The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-12-18

certain if any further accident had occurred
there. She stated on her return that al
had been perfectly quiet since they haC
quilted the house. Meanwhile, Mrs. Gold
ing had been in strangely perplexed con
dition. Her mind was described as "ont
confused chaos" ''She did not know what
| to do or where to go; wherever she and hel
maid went, these strange destructive cir.
oumstances followed her, and how to help
or free herself from them was not in hel
| power or any other person's."
For time however, her fears were al
layed. 1t was not until eight o'clock IN
the evening that any renewal of the scenes
of disturbance occurred Then row Of
pewter plates rolled off shelf on the floor
Picked up and placed on the dresser, they
were thrown down again. An egg that
was upon a shelf flew of, crossed the kitch-
en-, struck q cat upon the head, and then
broke. A pestle and mortar that stood on
the mantle-piece jumped down about ak
feet on the floor. Brass candlestioks and
other articles followed it. After this the
glasses and china were placed for safety on
the ground, but they presently began to
dance and tumble about and break. A
teapot, that was among them, flew to Rob-
inson's foot and struck it, A glass tumbler
leaped up two feet from the floor, and then
fell and broke.
A china bowl, standing in the parlor,
jumped o distance of seven feet. A mus
tard-pot flew out of the cupboard. A sin
gle cup was hurled from the table across
the kitchen, and, ringing like bell, was
dashed to pieces against the dresser. The
teakettles were flung about, A candlestick
leaped distance of fifteen feet. A tum-
bier, with rum and water in it, jumped ten
| feet and was broken. Then the table fell
down with every article resting upon it.
Soon afterwards, ham that hung on one
side of the kitchen chimney raised itself
from its hook and fell on the ground. It's
example was followed by another ham and
| a fitch of bacon hanging in the same Chin
ney.
| All the family were eye-witnesses of these
strange occurrences as well as other persons,
some of whom, however, were so alarmed
and shocked that they refused to remain in
the house, and contented themselves with
sending to inquire at intervals whether all
was over. Little endeavor seems to have
been made to discover the cause of the
phenomena. From first to last the distur-
Dances continued for upward of twenty
hours. During the whole time, Robinson
the servant was walking backward and for
ward, either in the kitchen or in the parlor.
She could not be induced to sit still for five
minutes together, except at one time, for
about half an hour toward morning, when
tho family were at prayers in the parlor !;
then all was quiet. But In the midst of
the greatest confusion she had shown much
eomposure, and had with great GOODNESS
entreated her mistress not to be alarmed or
uneasy, as she said "these things could not
be helped" 1t was thought marvellous at
the time that one 80 young could remain
in the midst of such calamitous circum-
stances, and not be struck with terror
equally with the rest of the company. 1t
was concluded, however, that she was dis
guising her fears, and was not really un-
moved as she affected to be.
About ten o'clock at night, the family
sent to friend, Richard Fowler, living OPP
posite, to desire him to come and stay with
them. He remained in the house until
one in the morning, when he. had become
so terrified that he took his departure pre-
cipitately, to seek the shelter of his own
roof
The noises continued throughout the
night. About five O'Clock on Tuesday
morning Mrs. Golding declared that she
could stay in the house no longer. The
work of destruction had been going on UNI
til there was scarcely whole teacup or sau-
Ger on the premises, and the tables, and
chairs, and drawers, ETC., had been toss
ed and tumhled about in the widest man.
ner. 1t occurred to the family that the
foundation of this house also might be in
secure. Accordingly they removed in a
panic over the way to the residence OF Mr..
Fowler. But where ever Mrs. Golding and
the maid moved the noises and destruction
followed them. Mr.. Fowler's property now
began to suffer. Ann Robinson then begged
Fowler not to allow her mistress to remain,
as she said 'the same fatal events would
certainly ensue." Fowler, greatly alarmed,
thereupon begged Mrs. Golding to quit his
house, first conjuring her to consider, for
her.own and the public's sake, whether she
had not been guilty ofsome atrooious crime
for which Providence had determined to
pursue and punish her on this side of the
grave! How otherwise, he asked, was the
affection which had fallen upon her to be
accounted for2 TAX
Poor Mrs. Golding replied that she would
not stay in his house nor in any other per-
sons; that her conscience was quite clear !;
and that she could as well wait the will of
Providence in her own house as in any
other place whatever. Forthwith she re-
turned home with her maid, Mr.. Pain ac-
companying them.
Arrived at the house at Stockwell, how
ever, the disturbances recommended with
increased violence. A nine gallon cask of
beer that stood in the cellar, the door being
open and no person being near it turned
upside down. A pail ofwater began to boil
furiously, like pot ON the fire. A box
of candles fell from the kitchen shelf to the
ground, the candles rolled out, but none
were broken. And round mahogany ia
BILE in the parlor was suddenly overturned
Mr.. Pain then desired Mrs. Golding to
send her servant Robinson to bring Mrs
Pain again to the house. During the GER
wants absence all was perfectly quiet.
Upon her return twas thought advisable
to discharge her. With her departure the
noises ceased.
Within week Of the occurrence of the
events recited, q formal narrative of the facts
of the case was published. 1t purported
to be true, circumstantial and faithful ac-
count of what had happened. To it were
appended the signatures of Mary Golding,
John Pain, Mary Pain, Richard Fowler,
Sarah Fowler, and Mary Martin, who
vouched for the truth of the incidents mar
rated. They alleged that they had as
much as possible endeavored "to state only
facts without obtrudino any or,inian ON