The Osceola times., 1878-08-10
A MILE A MINUTE WITH A GHOST.
strange story ora Vision or tlse sPirtt or
u Murde: ed Woman.

Strange story of Vision or the NpArtl o
Murde:ed Weman.
Shoemskesville correspondent @. W. U.
A few evenings ago Darius Smith
who had finished haymakipg wes
of Leesport, walked toward hi
home near Shoemakerville. about min.
o'clock in the evening. When passinf
by the little brid ye below Mohrsville
where John Diehl murdered his com
panion, his thoughts were with the de.
parted dead. He soon reached point
above Mohrsville where the murder Of
Adaiine Beaver took place; September
or October, at the time OF the Reading
fair, 1857. This estimable young LADY
was brutally murdered by man sup.
posed to have been named Bessel, and
who was killed in railroad accident or
the Lebanon Valley railroad not Ions
ago. The murderer has never been found
QUIT but sister OF the deceased in {
conversation relating to the murderel
remarked that nothing Was ever sale
of him that-wa not. Iuan She now
resides in Schuylkill county. Wher
nearing this phce Smith fslt 4 curious
sensation about hA head and his brain
reeled. He never believed In apparitions
but right before him stood what appear.
ed to be form Of woman In white
apparel and weeping. He hesitAted, mi
knowning,whither to 60, when the spectre
appeared now to be eRveloped in blue
flame. Suddenly it mounted akyw wards
first meaning, and after reaching a nigh
altitude commenced singing most
beautiful HYMN. Smith seemed riveted
to the spot, being unable to move. After
circling in the air for about five minutes
(Which seemed an hour) the form return.
ed again, still weeping. Her hair wa,
hanging down over her shoulders, and
her eyes seemed starting from thei,
sockets. She had pale and trembling
hand, ana she pointed to the edge of the
left bank Of the Schuylkill, where Beaver
was killed in a narrow strip Of woods
Then she exclaimed; "There there
near that lozl Oh my--."The form
stretched its hand, but, said Mr.. Smith
81 was unable to move even hand. II
motioned and beckoned me to come.
followed and it led me to the place
There lay the log, all covered with fresh
signs OF bleod. Coming in close proxim
ity, now made sure 1t was the fern o,
a woman. Her features looked hagQard
and worn, as though having undergone q
terrible ordeal. could not do otherwise
than follow, more staggering than walk.
ing, more dead than alive, through and
over the river, which fortunately only
reached TO my knees, down the right
bank to the railroad, where small hand.
truck was standing on the track. This
had marks of blood, as though a BODY
had been dragged over 1t. There abe
beckoned me TO sit. sat down and the
spectre rose five or six feet above the
ground. The truck now started, and w
flew with lightning velocity. I rode {
mile in minute with the ghost. Sud
denly came to halt, from what cause
am still unable To say. We were be
side a little pond. She now LED
the way down to the water, lookin,
so worn that she crawled more thar
walked. Nearing the edge of the
pend or small creek, that was almost
hidden by the high growing gras,
and weeds, she exclaimed: "My
God my God! Here! herel" and
WIN this strange sentence on her lips
she fell into the stream. now seemed
to realize more than ever my perileua
position. Fright took the place of stu
por, and /, with the womanly form still
in the water, being dripping wet, started
on dead run toward home. ran as
never before ran for about tive miles,
when, before the house of a friend at
Shoemakerville, / fell PROSTATE at his
gate. | was unable to relate my terri
BILE experience until I had rested, and
that was not before bright sunshine next
day. He kindly took me in and cared
for me. My friend said he never saw
such haggard and pale look on a mans
face before. After fully relating my ex-
perience and taking light breaE last and
a cup of tea, started on my way with q
iull determination never to travel that
road again by night" Somuch for the
strange story of Darius Smith.