The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-28
The Worstest Ghost Of AlI.

gentleman Mr.. Nolan has son John,
thirteen years of age. He is bright, in
telIigent boy. and has always, until late
1y, been in good health and spirits. Ear
ly last spring, however, he began to be
troubled IN a manner unaccountable to
his parents, who at first thought ne had
lost his reason. He was followed, he said
continually when in the house, by an old
grav-headed man. He could see this
man plainly, bnt no one else could.
Johns parents, becoming alarmed, sent
him away from home, and he remained
some time, experiencing no annoyance
while absent. His friends, thinking his
mind sound and health restored, sent for
him, and he returned but 10 have his
every step dogged in the same myster-
ious manner.
Now the affair took different turn,
and stones began to be hurled at him by
this old but invisible man. If John was
in the house the stones would fall upon
the roof; likewise if he was in any Of the
outbuildings If he was in the yard or
felds-in fact, in any place outdoors
they would fall around and upon him,
but never hurt him. These stones vari-
ed in size from the dimensions of pull
let's egg to those Of human fist. They
could be seen coming through the air,
but from whose hand John alone could
tell. He could always plainly see the
old man hurling them at him. Things
went on in this way for some time, John
steadily and rapidly failing in health
ard strength, till in July, when he again
left home, and, as before, was not trouh-
led during his absence. He was TO re-
turn on Sunday, the 29th of the month,
and now some of the friends and neigh
bors determined to ferret out and expose
the whole business. Accordingly, on
Saturday four men armed themselves
and went TO the house.
Early Sunday morning, before John
was up he was never in any way dis
turbed while asleep, they surrounded
the building, first being careful that
within their circuit no one was conceal
ed Scarcely had John arisen when the
stones began falling almost in. a shower
on the roof Looking up into the air,
the party could see them dropping like
rain, but whence they came, or by what
power impelled, was complete mystery
OF one fact all were assured-they were
thrown by no one within a long distance
of the house.
After breakfast John came out, and
the stones fell thick and fast around him
now apparently coming from a field near
the house. John could distincly see his
old assailant in the field, so, with rifles
cooked, the men moved in that direction.
The boy described the ghost as sitting
in a small bunch Of briar bushes-the
! very one whence the bonbardment pro-
ceeded. The patch was instantly sur
rounded, rushed upon with clubs and
stones, and John saw the old man enter
another This was in its turn surround
ed but with the same effect. Sometimes
after coming from a patch the old man
would enter another few feet away,
sometimes dash across the field. All
Sunday the search went on, but without
success. On Monday, however, while
the storming party were running from
briar heap to briar heap their victim be
came suddenly visible to all. He was
dressed in blue trousers and shirt, of fine
looking material He was hatless, but
his long, white flowing beard and hair
, hung in profusion around his shoulders
and over his breast. His face was pale,
his eyes clear and sharp. and black as
night. He was ordered to surrender, but
did not deign to stir The men then
closed upon him, but he darted of like
deer Meanwhile the stones continued
to rattle down, though propelled by
some other power than the arm of the
phantom.
John started in pursuit, running with
such swiftness that he kept close by the
old mans side, while the rest of the
party were left far behind. Again the
strange being entered thicket of briars,
and became invisible to all except the
boy. As soon as he was driven from
that hiding place he entered another;
and so the chase went on. Once more
during the day he appeared in full sight,
and this time as he still spurned all at
tempts to make him surrender, it was
decided to shoot him. One of the men
took deliberate aim with his rifle and
fired. The spirit, unhurt, bouned Off
Another pursuer fired, but in vain. The
two men prepared to reload their rifles,
but upon neither of them was there a
lock, both having fallen off.
For two days this hunt proceeded,
without satisfactory results. On Tuesday,
however, smoke was observed to arise
from every bush whence the stones came.
Another singular circumstance was con-
nected with this, namely, that an Indian
hen, bird found everywhere in that
part of the country, was seen to raise
from each bush, and fly to another, the
yolley seeming to follow in the wake of
her fight. No conclusion having been
arrived at with regard to this mystery,
the investigation is abandoned. John,
now weak and emaciated, wasted away
to a shadow of his former self, has been
sent away from home, and had not, up
to the time the report was written, re-
turned
The story, incredible as it may seem,
comes to the Intelligencer supported by
the names of citizens well known in the
neighborhood where the events are al
legged to have occurred
A Wonderful Baby.
From the Louisville Courier-Journal, Aug. 25.
The ssreatest wnnder in Z Kentncky inst