The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-08-08
A MILE A MINUTE WITH A GHOST.
Strange story offs Vision Of the Spirit OF
Iurde- cd ~ EOmnn.
shoemakerviliec correspondent G. W. U.

Shoemakerviie correspondent G. W U.
A few evenings ago Darius Smith,
who had finished hsymaking west
of LeespOrt, walked toward his
home near Shoemakerville, about nine
o'clock in the evening. When passing
by the little brid se below MOhrsYille,
where John Diehl murdered his COM
panion, his thoughts were with the de-
parted dead. He soon reached q point
above MOhrsville where the murder of
Adaline 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 BesseI, and
who was killed in q railroad accident on
the Lebanon Valley railroad not long
ago. The murderer has never been found
out, but a sister Of the deceased in a
conversation relating to the murderer
remarked that nothing was ever said
of him that wss not true" She now
resides in Schuylkill county. When
nearing this place Smith felt a curious
sensation about his head and his brain
reeled. He never believed in apparitIOns,
but right before him stood what appear
ed to be a form of a woman in white
apparel and weeping. He hesitated, not
knOwniDglwhither to 60, when thesPectre
appeared now to be envelOped in blue
flame. Suddenly it mounted skywards,
first moaning, and after reaching a nigh
altitude commenced singing a most
beautiful hvmn. Smith seemed TIveted
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 was
hanging down over her shoulders, and
her eyes seemed starting from their
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 4 narrow strip Of wOOGs.
Then sne exclaimed; ''Ihere there
near that log! Oh my--."The form
stretched its hand, but, said Mr.. Smith,
"I was unable TO move even a 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 haggsrd
and worn. as though having undergone a
terrible ordeal / could nos 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 q small hand
truck was standing on the track. This
had marks of blood as though 4 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. l rode a
mile in a minute with the ghost. Sud-
denly I came to halt, from what cause
I am still unable to say. We were be-
side a 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 peTileus
position. Fright took the place of stu
Dor, and I, with the wOmauly form still
in the water, being dripping wet, started
on a dead run toward home l ran as ]
never before ran for about two miles,
when, before the house OF a friend at
ShoemakeIville, l fell PROSTATE at his
gate | was unable to relate my terri
bic experience until 1 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 a haggard and pale look on mans
face before. After fully relating my cX-
perienca and taking light hreak last and
a cup of tea, / started on my way with
full determination never 10 travel that
road again by night" Somuch for the
strange story of Darius Smith.