Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-03-02

dering on the supernatural, which was witnessed
by many of your citizens Of that day. 1t strikes
me as being an interesting chapter in the past.
history of your district, and one which many .oi
your present readers would like to see. accor-
dinghy send it to you. 1t is observable that the
mysterious circumstance vas looked upon by
many as reality, and that even the then editors
Of the EdgeGeld paper (Messrs. Wsidlaw 4
Mays) were not altogether incredulous about the
mutter.
Do you remember. Mr.. Editor, what was the
trae explanation of the strange affair?
ASTIorARY.
From the Carolinian, Saturday July IL, 1922.
THE EDGEFIsLD GnosT.-Thc following state
ment of facts in relation to matter which has
produced much inquiry and speculation in this
District, may be depended upon by the public,
as having been carefully compiled by q gentle.
man OF pety 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
hoard any satisfactory explanation of the Cir
cumstsnces upon rational principles D TORS
CARolINIAN.
MEssRs. En1Toss: As public curiosity has
been greatly excited and many tales more or
less true, have gone out, concerning the mystic
rous and invisible being, that has been heard at
Mr.. Isaac Burnest's, in this Distii:t, for some
time. it ems;proper that the Public should be
in possession Of the facts relative to this ex'rA.
ordinary circumstance. The voice was first
heard in October last, initiating various noises,
such as that of the spinning.wheel, reel, ducks,
hens, &c. 1t was first heard by Mr.. Burnett
about twenty yards from the house, which led
him to suppose it was one of his ncighbors'
children, hiding in the weeds and trying to
frighten his children. 1t was afterwards heard
in the loft Of the house, and Mr.. B. supposing it
to be a bird, sent boy up to drive it out, but
nothing could be seen. 1t thus continued to
perplex the minds Of the family for some time,
uutil, at length, one of the children said he be-.
lieved that thing could talk and commenced ask
ing questions which it answered by wbistling,
pretty much like Parr,t. This circumstance
getting out, many persons came to hear it. Mr..
John Shepherd, piouS anc worthy citizen, who
lives in the neig ghborhood, conversed with it in
presence of number of witnesses. To ascer-
tain the extent of its knowledge, he asked it
various questions about most persons in the
neighborhood, au} their circumstances, which it
answered correctly. 1t told his name and the
number of children he had also, the names of
most Of the persons present. He asked what it
came there tor. 1t replied, Because it had no
other place to so to-" 1t was asked if it came
to do the family any harm, it said mott loved
the family. 1t was asked finally if it loved Jesus
Christ, to which it made no reply, nor answered
any more questions which Mr.. Shepherd asked.
The evening after, it answered others, but would
not answer him. For the first three months it
was heard only once a month, but afterwards
much oftener. 1t has been heard at various
times, both in the day and at night, but more
frequently in the day. Search has been repeat
edly made by the family and others, but nothing
found from which the voice could proceed.
There is no place of concealment about the
house. 1t is u small house with but one room,
o loft Of boards laid across the joists, and
piazza on one side. The house is not under
pinned, so that you can see from one end to the
other, underneath. For some time the voice ap.
peared generally to proceed from the further end
Of the house, opposite the fireplace and the up
per part or loft. 1fany one, except the children,
while it 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 it, it would Instantly stop and when
they returned, it would commence again. This
of persons were there, so that both the house
and piazza were full Some one from the piazza,
without the knowledge of those in the house,
who were talking to it, went round on the outside
to see if they could discover any one, when it
instantly stopped. 1t has been known to whis-
tie almost any tune, either sacred or profane,
which any one would tell it.
Mr.. and Mrs. Burnett appear to be simple
hearted, upright and amable persons, serious
in their dispositions and as far from encouraging
any trick about them to make sport us any one.
No one in the neighborhood, who knows them,
believes that they know any thing about the
matter. They have evidently been much dis
turbed and alarmed on account Of it, but having
so far experienced no harm from it,s.they have
resolutely maintained their ground. 1t mani
tests great partiality for a little daughter of
the family, who is about eleven years of age
This so alarms her that she generally gets sick
whenever she talks to it, and she has been
known to quit the house precipitately, when she
has heard /, alone in the house. Not long since
however, she quoted to it passage of Scripture,
which pious friend pointed out and advised
her to memorize for that purpose, / Tim. i. XVI
and it bade her hold her jaw, but she persisted
in quoting the passage until it hushed, and has
not spoken to her since.
Since so many persons went to hear it, it has
become very shy and is seldom heard when
many parsons arc about, or when any person is
iu the house except the smaller children. They
have never been able to ascertain who, or what
it is, or the object of its visit 1t has told its
name repeatedly, but cannot be understood. 1t
will not answer any serious or religious ques
tions. When asked whether it was q man or a
woman, it said it was the foolishest question it
ever heard, and appeared to laugh.
The Rev. Mr.. Hodges visited the family sever.
al times and held meeting, at their request.
without hearing any, thing: However, on the
18th of May, MIR. H. being in the neighborhood,
and calling at the house of Mr. N. Mrs. N.
informed Mr.. Hodges, she had just been to Mr..
Burnett's and heard the voice-Alr. Fl. inmedl.
ately rode over in company with Mr.. John
Shep pherd. Mr.. S. went up to the house first, to
get the children in the house to talk to it, and
after it commenced, upon signal given, Mr.. II.
went up to the house and seatcd himself in the
piazza. A little boy eight oSDnine years of age,
stood lust inside of the door to ask any questions
which were suggested to him by the company.
1t initiated various noises in whistle, such as
the Growing of the cock, clucking Of hen, noise
of partridge &c. and answered variety of
simple questions. There were but few answers
that Mr.. II. could understand, but when inter.
preted by the family, who were more accustomed
to hear it. he could then trace out some resem.
blance. Some words however were pronounced
very plain, such as kitten, yes, no, goose-quill,
&c. The family say, that it generally spoke
much more distinctly and could be much better
understood than ON this occasion, Mr. SheDherd
saws the same. 1t was understood, however, to
say it knew Mr.. H., pronounced his name tolera-
bly distinct said got acquainted with him there,
Il Il :. Lilo N, Whnn Mr. Il