The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-02-04
TWO GHOST sTORI Es.

1ne world skill contains large nun
ber of people who believe in ghosts as
firmly as in their own existence. If any
of these happen to be among the readers
Of the Portfolio, they will see by the fol-
lowing instances of supposed ghostly visit.
ations, which are clipped from a ghost
chapter in al English paper, that people
can be mistaken even about things super
natural :-.KetropoltdR Record.
TIE WOODSTOCK GHOST.
The most celebrated instance in Which
human agency was made to arouse the fears
Of the timid by . preteuce of supernatural
disturbance refers to the ancient palace Of
Woodstock. when the Com :nissioners ap-
pointed Hy Parliament went down to destroy
the residence of the king:
They arrived at Woodstock on the 18th
Of October. 1649. determined to wipe away
the memory of all that connected itself with
the recollection of monarchy in England ;
but in the course Of their progress they were
encountered by obstacles which apparently
came FROM the next world. Their bedcham-
bels were infested with visits of thing
resembling dog. but which came and pass
as mere earthly dogs cannot do. Logs #
wood, the remains of very large tree called
the Kings Oak, which they had splintered
into bil!ets for burning. were tossed through
the house, and the chairs dis placed aud
shUffied about. While they were in bed the
feet of their cOucheS were lifted higher than
their heads, and then dropped with violence.
Trenchers 'withuut a wish' few at Their
heads of free-wIl. Thunder and lightning
came next, which were set down to the same
cause. Spectres made their appearance. as
they thought, ia different shapes, and one Ui
The party saw the apparition If hoof, which
kicked a candlestick and lighted candle into
tie miHdle Of the room, and then politely
scratched on the red snuff to extinguish it.
Other and worse tricks were practised on the
astoushed Commissioners, who, considering
that all the fenGs Of he'll were let loose upon
them, retreated from Woodstock without
com pletiug an errand which was in their
opinion impeded by internal powers, though
the opposition offered was rather of play full
and malicious turn than of dangerous cast.
The whole matter was after the Re ra-
ton discovered to be a trick Of one of their
own party, who had attended the Commis-
sioners a clerk uncer the name of Giles
Sharp. This man. whose real name was
Joseph Collins, of Oxford, calle Funny
joe" was concealed Royalist, and well
acquainted with the old mansion of Wood
the Civil War. Being a bold active, spirited
man, Joe ayailed himself of his local knowl-
edge of trap doors and private passages, so as
TO favor the tricks which he played off upon
his masters by aid of his fellow domestics.
TIE SINGING GHOSTS.
Sometimes the secrets of science are made
use Of 20 furnish the deceiver with the means
of successfully accomplishing his deception
as IN tue case Of the Hungarian uOblcman
and bis guest. As a certain old castle on
the bordurs Of Hungary the owner had re-
solved to celebrate an entert ainuient worthy
of his wealth and Of the magnfceuce of tie
ancient structure in which it was to be held
A numerous company was invited, among
whom an officer OF Hussars of great personal
bravery, aud who had distinguished himself
in the wars, was prominent.
Shortly after the arrival of the party the
host intimated 70 his guests that, spacious
e5 the castle was, it would be found insuffi
cient to accommodate so large a number o
guests, unless one of the party consented t.
sleep IN the chamber which was haunted
and as the martial Uussar was known to be
above such prejudices, the preference wa.
assigned to him. The officer signified his
acqu!escence. and after sharing the festiv
ties of the evening retired to his chamber
shortly after midnight, vcwing vengeance
against any one who should dsterb his rest.
he was careful, however, in getting into bed
net to extinguish the light, and to leave hi.
loaded pistols beside him.
After sleeping for about an hour he was
awakened by the stratus of music at the
farther end Of the apartment, and looking
OFT, he distinctly observed three ladies' OF
fantastic appearance, aud dressed in green
WAC sang solemn requiem. Charmed at
FIRST with their visit, the officer sat up and
listened to the chant, but az length, no al
teEation being made III the air, he became
weary. and requested them at least to alter
the melody2 Tho ladies saEg on regardless
Of their hosts demands, when the Major lost
patience.
'.Maidens.' he cried. "this is but trick
TO annoy me; disappear, or reap the conse
qusnces"
The figures were motionless, but sang on
when the officer, fairly excited. seized his
pistols and called out that he would fire il
five minutes if the chant were not discontin
ued. The song was n.nterrupted-th,
tine expired.
Ladies'" said he now thoroughly exas
nerated, '.I will count twenty, and thus ye
give You law.''
lie commenced counting accordingly, aul
a. he pronounced the word twenty" h
fred both pistols at the musical d9msels
VINO TO MS ctter confusion aud aStcnlshClSn
sang on as before
The total discontinue Of the gallant off
Ger, and the futi,ity of his violence. brough
upon him a serious illness, and he was con
fined to his bed for several weeks. The ex
Plspation Of the phenomenon is easy. Th
female chori, ters were placed and sang in a
adjoining room, and our hero fired at the
!efection, which bad been thrown into til
room by concave mirror