The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-05-05
The Growth of Ihe (sraVe-AstOm-
ishinS PhenOmenOn-Wh
Is 1t?
From the Nashville Union. I

From the Nashville Union.I
A short time since mention was made
in the Union and American of a mystic
rious hand that had grown from a grave
in Gibson county. We got our informa-
ton from an article in the Jackson Cou-
rier-Herald. We extract from that arti-
Gle the following account of this wonder
full phenomenon
Monday our city was unusually ex-
cited by the exhibition in the Courier
Herald office of hand of wood which
grew out Of a grave near Yorkville, in
Gibson county. 1t was brought into our
office by Capt. G.. $. Andrews, of that
county, who gave Us its history. A man
named VIM. Heron was out walking
with his wife one Sunday evening not
long since, and in passing an old neglect
ed graveyard near the public road, she
saw gum bush with a bunch Of mistle-
toe on its top, and requested her husband
to get it for her. He went, cut the top
off the bush, and commenced breaking
off the mistletoe, when to his surprise
and terror he discovered that the wood
underneath presented the perfect form of
human hand. Captain Andrews, hear
ing of the wonderful discovery, went to
the house Of Mr.. Heron, who, feeling
rather uncomfortable over the thought
that he cut it from a grave, and perhaps
having some theory as to its supernatural
significance, very willingly let Captain
Andrews have it. There are citizens of
this city to whom both Captain Andrews
and Mr.. Heron are known, and they
are vouched for as truthful men, but the
hand itself is proof enough Of the truth
of their statement concerning its growth
on bush. The bush from which it was
cut was six feet high and the hand was
on the top, pointing upward, presenting
the position Of the ministers hand when
a benediction. 1t is about
the size of a six-year-old child's hand,
with long slender fingers like those Of
person very much emaciated by sickness.
The wood has enlarged formations on
each finger and the thumb, rerresenting
and corresponding with the joints Of the
human hand The most remarkable fea-
ture about it is the natural appearance
of the nails. They have a kind Of flesh
color, and the balance Of the hand,
where the bark has been entirely re-
moved, looks CHASTITY white. The first
it makes upon you is the same
experienced in handling a skeleton, and
a large majority of those who see it, re-
gard it with the same subdued, half
superstitious awe inspired by the pres
ence of a corpse. Mr.. Andrews says the
grave from which it was cut is supposed
to be the grave Of a very devout Metho-
dist minister by the name Of Butcher,
who was buried there many years ago"
Capt Andrews spoken of in the abOveis
in the city. He last night brought the mys-
terious hand to the Union and American
Office and placed it on exhibition. We
can give no more exact description Of it
than We find in the above from the Jack
son CourierHerald 1t is certainly
most wonderful growth and must be
mere freak Of nature. 1t is possible that
some human agency may have cOntribu-
ted to the present formation, but it must
have taken years to have done it and that
while the bush, of which it was part, was
growing.
Captain Andrews will be in the city
for few days He will be at the count
ing-rOom of the Union and American to-
morrow morning, and will gladly exhibit
the phen omenon to any who may wish to
see it.