Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-13


BRACKEN COUNTY, KY,
February II, 1866.
The people in this neighborhood are in the
greatest state of excitement in CONSEQUENCE
of remarkable visitation, or apparition, of
some demoniacal parsonage in our midst. 1
aln not u believer in the doctrine that disem-
bodied spirits can revisit the glimpses of the
moon, nor do | believe that epoch designated
in prophecy, when the chains of Satan are to
be un1Oosed; has arrived. But the things
whereof l now write are of such strange i'm.
port, so inexplicabie, that | have determined
to put you in possession of a full and explicit
narrative of them, merely promising that
every word is true, and the flcts sworn to,
as witness the accompanying affidavit. What
it is, l am unable to say. l merely give the
facts, such as l am personally cognzant 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 rcst we were suddenly
aroused by great Outcry from the negro
quarters, are Immediately to the rear
of the hOuse,-in which prayers tied for su-
premacy with blasphcmies men, women and
children screaming ''tire :" and ''murder ~ at
the top of their voices, all consplriug to create
a scene worthy of pandcmoniur Terribly
startled, my wife and | sprung from the bed
The room was illuminated as brightly as by
food OF sunlight, though the light was of
blush cast Our first and most reasonable
conclusion was that the rcgru cabins were
being consumed by fire. We rushed to the
windows and behed sight that fairly cur
died the blood in our veins with horror, and
filled our hearts with the utmost terror. Ny
daughter, shriekIng loudly, came flying into
my room, hystcrical with fear. This is what
We bcEcld:
Standing to the right of the upper cabin,
near the fence that separates the negroes
garden from the house yard, was a creature
Of gigantic stature, and the Most horrifying
appearance. 1t was nearly as high as the
comb Of the cabin, and had a monstrous head
not dissimiiar 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 ashy hue, and terminated with
huge paws, not unlike those of a cat, and
armed with long and hooked claws Its
breast was as broad as that of large sized
OK. Its legs rcsembled the front legs of
horse, only the hools were clovcn. 1t had a
long tail, armed with dart shaped horn,
which was continually switching about Its
eyes glowcd like two living Goals of fire,
while from its nostrils were emitted sheets CT
blush colorcd flame, with a Kissing sound.
ike the Kissing ola serpent. only thousand
fold londer, Its general color, save its arms
was dull, dngy brown.
The air WAS powerfully imprcgnated with
smell Of burning sulphur. The poor ne
groes were evidently laboring under the ex-
tremest terror, and two cl them, an old woman
and lad, were actually driven to insanity by
their fears, and have not recovered their rea-
son up to this writing l do not know how
long this monster, demon or devil, was visi>
bic alter we reached the wiudows-possibly
some three seconds. When it vanished it
was cnvcloped in spiral column of flame
that reached ncarl to the tops Of the locust
trees adjacent, and which hid his horrid form
completely from vew. The extinction of
the flame was instantaneous, and with its
disappearance we were relieved Of the pres
cnce of this remarkable visitor
1t would be impossible for me to attempt
10 describe the effect Of this visitation upon
the members of my family. Suffice it to say,
that my wife and two daughters are firmly
persuaded that it was the vcrtablc Satan
For myself, | would willingly believe that we
all, by some curious coincidence, had been
the victims of horrible nightmare did l not
know that we were fully awake, and actually
witnessed that which is above recorded
Again, if oUrs had been the only family Yisi-
ted ty this uncarthly creature, | should have
kept silent, and, perhaps, tutorcd my mind
into the belief that it was 4 halucination.
But priciseIy the appariton made its
appearance at my reighbors, Mrs VIM. Dole,
! appearing there in precisely the same shape
! III which it presented itself to US, save the
head. which appeared to those who witnessed
1t at Mrs. DIS, to resemble that Of a horse
At Mr.. Adam Fuqua's, another ncighbor,
its head was that Of a vulturc. On Tuesday
night it appeared at Mr.. jesse Bends, there
wearing the head of an elephant. At all
these places it made the same appearance as
at my housekeeping only the changing
Of the head-and disappeared in the same
manner These parties are all reliable la
dies and gentlemen, and at my request made
oath to what they witnessed
What it is, what its o9ect, what its mission.
! Is something that passes my poor comprehen-
/ sion. What | have above written is simple.
unadorned truth. You are at liberty to use
this IN any manner YOU may esteem proper
! Respectfully your friend,
/ NATHANIEL G.. SoUIREs.
STATE OF KENTUCKY, BRACKES Co.
! Sct.-I his day personally appeared before
| the undersigned, John G. Finley, Justice of
the Peace. within and for the county and
State aforesaid, Nathaniel G. Squlres. Mi
nerva SQuires, Sarah D. Squires. Lucy
Squlres, Martha W. Dole, Adam Fuaua and
Jesse Bond, who, being duly sworn according
to law, declare that the statements in the
foregoing letter are true as far as refers to
each Of them. And l certify that afiunts
are credible and reliable persons. and their
statements entitled to full faith and credit.
JOHN G. FINLEY, J. p. B. G.
Fred. Douglass, at Chicago, on Wed,