The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-01-17

SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS Ns.-AN IN
EXPLAINED NJ MYsTERY.-FOr some time past
we have been in possession of the facts of
the occurrence of strange and lncomprc-
hensible doings-called, commonly, spir-
itual manifestations-at the house of one
of the most respectable families of the
county, but have heretofore refrained from
giving publicity to the matter from the
deep sympathy we feel for the afflicted one
aud her family, and shall, on this occasion,
refuse to give names, but at the same time
personally vouch for the truth of the facts
we now relate.
The family of which wesspeak, consist
ing of some five or. six members, all well
respected and highly creditable, is of that
solid, matter of fact class of people upon
whom no idle fears can lay hold and ren-
der superstitious, and yet, strange TO say,
+ for something like a year past the lives
and home of this family have been rem
dered gloomy and miserable by the almost
nightly occurrence of a terrible and incom-
prehensible mystery. The mystery, wit
| messed by many OF the neighbors, consists in
an irdescribable and unaccountable noise
as of some one knocking, slapping, scratch
ing and scraping upon the sides, ceiling,
, fioor windows, &c, of the house. and
upon various articles within the room.-
| The ghost, goblin, spirit or ghoul-call it
what you will-seems to have connected
/ itself with young lady member of the
| family aged about eighteen years, and
who, strange to say, knows nothing of its
/ presence, or of its coming or going. At
! night, when she seeks repose, and Just as
her eyelids are closed in slumber, three dis
! tlnct rapS, as a person striking something
solid with the finger, may be heard, she
! seems to be thrown into trance, or sleep,
| from which nothing can arouse her, as re-
/ peated attempts have been made to do SC,
but proved unsuccessful. During the trance
or fit, we know not what to call ii, her
limbs contract, her body writhes and groans
escape her lips as though she were under
going some great bodily pain, and during
I the trance the rapping continues by loud
| knocking upon some part of the house and
on the furniture, lifting the bed clothes
rafting the bail of the water-bucket, and
even upon the water, making a noise simi
lar to 4 cat tapping water, answering qucs
tions, etc., the same as any other well-reg
ulated spirit would and, stranger still
this mysterious power follows the person
of the young lady, even when she passes
night away from home e-whcreyers she sleep
at night there is heard the knocking which
however, is never heard only when sin
is in an unconscious state. The youn.
lady. when she awakens. says she has hear
nothing of the noise, and has felt no pain
saw nothing in her dream-in fact had n
dream, and complains only Of a feeling O
weariness and lassitude. In all other re
spects she seems in perfect health. Thes
manifestations are as mysterious to her a
to any one else, and a great source of NOR
tification. number of the neighbour
have spent frequent nights at the house, in
VestlSatIng and endeavoring to ascertain
the cause of the mystery, but as yet no sat
Istactory conclusion has been arrived at
We can obtain the testimony of many o.
the best citizens in the county to attest tht
truth of the above facts.-Benton COUNT
Mo- Democrat.