age. While passing a win
dow on the stairs for example, a sudden
jar accompanied with an explosive sound
broke pain Of glass: the girl at the
same moment being seized with a vio-
lent sp1Sm. This Of course very much
alarmed her; and the physician (Dr.
Drake) was sent for, came and bled
her. The bleeding however produced
no apparent effect the noise still con-
tinued rs before, al intervals, wher-
ever the girl went, each sound produ-
eng more or less Of a spasm, and the
physician with the family remained up
during the night. At day light the
humping ceased again. On the third
evening the same thing was repeated.
commencing little earlier than before,
and so every evening since, continuing
each nigh: until morning, and COM
mencing every evening little earlier
than before, until yesterday, when the
humping began about IL o'clock at
noon.
The circumstances were generally
spread through the neighborhood, and
have produced so much excitement
that the house has been filed and sur
rounded from sunrise to sunset every
night for nearly a week. Every i'm
aginable means have been resortcd to
an order to unravel the phenomenon
AT one time the girl would be removed
from one apartment to another, but
without effect. Wherever she was
placed, at uncertain intervals the sud-
den humping noise would be heard
IN the room. She was taken to neigh
Dor $ house; the same result followed.
When carried out of doors, however,
no noise Is heard. DR.. Drake, who has
been constant in his attentions during
the whole period, occasionally aided by
other scientific observers, was with us
last evening for two hours, when we
were politely allowed to make variety
OF experiments with the girl in addition
to those heretofore tried, to satisfy our
selves that there is no imposition in the
case, and If possible to discover the Sc
cret agent ofthe mystery.
The girl was in an upper room with
apart Of the family when we reached the
house. The noise then resembled that
which would be produced by a person
violently humping the floor with the
head OF an axe five or six times in quick
succession, jarTing the house, ceasine a
few minutes, and then resuming as be-
fore. We were soon introduced into
the apartment, and permitted to observe
for ourselves. The girl appeared To
be in perfect health, cheerful, and free
from the spasm felt at first, and entire
ly relieved from the fear or apprehen-
SION which she manifested for some
days. The invisible noise continued
to occur as before, though somewhat di-
minished in frequency and sound while
We were IN the room. In order 10 as
certain more satisfactorily that she did
not produce 1t voluntarily, among other
experiments we placed her on a chair
on blanket in the centre Of the room.
bandaged the chair with cloth. fasten-
ing her feet on the front round, and
cOnfning her hands together on her
lap. No change however was produ-
eed the humping continued as be-
fore, except that it was not quite so
loud the noise resembling that which
would be produced by stamping on the
floor with a heavy heel. Yet she did
not move limb nor a muscle that we
could discover She remained in this
position long enough TO satisfy all the
room that the girl exercised voluntari.
lily no sort Of agency iu prntIucinO the
noase. u was observed thai the noise
became greater the farther she was re-.
moved from any other person. w,
placed her in the doorway of a close
IN the noon, the door being alar 10 al
lOW her % stand IN the passage. n
less than minute the door few oper
a. II violently stuck with mallet. ac
oomPanied with precisely such a nois,
as such ihump would produce. Thi
vas repeated several times with N,
same effect IN short, in whaieve