The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-06-12
EXTRAORDIYARY sPIRITUAL MANI


FESTATIONS IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
A correspondent of the Du Quoin Mining
Journal, vouched for by the editor as a man
of truth under ordinary circumstances, gives
the following account of some very singular
manifestations near that place, Of which he
says he was an eyewitness:
About the middle Of the month Of March
last, after had retired to bed for the night,
and was thinking of my plans for the next
day, heard loud knocking upon the door,
and opening it found my nearest neighbor,
Mr.. L., awaiting me. lie was trembling from
head TO foot, at which was greatly surprised
as the night was quite warm, considering the
time of year. For Gods sake, come to nv
house Immediately. Satan or some of his
crew have taken possession of the premises
and are playing the ID generallyp
He would give me no time to ask questions,
but was exceedingly anxious should accom-
pany him. had scarcely got my clothes on
until he took me by the arm and hurried me
along towards his residence. lie entered the
main room OF the building, closely followed
by myself. There the most wonderful sight
ever beheld presented themselves to nv
view. Mr., La wife and two eldest daugh.
! tiers we're huddled up in one corner of the
room, and each was the personifcation of ter
ror They were clinging to each other and
sobbing violently. Near the fire. place was
the youngest daughter, very pretty girl,
moving round in kind of waltz like dance,
with arms in a horizontal position, seemingly
paralyzed, and humming a singular air.
Stranger than all, every piece of furniture in
the room was keeping perfect time with the
movements Of the girl, and clock on the
mantle-piece had ceased running, but a con,
tinuous stream of sounds ruDg from its bell,
and added greatly to the confusion then
prevalent square table cut up the queer
est antics Of anything in the room. FRS. it
would tip forward on the two front legs, then
on the two hinder ones and lastly spin around
on one leg like top, and again tip backward
and forwards. fire shovel was dancing on
the hearth. the wood was rolling about and
pots and skillets made an outlandish racket.
Suddenly the young girl ceased her waltz
ing stood like statue-and instantaneous.
ly every article of furniture settled into their
accustomed places. The lighted candle,
which was standing on the mantle-piece was
suddenly eXtnguished, as if by an invisible
person. The fire upon the hearth was quite
low, and gave very faint light. lmmedi
ately after the extinguishment of the candle,
a green light, interspersed with orange color
ed rays, seemed to envelop the upper portion
of the young girls body, giving her super
natural appearance and the most melodous
sounds followed, resembling the music of the
aolian harps, appearing to be around, below
and above the occupants of the room. This
lasted about five minutes, when the music
ceased and the green light Disappeared; but,
as if by magic, the candle on the mantle piece
was again gnited, and the girl fell insensibe
to the floor. Some two hours elapsed before
she fully recovered from her trance like Sleep
but every vestige of the singular performance
in which she had participated had escaped
her memory. Almost nightly since, spiritual
demonstrations have occurred at my neigh.
boris house yet differing in many respects
from those witnessed by me.