Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-11-05


That are always just in sight
Lay within the cold dark river;
Here we only wish and wait
Till the Master calls US over,
And unbars the pearly gate.
From the Macon (Ga.) Enterprise, Oct. 21.]
a GEORGIA SENSATION.
Ghosts. HObgObIins. and Unseen
Spirits to the Front.
On Saturday afternoon we published brief
paragraph stating that strange and supernatu-
raj manifestations had taken place at house
at No. 6, Macon and Brunswick Railroad.
Passengers coming up on the train were ex-
cited about it and represented that great excite
ment prevailed in that immediate neighbor-
hood, as indeed as far distant as the report had
reached. Determined to find out the exact
facts in regard to the matter, we detailed spe-
cial reporter to the scene of operations, and
will now lay before our readers the full partic-
ulars as detailed to us by him.
Taking the Brunswick train Saturday night,
in company with Mr.. Mason and Mr. Camp
bell, of Macon, who were also going down for
the same purpose, our reporter arrived at the
point Of destination little after four O. clock
Sunday morning.
Getting off the train they found no one in
the little place as yet up, but going to the house
OF Mr.. A. Z. Surrency, they were admitted to
a vacant room, the fire in which had nearly
died out
We may as we'll remark here that the town
or depot of Surrency consists only of station
house, one or two places Of business and the
residence of the gentleman from which it takes
its name. It is situated in Appling county, 126
miles from Macon and about sixty from Bruins
wick. Mr.. Surrency is gentleman well-to-do
in the world and is universally regarded as one
of the most honorable citizens of the county,
and it would seem that his house would be the
last one ghosts would select in which to play
mischief
THE FIRST BRICK.
Mr.. Lindenstruth (our reporter), finding the
fire nearly out, went to the wood pile to get
something to make it up. While returning he
heard heavy thud upon the floor Of another
room, as if something heavy had fallen. Think
paid no more attention to it. But subsequent
events convinced him that that was the first
brick thrown by the ghosts or whatever agency
is at work on the premises, as no member of
the family had as yet got up.
WHAT MR.. SURRENCY SAYS.
Soon after daylight Mr.. Surrency came into
welcome proceeded to tell from the beginning
what had taken place up to that time.
On Friday evening, short time before dark,
the family were greatly alarmed by sticks of
wood flying into the house and falling about the
floor from directions they could tell nothing
about, and without any human agency they
could see or find out. The wood would fall be-
fore being seen, and what made the mystery
still more mysterious, the room into which the
wood was falling had all its doors and windows
closed. This was in the front room.
Soon after dark they stopped falling, and
were succeeded by brickbats, which fell at short
intervals throughout the night in every room
in the house. MIR. Surrency, his wife, two
grown daughters, Mr.. Roberts, clerk, and a
Baptist minister by the name of Bitch, were
present, and with the exception Of the minister,
who got upon his horse and left, they all re-
mained awake the whole night. Notwithstand-
ing the windows and doors were tightly closed,
and no opening left In any part OF the house,
these brickbats continued to fall, but, although
sometimes Just missing, not one struck any per-
son.
BOTTLES AND GLASS TAKE HAND.
Soon after the bricks commenced falling, bot
ties, vases, and glassware generally commenced
jumping tro2 their usual places, falling and
breaking. Mr. currency seeing the destruc-
ton going en- directed negro man to take four
bottles, containing kerosene oil, ont of the
house and place them in the yard. No sooner
had he set them down when one flew back, fell
in the middle of the room, scattering the oil in
every direction. The whole family saw this
1t seemed to come down from the ceiling over
head. and indeed everything falling did SO per-
pendiculariy-:hat is to say, came straight down
from above.
These strange antics continued with scarcely
one minutes interruption until daylight Satur-
day morning, when they ceased, leaving the
house nearly bankrupt in crockery and glass
ware, and large quantity of brickbats and bill
lets of wood around the floor.
That afternoon, or on Saturday, the 10Th,
they commenced again pretty much in the
same manner and doing about what had taken
place the night previously. The family which
had now been joined by many neighbors, watch
ed every nook and corner of the house to de-
tect and, if possible, to unravel the mystery
But SO quickly would pitchers, tumblers, and
other articles jump from their positions and
dash to the floor, the eye could not follow, and
broken fragments were the first things seen, ex-
cept in one instance, and that was pan OF wa
ter and some books; they were seen to start
Chairs, shoes and clothing were tumbled
about the house as if the hand of veritable
witch or unseen devil was present. But the
greatest mystery and most inexplicable incident
of this day was the escape of lot of ordinary
clothes hooks from a locked bureau drawer =
They also fell on the floor, the door remaining
tightly closed, as usual. Nothing else Of spe-
cial note occurred to day. AS stated above oul
reporter arrived before daybreak, and heard
the story of MIR. Surrency as above stated
So soon as he got through with it he stepped
up to the old family clock, and was about rela
ting how rapidly the hands had travelled arounG
the dial when the ghosts were about on The
previous day. Ali eyes were turned to it, ano
much to their astonishment the hands com
menced running around at the rate of about
five hours minute. 1t was thirty-hou
weight clock and after seeing it run at this rat;
for short while, our reporter who is a watch
maker by profession, determined at least tt
solve this mystery, it was directly in his line
He stopped the clock, carefully examined tn,
machinery, and found it not only in perfect or
der, but nothing unusual inside or out. I'll
could not for the life of him see the slightes
thing wrong about it.
THE MAGNET THEORY.
1t has been suggested that there may be
large magnet about or under the house, bu
magnets do not attack wooden substances, an,
besides, while the clock was running at it's rapi
rate Mr.. l.. had his watch in his pocket, whic
kept on its usual way and was not in the leas