Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-02-14
GREEN MOUNTAIN

linz commenced at a distant part OF the
room. rapidly approaching the young wo'
man, and appeared to become stationary d''
rectly under her chair
lust before the first annoyance occurred
German shoemaker, who had been a,
work for some time in the house, attempted
TO kiss Young woman who had been pro
ND in the family She resented the attempt
and struck him on the face in REFUSING
him. He told her she should suffer LOT IL;
That night the knockings commenced, ana
the second was like shoemaker hammer
inc leather on lap stone. When she was
in bed, it appeared to be in the head board
and when sitting or standing it appeared to
be in the floor under her. The shoemaker
was not in the house after the knocking
commenced, but was at work in nelghbor,
inc farm-houses. All the family and all
visitors heard it. 1t was heard III the day
time as well as night. When the woman
was taken to other houses, the noise wou'u
still pursue her. When p laced on floor,
both sides of which conld be seen, the
knockings appeared to be in the plank
The ANNOYANCE made the woman sick, but
it continued then as well as after her recov-
cry. Sometimes when sitting, her CHAIR
would be overtIlrown violently, though nc
one was near her, and though many tried
no one was found strong enough to hold the
chair upright.
At other times her work would be snatch
ed from her hands and thrown abont the
room by some unseen agency. Intelligent
investigators from considerable distance
visited the house, none of whom conld ex'
plain the mystery, though convinced of the
facts as stated One of them, physician
had heard that the door of her room wouIt
sometimes be opened in spite of witches oil
spirits, but in attempting tohoId 1t, he was
considerably bruised by the violence witt
which it was forced against him. Indeed
opposition, whether by deed or word, seem
ed to increase the violence of the demon
STATIONS
These annoyances became more unfre
quent, and less violent till they ceased thu
anne winter. The woman afterwards mar
ried, and with her husband lived in thi
village till within few years.
There is hundred times as mach evi
lence ofthese facts as is required to han!
I man, Because we have nothing by which
to account for them, shall we say they die
not exist, or that thousands were dtluded
where that deusion brought no adv mag
to any one, but subjected these best quail
fed to detect it to loss, and has never ye
cen exposed! Tosay so is to endeavor Il
make facts accord with theories instead @
theories with facts. 1t is mucn easier l.
doubt than believe, and TO deny than to in
vestigate. But such Incidence does not lea
to truth
1t is said that knockings Of similar kin
were found annoying in several houses il
Delaware Counsy, and ottracted much al
tention about thirty years ago. Perhap
some Of your readers could give history G
them. There is in Southey's Life of We.
ley, a very fuf account of similar knock
ngs in the Wesley residence. In all thes
accounts there is evidence OF intelligence
of knowledge of things present and absen
| on the mart of the cnuss of the noise. Bt
! as never DeTorc the Rochester cases has
ny plan of obtaining answers succeeded
So we have a right to expect that now "
may learn more of its cause. 1t appear
most extraordinary to me that those who ar
there at hand reinquish inquiry aud il
vestigetion till all is explained or the limi
ascertalned that restrict our knowledge =
Meanwhile let Us prepare ourselves for az
vancement in knowledge by leaving the CT
adeI of Prejudice, though we retain tn
sword of Reason and the shield of Faith.
Yours, l.. Nj.