The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-04-02
Vitcbcr0JJ ji. Pennsylvania.
DEATH OF i CrsSTENA RIAy-sUPERsTITIoN
IN THE AILEGHENIRs.
To The Editor of TIE Paattclphia Times:

DEATH OF = CIsSTE RIAN--sUPERsTITIoN
IN TIE Ai.L-cGHENIRS.
To The Editor of TIE Pia.,dclphia Times:
In Henry Clay township, Fayette county,
Penna., on Tuesday, 23d March, 1875,
Mrs. McNair died at the advanced age of
104 years. There are circumstances of
peculiar interest attached to the closing
years of the life of this venerable woman,
apart from her great age. We of the pres
ent day are apt to think and speak dis
paragingly Of the past, and specially of that
time of popular madness, the Salem with
craft delusion. But few are aware that
the belief is as firm, if not SO general among
us, to day rs then. We do not refer i'll the
remOtest to the silly and sinful delusiOn of
spiritjialism, but to the genuine old
belief that led many an elderly woman to
the stake, whose only crime WAS friend
lcssness, poverty, ugliness.
"A couple of years ago young woman,
a lneal descendant of tie subject Of our
sketch, was suddenly taken with spasms of
so alarming a nature that the ignorant
neigh bols pronounced it witcEcraft. Dr..
H., then of Soinei field. was called, and
asked if she bad not been frightcno d.
This was stIeuotisly denied, but he per-
sisted in the treatment he had decided on
in that belief. Her friends rcfu> ed to let
her take the medicine for fear it might be
Gil powder, ana, nlNlD& C&bduSGSt
their home stock Of charms. sent into
Somerset county after regular witch doc
taT Of the old school. lie at or ce proceeded
to enclose the house and farm III a Gordon
of charms which would infallb'y confCund
and expose all and every witch that ven
turcd near; so powerful in their effects
that none could stay away :. at least none
in the least implicated i'll this particular
case. The families- there were twc--dared
I 81.
borrow FOR lend. They were forbidden,
under djIofnl penalties, 20 render the least
aid, tic most tiifiing kindness TO any one.
Not even Il helping band or cup Of cold
water TO the suffering. The IuJJo Of the
kanakas was cl.ild'S play to Tie require
mcnts Of il;;s devils cC,Ion that Super>
stition had drawn around these trembling,
ignorant fanatics. These restrictions were
necessary to IRE vent the witches receiving
laid and comfort" from any If the in
d.vellers, which would have broken the
charm. 1t was almost impossible for any
one living near, or even passing along The
road to escape suspicion Of t:i1g gully ui
coinI.I:ciiy in The foul practices. y near
ncigh ghbor was refused pcrnijssi n to get =
a. ink from the spiiug AID a light for his
pipe. Ii Le:s-lns staged at home they were
suspected if they went abroad if they
questioned oI .rfrai!i.d from questioning
away, all were convincing evidences Of
guilt. Bat riCst horrible of all, this old
helpless woman, sunk in second childhood,
and only at inter yal. aroused from lcthagg;c
ieVciies to n cons >cit.usuess Of her wants
and existence, she was sterriy accused Of
riacliciug upon her great granddaughter,
and with the blind, uIrc ascI.iI cruelty of
superstition insisted un Sutjccting her to
torture, some even advocating death. TO
oppose these mad schemes, or tly to cOn-
vince them of thoir sin and folly, subjected
the adventurous individual to Il full share
Of udGn.
So i;,5#tical and furious did hey become
that scI!oUs qullrels and divisions arose
wh.,h came near Involving the entire com
muniIy III suits cf S!.:rtcT, libel, malicious
mischief, and every Dt her thin" that malice
aHd distorted Ingenuity ca"id devise. For
h:df year tie battle r"ycl, auI for year
a;!d a half afterwards occasional! >kirnsh-
ing aHi ar:"ed meGiraiiiy were maintained.
fhis luGicrous, get fearful picture, 50 far
from being exaggerated is greatly ui,'Irr-
drawn, as will hc te>tii, q i,y reputable
citizens of both Fayottc and Somerset
couHticS. L.
SOMERSET, PA, March q, 1875.