Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-05-29
From the MiddletOwn IN. W Mercury ]
GhostlY Manifestations.
A'tIonoculous Mlnotaur'' Visits Mt. Hone.
n. T., and Rips Things.

/
Some vague and ill-defned rumors have
reached us of late concerning weird and
mysterious phenomenon, ur a succession of
! supernatural scenes and outre Developments
occurring some five or six miles from Middle
town in the town of Mt Hope. For reasons
| which will readily occur to the reader the
parties Immediately affected by these strange
demonstrations have been very reticent in the
matter, and request that names and locality
\ may be withheld from the public until further
investigations shall unravel the mystery. or
an adequate cause be assigned for what now
seems to be unearthly, If not demoniacaI, in
its origin.
Some time in the latter part of March last
! the residents of quiet aud humble hamlet,
staEding near the confines of densely wood
ed lot o. some four acres, and near the highs
way leading 20 the Valley of Mount Hope,
were awakened from sleep by novel and sim
gular sound, which ct first fell family, but
definitely upon the ear. il, was as if a large
choir, or multitude of voices, were harmo-
niou"Iy humming or singing with closed lips,
a sol. mn, tunerGal dirge, the refIcin, after
regular i2tc -vals OF silence, rcsembleG, as
nearly as the soL;nd could be rendered, the
word zfaah-ziina,s:- .ztndh--three times re-
peated, and, after mCmcnts pause, succeed
ed by the same sad, monotoneus murnUring
as before. This continued for ne2rly half an
hour, when the awed family were sunt!noned
to display of some of the most disco-dGnt
and unearthly sighs and groans that ever tcn
on mortal ears. Every phase of suffering,
every expression of mental and physical pain
which may be conceived of, was uttered forth
with a fierce intensity which it would be hard
to initiate or excel this side of Tartarus.
1t is not strange that the animals on the
,as.I,.. i ~
which possessed the people. This was man
ifested by the mingling of their own peculiar
cries and instructive utterances with the gem
eral discord, thus adding as accompaniment
and chorus to the distracting din, and height
ening the pandemOniac effect of this diabOli-
cal overture. Amazement, of course, had
now almost found Its extreme limit, and the
people were prepared for any further change
in the sardOnie programme which the inyfsi-
BILE performers might still have in reserve
They had not long to wait. Presently the
darkness of midnight suddenly changed to
the broad glare of MONDAY 1t was as If
thousand waving festOons of electric light had
swoOped down from the murky heavens to
enfold, with gauzy wreafhs of fame aud
tongues of fire, the trunks and limbs of trees
barren OF foliage. They sparkled and shone
now with a wealth of flashing Igtt, aud gro
tesgne, but enhancing forms of beaJsfy T. Par
Of. the northern heavens seemed to catch and
reflect from horizon to zenith the auroric
scene and evolving, ever changing banners.
of the tint and shades of the rainbow. faunt-
edsup the broad ex xpaDse, or flashed their ru-
bic spleBdOTs across the bow of the sIunIber.
ing Shawangunk. 1t was noon at midnight,
But darkness aud silence soon settled gnap
the earth the rustIipg of the trees aud low
meaning of the winds alone broke the on
pIezsiye stiffness Of the hour.
But anew and more astounding seenesvas
soon to follow vi hiie the family we're sex-s
changing in suppressed and rfesitatine wIlisz7
pers Their surnilses, and seeking for some soS
luton o. the wonders of which they had been
the involuntary listeners, every door in tbe
house Wass suddeniy and dsvi6iently thrown open
& by a power unseen, aId through the main
entrance came stalking, and sWayings from.
side to side, in frightful contortoss, an OBJ
ject neither man nor beast, but bearine, IL