The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-04-01
selett Mistellamg.
An Alarming Mystery ia Michi-
gan" Supernatural Fires.c
From the Cleveland Herald.

|
A friend residing in this city, but who is
on visit to Owosso Michigan, informs lis
of very singular and unaccountabe affair
that is now transpiring in Bush township
five miles north of Owosso.
A farmer named Stearns, residing i'll that
town, has All adopted daughter by the name
of Freeman, who is ten years of age. While
this little girl was sweeping the sitting
room, about week since, she discovered
the carpet to be OH fire. and the inmates
having put out the fire undertook to learn
its origin. There had been no fire built in
the room that morning no light had been
carried into the room, nor could the fam
lily in am way account for the fire. In
less than an hour flames were seeh issuing
from some rags III another room. The
same day the girls clothes caught fire, and
the next mOrAing damp towel that Mrs.
Stearns had used in wiping her face. upou
! being hung on nail, commenced burning.
| The last occurrence took place i'll the pres
ence of some twelve persons, some of whom
are among the most respectable citizens in
| the place. Next "a straw-stack near MIR.
Stearns' house was consumed. At one time,
when number of persons were i'll the
house, the falling of some heavy substance
was heard in the chamber, directly above
their heads. Upon going up stairs, it
proved to be bag filled with books and
rags, suspended by cord to a beam.
The bag was on fire, and the string was also
burning when the parties entered the room.
Mr.. S. and family became so much
alarmed by these movements that they left
their home. When the furniture was being
moved, trunk said not to have been
opened for more than year, was disCov-
cred to be on fire, and when opened, the
flames burst forth consuming its contents
Tho family are now living ina house
some three miles distant from their farm,
but the mysterious torment, termed by the
doubling "humbug," by the spiri.ualists
the manifestation of the spirits" by the
Millerites the period OF fire and birthstone"
and by DR.. Tappan the works Of the devil
is bound to stick to them like a brother.
No sooner had the girl entered her new
home than her clothes took fire III three
different places. And now, one other fam
lily, where she has visited, are az badly tor
mented as is the family of Mr.. Stearns.
In 0wosso, as well as in the adioining vii
lage of Corunna, the excitement is most
intense. People are flocking from every
direction TO witness this truly wonderful
mystery. Some of the most profound schol-
ars of the State, among whom are DR.. Tap
pan Chancellor of the University Of Michi-
gan, President Fairchild of Hillsdale Col
lege, and others, have been 10 "sec the
sights :" and all agree that there are hidden
mysteries beyond the depth of the closest
observers.
One man remarked that the judgment
of God was about to be inflicted upon the
heads of His wicked people" Another
bloated old Democrat says that the cause
in which our army is engaged is unholy,
and that this is a fire in the rear" soon
to belch forth, AID devastate the whole
North. We suspect, however, that good
practical chemist and a skillful detective
could soon unravel the mystery.