Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-01-24
sTAUNTON. VA, TUESDAY, JANUARY a. 1871.
The Buchanan Ghost so-called.

For the past six or seven weeks, occurrences
as yet unaccounted for, have been taking plac
at the residence of Rev. e.. c. Thrasher,
Baptist minister, in Buchanan, Botetourt coun
ty, of which the following account is furnishe,
the Richmond Whig by Buchanan cores
pondent:
'There lives in the suburbs of Buchanan ;
worthy man, the Rev. G. Q. Thrasher, who's.
house has been for six weeks the theatre O.
many curious and ghostly exploits. 1t what
ever it may be) commenced operations by ex
tracing from the reverend gentleman corn
crib, through padlocke door, a sack of corr
and pouring it out some twenty PAGES from the
crib, and this circumstance proves that the spi
rit must be at least white, for one bearing the
hue of the ''XVth amendment could never
have resisted the temptation OF ''toating" it to
his haunts. Then night after night it came,
performed its fantastic tricks, opened windows
barred on the inside doors locked and guarded,
scattered furniture and the utensils Of the cul-
mary department hither and thther, and went
away unperceived, despite the fact that each
night the house was guarded inside and around
by vigilant neighbors, armed to the teeth and
eager to capture or detect the bold hobgoblin
who had time and again passed through their
ranks unseen.
One evening last week, whilst Mr.. T. was
writing in his study, about three o'clock, there
was a bold knock on the door several times re-
peated, but on MIR. rs seziug pistol and
rushing to the door, 10! nothing was there and
nothing was to be seen in the vicinity, although
the minutest search was made and this knock
ing occurs frequently, and has been attested by
gentlemen of undoubted veracity.
Three evenings ago Mr.. Z. went over to Dr.
Woods residence and whilst there heard his
little children. whom he had left at home, ring
ing a bell, and at the same time heard vio-
lent knocking at the door, and on approaching
being armed with a shot gun and accompanied
by DR.. Wood, distinctly heard his little son en-
qulre of the unweicoDe visitor what it wanted.
A reply was given, but in an undistinguishable
humble, resembling, as DR.. Wood describes it,
a confusion of voices coming from the ground.
Both gentlemen affirm that not the least trace
OF any person or thing was visible although
every nook and corner Of the premises were
carefully examined nor could any person 10
the house produce the sounds they heard, no
one being at home at the time except his three
little children, the eldest brave little boy of
twelve summers who, with pistol in hand, was
interIocuting the hobgoblin who has puzzled
the grayest heads in Buchanan.
Some two weeks ago Mr.. T. was watching in
his yard, armed with a double -barreled shot
gun, when, as he says, something like thin
Sna0oW, bearing resemblance TO human form,
passed by him, but swiftly as the wind, and in
stantly disappeared. This is all that he has
seen, and strange enough, not track or trace
has ever been left behind, although night after
night, in moonshine and darkness, in calm and
in storm, the mysterious stranger has come,
played his curious pranks, the half of which /
have not told, and went-where? One would
naturally ask if there might not be some place
in which a person might conceal himself for
the purpose of playing a joke upon the rev.
erend gentleman but | answer there is none
Every nook has been examined time and again
by many persons; and there cannot possibly be
any suberranean retreat for flesh and blood in
the vicinity. The surrounding grounds are
plain and clear, aud it seems impossible that
any person could pass from the house unper-
celved, even 10 partial darkness"