The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-08-15
A MILE A MINUTE WITH A GHOST.
Strange story ofn Vision Of the spirit OF
IA Murde. ed Woman.

Strange story ora Vision OF the Npirit OF |
IA Murdc: ed woman.
shocmakervIe correspondent c. W. U,
A few evenings ago Darius Smith,
who had finished haymaking west
of Leesport, walked toward his
home near ShoemakeVille, about nine
o'clock in the evening. When passing
by the little brid ,e below Mohrsville,
where John Diehl murdered his COM
panion, his thoughts were with the de-
parted dead. He soon reached point
above Mohrsyille where the murder of
Adalne Beaver took place; September |
or October, at the time OF the Reading
fair, 1857, This estimable young lady |
was brutally murdered by a man sup
posed to have been namcd Bessel, and |
who was killed in railroad accident on
the Lebanon Valley railroad not long
ago. The murderer has never been found |
out, but sister of the deceased in a
conversation relating TO the murderer
remarked that "nothing was ever said
of him that was not true" She now
resides in Schuylkil' county. When
nearing this place Smith felt curious
sensation about his 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, not
knowning,whither to 60, when thespectre
appeared now to be enveloped in a blue
flame. Suddenly il mounted skywards,
first moaning, and after reaching 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 returns
ed again, still weeping. Her hair was
hanging down over her shoulders, and
her eyes seemed starting from their
sockets. She had a pale and trembling
hand ana she pointed to the edge of the
left bank of the Schuylkill where Beaver
WAS killed in narrow strip Of woods
Then she exclaimed; "There there !
near that log! Oh my--."The form
stretched its hand, but, said Mr.. Smith,
81 was unable to move even hand. 1t
motioned and beckoned me to come. |
followed and it led me to the place
There lay the log, all covered with fresh
signs OF blood. Coming in close proxim-
ity, now made sure it was the form of
a woman. Her features looked haggard
and worn, rs though having undergone a
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 body
had been dragged over it. There she
beckoned me to sit. sat down and the
spectre rose five or six feet above the
> ground. The truck now started, and We
flew with lightning velocity. IS rode {
mile in minute with the ghost, Sud
, denly came to halt, from what cause
am still unable to say. We were be
side little pond. She now lee
the way down to the water, looking
so worn that she crawled more thar
walked. Nearing the edge of the
pond or small creek, that was almost
, hidden by the high growing grass
and weeds she exclaimed " My
God my G0d Here mere !. anO
with this strange sentence ON her lips
she fell into the stream. | now seemed
to realize more than ever my perileus
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 az |
never before ran for about tive miles,
when, before the house of friend at
Shoemakeiville, fell PROSTATE at his
gate. was unable to relate my terri.
BILE experience until | 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 breakfast and
cup of tea, started on my way with d
full determination never to travel that
road again by night" So much for the
strange story of Darius Smith.