Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-04-29
VOL. Ono. IS.
SUPERNATURAL FIRES.

A friend residing in this city, says the De-
trolt Free Press, but who is on visit TO Owos-
SO, Michigan, Informs us of very singular
and unaccountable affair that is now transpir-
ing in Bush town'p, miles north of Owosso.
! A farmer named Stearns, residing in that
town, has an adopted daughter by the name of
freeman, who is ten. years of age. While this
little girl was sweeping the sitting room, a.
! bout a week since, she discovered the CARPET
! TO be on fire, and the inmates having put out
the fire undertook to learn its origin. There
had been no fire in the room that morning
no light had been carried into the room, nor
could the family in any way account for the
IRE. In less than an hour flames were seen
issuing from some rags in another room.
The same day the girls clothes caught fire,
and the next morning damp towel that Mrs.
Stearns had used in wiping her face, upon be.
ing hung on nail commenced burning The
ias' occurrence took place in the presence Of
some twelve persons, some of whom are among
the most respectable citizens in the place.
Next straw stack near Mr.. Stearns' house
was consumed. At one time, when number
OF persons were in the house, the falling of
some heavy substance heard in the cham
Der directly above their heads Upon going
up STAIRS, 1t proved to be a bag filed with rags
ana books, and suspended by cord to beam
Inc bag was on fire, and the string was also
burning when the parties entered the room.
Mr.. Stearns and family became SO much A.
larmed by these movements that they left their
nome when the furniture was being moved,
a trunk, said not to have been opened for more
than year, was discovered to be on fire, and
when opened the flames burst forth consuming
its contents. The family are now living in a
house some three miles distant from their farm,
but the mysterious torment, termed by the
donbting "humbug,'' by the spritualists the
manifestation of the spirIts,'' by the Miller
ties the 'speriod OF fire and brimstone,o and
by DIR. Tappan s'the works of the sdevil," Is
bound to stick to them like brother
No SOONER had the girl entered her new
home than her clothes took fire in three differ
ferent places. And now. one other. family,
where she has visited, are as badly tormented
as is the family of Mr. Stearns.
In Owosso, as well as IN the adjoining viii
age of Corrunna, the excitement is most in
ense People are aocking from every direc.z
ion to witness this truly wonderful mystery.
some of the most profound scholars of the
State, among whom DR.. Tappan, ChanceI.
or of the University OF Michigan, President
'airchild, % Hilisdale College, and others,
lave been 10 ''see the sights and all agree
hat there are hidden mysteries beyond the
epth of the closest observers.
One man remarked that ssthe judgment of
rod was about to be inflicted npon the heads
His wicked people, Another bloated old
Democrat Says that the cause in which our ar
ny is engaged is unholy, and that this iss
fire in the rear soon to beich forth and de-
astate the whole North. We suspect. how
yer, that good practical chemist and a skill
al detective could soon uravel the my stery.