The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-10-25
OUR STORY TELLER.
THE WITCHES ACRE.


bombay Gazetto.l
In the county of Chickasaw. Missis-
sippi, on what is known as the Houston |
road, leading from OakalOna, the county |
seat, TO the village of Houston, there is |
II lonely spot which has for years been |
called the Witches Rendezvous" |
The name has its origin in number of |
traditions and wild superstitions con-
nected with the locality, and some of
these are of peculiarly weird and
thrilling character. The haunted spot,
which is perfectly barren of grass or
bush, does not include more than an
acre of ground, circular shaped, and sit
uated on the slope of gentle hill; and,
though it is surrounded by large trees,
it is said no leaf or twig has ever fallen
within the charmed space. 1t is tradi-
tion that for over half century witches
have come to the desolate place to dance
and indulge in their magic incantations.
They come at midnight, and vanish with
the cock-crow. Twenty-Five years ago
the many ghostly stories which were
current at that time created considera-
BILE public excitement throughout that
section of Mississippi, and the Jackson
Clarion commissioned Colonel Thomas
s. Gathright TO visit Chickasaw County
and investigate the truth or falsity of
the reports. Gathright wrote a very
elaborate account of his visit, which
was published in the Clarion. In the
course of his article he said there was a
tradition to the effect that tribe of
1ndianshad buried valuable treasures in
the vicinity. The account created a
great sensation, and number of people
went to the witches rendezvous and be-
gan to dig for gold. The deep holes and
trenches still to be seen in that locality
were the only results of their labors. A
remarkable feature of the soil is that it
is red-colored, while that outside the
circle is very dark, that country being
included in what is known as the black
lands. The phenomenal circumstance is
accounted for by thrilling story to the
effect that in early times a band oi
Chickasaw Indians, temporarily en-
camped on the spot, were surprised and
massacred by the hostile Greeks; and, t.
express his wrath, the Great Spiri
turned the soil to blood color ant
cursed it forever, causing troubled spir
its to haunt it and appal all who shoulc
pass the uncanny neighborhood. In
dians, when they inhabited the country
had a great dread of the place, ant
would never go near it. Spiritual me
diums have frequently visited tn
haunted circle and sat in the darkness
to commune with the witches, and the,
assert that the truth of the above stor,
is confirmed by the in-essential being
forced by fate to gather at this wild an,
isolated place. According to the medi
ums, one hundred years ago, one hun
dred and eighty Chickasaw Indians wer
savagely slain by an overwhelming fore
of Creeks, and that after being scalpe
the bodies were left on the ground to
eaten by the wolves, and that the Grea
Spirit, as an evidence of his displeasur
at the atrocity of the deed, decreed ths
the neighborhood should be forever III
der the foul influence of evil spirits.
The peculiar manifestations which al
now and have ever since been witnesse
by those who pass there between mic
night and break of day consist mainl
of ghostly forms, dressed in white {
cleaning as with phosphoresent light
old hags, exhibiting horrid charms {
engaged in unearthly dances; ghostl
Indian warriors, mounted on tt
whitened skeletons of ponies; beautifl
maidens, appareled like brides; gigant
human forms, gaunt and wasted, wit
eyes glaring like balls of fire and gibbe
ing with goblin voices; floating lodg
of the red race, populous with wailiI
squaws and papooses. Besides thes
there were other less notable demonstr
tions, but all of a mysterious charact,
and all sustained by such strong ev
dence as TO dissipate the credulity
the most skeptical. As the midnigl
hour arrives, the witch laugh" viii
tremulous, discordant sound, breaks OF
on the breeze, and is heard a quarter
n mile away. These are followed |
hideous screams, echoed in every hi
and hollow. Spectral lights fash al
phantoms float through the air. Son
Of these wall like women lamentin
while others gibber and gabble lii
witches working an internal spell.
times these sounds are not heard, al
the unholy circle is as quiet as hor
of the dead, but pale lights CLEAN al
spirit forms fit by, and the lone ira
eler, on any night, will see enough
make his blood run cold and his ha
stand on end. Few people have had t
hardihood to remain near by from mi
night to dawn, and those who have {
clare that under no inducement wou
they again subject themselves to t
prolonged torture Of such preternatul
spectacles. Ne one passes the spot
ter midnight if it can possibly
avoided, and even in daylight the Wa
farer travels in that direction wi
more or less dread. 1t is related TIL
though no person lives within TIN
miles of the rendezvous, the growing
cock is always heard there as day
gins to break. At the sound of t
first warning note from this invisil
and unsubstantial chanticleer, wit,
ghost and specter vanish into thin a
and when dawn falls upon the enchant
circle supreme stiffness reigns.
Recently there has been revival
the old stories told 80 often about til
strange place, and many new manifes
tions have lately occurred. One nigl
recently, j. F. Nelson, of Meals store
well-known and most worthy you
man-was returning home from Oh
Iona. The sky was clear and blue a
the stars shone out like Jewels. 7
murmurs of the leaves and the beat
his horses hoofs upon the dusty re