The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-12-16
a HAUNTED PREACHER.


Baptist pulpi, Gov. Briggs communicates a
very interesting letter on John Leland,
which contains fuller account Of his
personal HABITS and manner of preaching
than we have ever before seen. .....
He was little inclined to superstition,
says Gov. Briggs. Indeed. his practical
sagaciiy and startling common sense kept
him from any tendency in that direction,
but he bad some pccnlar experiences Of
the supernatural, as the following anecJotc
tcs,iies:
While was at his home l inquired Of
him about remarkable noise, which had
when boy heard that he and his family
had been annoyed by when they lived in
Virginia. He gave this account oft:
His family, at the time, consisted of
himself, wife, and four children. One eve
ming, all the family being together, their
attention was attracted by a noise, which
very much resembled the faint groans of
person in pain. It was distinct, and
repeated at intervals Of few eeconds. It
seemed to be under the sill Of the window,
and between the clap.boarls and the cell
ing. They paid very little attention to it,
and in a short time it ceased. But, after.
wards, it returned in the same way-some.
times every night, sometimes not so fire.
quently, and always in the same place, and
Of the same character. 1t continued for some
months. lie said it excited their curiosity
and annoyed them, but they were not
alarmed by it. During its continuance
they had the siding ard casing removed
from the p ace it appeared to be. but found
nothing to account for it, and the sound
continued the same
lie consulted H. friends, especially some
Of his ministerial brethren, about it. !
think he said it WAS never heard by any
one except himself and family but it was
heard by them when he was absent from
home. Mrs. Leland said that often, when
she was alone with the children, and while
they were playing about the room, and
nothing being said, it would come, and
they would leave their play and gather
abcat her person. They had a place fifty
or sixty rods from the house, by the side o.
brook, where the family did their wash.
ing. One day, while she was at that place
it met her there precisely as it had done in
the house.
After the noise had been heard at brie
intervals for, think, six or eight months
they removed their lodgings to quite al
opposite and distant part Of the house, bu,
it continued as usual, for so.ie time. iu it:
old locality. One night, after they had
retired, they observed, by the sound, thai
it had left the spot from which it had
previously proceeded, and seemed to b.
advancing in "a direct line towards thei
bed, and was Sbecomiug constantly louder
and more distinct.
At each interval it advanced towards
them, and gathered strength and fuInes'
until it entered the room where>>they were
and approached the bed, when the groar
became deep and appalling. "Then," said
he, "for the first time since it began, fell
the emotion Of fear, turned upon my face
and, If Lever prayed in my life, prayed
then. Iasked the Lord 10 deliver me and
my family from that annoyance, and that
ifwere message from heaven. it might be
explainedto u, and depart; tia, il it were an
evil spirit, permitted to disturb and dis.
quiet me and h,y.ia,niIy, it might be re-
buked and sent away or, if there was any.
thing for me to do to make it depart,
might bs5ihstrncted what II was, 70 that II
could do it," This exercise festoted hi
tranquility of ihind, and be resumed hi:
usual position in the bed. Then he said il
uttered groan too loud and startling to be
initiated by the human voice. IL Inc neg
groan was not so :loc.,, and it receded ,
step orstwo fro'a the front Of the bed, nea
his face. It continued to recede in the
direction from which it game, and grew
less and less. until it reached its old station
when itdied away to. the faintest sound, and
entirelyiand forever ceassd.8
No explanation was ever found. II have
given you," said be, "a simple and true
history Of the facts, and you can form
you own opinion. Is,hate none" His
wife confirmed all e;said. I.think can
say that l never knew q person less given
o,.he marvellous than. Elder Leland. ~
.j3 ilsss = -Sp.ev--~A ..t
Whs6 Lord Enkina heard that some.
body had disS worth two hundred thoasand
poands, be 'obsersed, Well, that's "a very
pretty. sum- 10 Begin, tina next world with.h5
, .SE = - 80; s'I;