The crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1877-1878, 1878-07-18
A MILE A MINUTE WITH A GHOST.
Strange Story OF a Vision Of the Spirit
of a Murdered Woman

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From the Reading Pa, Eagle.
Shoemakerville correspondent G. W.
U. says: A few evenings ago Darius
Smith, who had finished hay-making
west of Leesport, walked toward his
home near Shoemakerville, about nine
o'clock in the evening. When passing
the little bridge 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
Adaline Beaver took place, September
or October, at the time of the Reading
Fair, 1857. This estimable lady was
brutally murdered by man supposed to
have been named 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 conver-
sation relating to the murderer remlrk-
ed "that nothing was ever said of him
that was not true" She now resides in
Schuylkill 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 appeared
to be the form of a woman in white appar-
el and weeping. He hesitated, not
knowing whittier to go when the spectre
appeared to be now enveloped in blue
fl tme. Suddenly it mounted skywards,
first moaning, and after reaching a high
altitude commenced singing a most
beautiful hymn. Smith va 'riveted to the
spot, being unable to move. Airer cir
cling in the air for about five minutes
(which seemed an hour, the form return
ed again, still weeping. Her hair was
hanging down over her shoulders, and
her eyes seemed starting from their
sockets. She had pale and trembling
hand, and she pointed to the edge of
the left bank of the Schuylkill, where
Miss 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 cover
ed with fresh signs of blood. Coming
in close proximity | now made sure it
was the form of woman. Her features
looked haggard and worn, as though
having undergone terrible ordeal. l
could not do otherwise than follow, more
staggering than walking, more dead
than alive, through and over
the river, which fortunately only
reached to my knees, down
the right bank to the railroad, where a
small hand-truck was standing on the
track. This had marks of blood, as
though body had been dragged over
it. There she bekoned me to sit down
and the specter arose five or six feet
above ground The truck now started,
and We flew with lightning velocity.
/ rode n mile in minute with the
ghost. Suddenly I came to halt,
for what cause | am still unable to say.
We were beside little pond. She
now led the way down to the water,
looking so worn that she crawled more
than 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
God! Here!-here!'--and, with this
strange sentence on her lips, she fell
into the stream. l now seemed to
realize more than ever my perilous
position. Fright took the place of
stupor, and / with the womanly folm
still in the water, being dripping wet,
started on dead run toward home. l
ran as l never before ran for about two
miles, when, before the house OF
friend at Shoemakerville, fell pros
trate at his gate. l was unable to re-
late my terrible 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 mans face before. AZ
ter fully relating my experience and
taking light breakfast and cup of
tea, l started on my way home
with a full determination never to
travel that road again by night" So
much for the strange story of Darius