Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1866-03-22
pxcitement in Kentucky.

A correspondent OF the MI STEERING
Kv) Sentinel, gives the following account
If = fiery fend visible in Bracken county:
BRACKEY Co, Ky, Feb. Il, 1866.
The people of this neighborhood are in
tho greatest state of excitement in conse-
Cra1ce Of a remarkable visitation or appa-
,ifon Of some demonical parsonage IN our
midst | am not Il believer in the doc
tTire that disembodied spirits can ''revisit
tbe qlimpses Of the moon,' nor do believe
that epoch designated in prophecy, when
tbe chains of Satan are to be unloos-
cd has arrived. But the things whereof
Dow write are Of such strange import, so
;nexnIicable. thatI have determined to put
YOU in possession of full and explicit
narrative of them, merely promising that
every word is true, and the facts sworn to,
as witness the accompanying affidavit
What it is, am unable to say. l merely
give the facts, such as | am personally
rornizant of, and leave it to wiser heads
than my own to unravel the mystery.
On Monday night last, after myself and
family had retired TO rest, we were sud
denly aroused by great outcry from the
negro quarters-which are Immediately to
the rear of the housc-in which prayers
We'd for supremacy with blasphemies, men,
women and children screaming ''fre !!
and murder! " at the top Of their voices,
all conspiring to create scene worthy OF
a pandemonium. Terribly startled, my
vile and l sprang from our bed. The
room was Illuminated as brightly as by a
flood Of sunlight, though the light was Of
a blush cast. Our first ana most reason
able conclusion was that the negro cabins
were being consumed by fire. We rushed
TO the windows and beheId a sight that
fairly curdled the blood in our veins with
horror, and filed our hearts with utmost
terror. My daughter, shriCking loudly,
came flying into my room, hysterical with
fear. This is what we beheld:
Standing to the right Of the upper cabin,
near the fence that separates the negroes
garden from the house yard, was a crea-
ture of gigantic stature, and most horrify-
ing appearance. 1t was nearly as high as
the comb of the cabin, and had a mon
strOus head not dissimilar in shape to that
Of an ape; two short very white horns
appeared above each eye; its arms were
long, covered with shaggy hair Of an ashy
hue, and terminated with huge paws, not
unlike those Of cat, and armed with long
and hooked claws. It's breast was as
broad as that Of large sized OK. It's
legs resemblcd the front legs of horse,
only the hoofs were cIoven. 1t had a
long tail, armed with dart shaped horn,
which It was continually switching about
Its eyes gIowed like two living Goals of
hre, while from It's nostrils were emitted
sheets Of blush colored flame, with hiss
ING sound, like the kissing of a serpent,
only thousand fold louder. Its general
color, save in its arms, was n dull dingy
brown. The air was powerfully impreg-
mated with smell of burning sulphur
Ihe poor negroes were evidently laboring
under the EXTREMIST terror, and two of
ihem, an old woman and lad, were ac-
'ualy driven to insanity by their fears,
and have not recovered their reason up to
ms writing. | do not know how long
tins monster, demon or devil, was visible
alter we reached the window-possibly
some three seconds. When it vanished
It was enveloped in a spiral column of
name that reached nearly to the tops of the
locust trees adjacent, and which hid his
horrid form completely from view. The
extinction of the flame was instantaneous,
and with its disappearance we were re-
heved Of the presence of this remarkable
visitor.
1t would be impossible for me TO at
Tempt to describe the effect of this vista
ton upon the members Of my family
Suffice it to say that my wife and two
daughters are firmly persuaded that it was
the veritable Satan. For myself, would
willingly believe that we all, by some Gu
Hous coincidence, had been the victims of
a horrid nightmare, did l not know that
we were fully awake, and actually wit
messed that which is above recorded.
AGAIN, II ours had been the only family
VISITED by this unearthly creature, l should
nave Aept silent, and, perhaps, tutored my
nLnd INTO the belief that it was a halIuci-
nation
but precisely the same apparition made
'S M appearance at my neighbours Mrs. w.
DOyIe, appearing there In precisely the
same "a shape IN which it presented itself to
~ ~ save the head, which appeared to
"'ore who witnessed it at Mrs. DIS to re-
Isuole = that of horse. At Mr.. Adam
4 u4uas another neighbor, its head was
.r1. .-@' ol vuLture. On Tuesday night it
aPPeared at Mr.. Jesse Bends there wear