The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-06-20
Horrible Superstition.--Witch Burning
IL Canada.

rFron, the London &C. W Free Press
Unless actually demonstrated it were
hard to believe that in civilized domin-
ion, in the nineteenth century, any one
could be found still embracing the super
stitious beliefs regarding sorcery and
witchcraft which so much prevailed in
the middle ages. Yet so it is. A case
occurred not many days ago, in neigh
borhood short distance from Christian
London, that might be characteristic of
English peasant life four hundred years
ago. but absured and outrageous now
A witch was burned with FIRE on pub
lie highway, by an lncensed old woman
and her husband. The woman we allude
tots Granny Griffiths, person of dissi-
pated habits and eccentric notions of
things in general. Some months ago
this woman purchased two young pigs.
which IN the course of their growth be-
came possessed of an oddness and singu-
larlty not in keeping with the swinish
nature, and winch the old dame attribut-
ed, with superstltious instinct, to the
operation OF some evil genius. One of
the. animals was frequently seized with
an impulse to beat his snout persistently
and heavily upon the floor, and an ire
sIstible lnclin"+lon at times to root the
cooking stove off its legs, and to topple
it over, (both had the freedom of the
house But. not content with these
freaks ne would grunt savage expostu-
latlon If anything went wrong in the do
nestic circle, and would not suffer his
anger to be appeased until matters as
sumed their normal condition. that is.
perhaps, condition more in consonance
with porcine habits. 10 fact his extrav-
agancies were so many that to enumerate
then, would be exceedingly difficult. The
granny fretted from day to day, but
could get no solution of the strange hal
luclnatlon with which her pig was beset.
Suddenly light fell upon the subject.
When maid. her uncle's cattle had all
been bewitched in New York, and one
night died under it-at least all the
neighbors said that was the cause Fully
pursuaded that the pig was similarly
afflicted, she began to administer restor-
atlves-tirst a gentle dram of elderberry
wine was given, but without effect pig
gy s pugnaciOus assaults on the floor
were redoubled in violence then his
frontal bone was lathared and shaven
with razor, after which strong mus
tard plaster was applied As may be
imagined, noehing could then with stand
the fury OF the poor pig. He ragged
about the room in trenzied agony,
humping that part of the head affected
by the mustard upon the floor He suf-
fered all the agonies of the bear who
encountered the bees in the fable, and
lying down upon his back sought TO rid
himself of his torments By rubbing off
the plaster with his hoofs Granny, In
much tribulatlon, at once prepared
piggin OF Cruel for him. which he appear
ed to enjoy while 1t lasted, but again
grew turbulent, and became an annoy dfica
Fo all Iabout him. Surely granny thought
he 5 bewljched, possessed OF devils, led
away oy evil spirits. 50 she determined
10 rid iefsef' Of he- pIaguey pet, aceor-
ding to the statute OF l54l. which de-
clared al! wischcraft and sorcery to be
felony without benefit Of clergy. Accor-
dinghy with her husband $ assistance. she
gathered 4 lot OF ioggots, and with them
enveloped the bewitched pig then, as
the sun sank IN the west, sacrificed the
witch with fire. While the pig roasted,
and the squeais assembled with the smoke
and flames, the beidame howled an in
colitaiioD. and danced about the pile in
delight at having accomplished great
wGrk. Next day the other pig was at
the point OF death, and granny, fearing
lest he also was bewitoi1ed, induced the
old man to butcher him, when she boiled
the heart III accordance with the ancient
usage, having stuck a pin IN it., after
which he was buriea with ceremony. So
tar as we are awa.e. this is the first case
of the kind THAI mas ever transpired in
this neig ghbornood