The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-10-20
HANNAH SCRFECHEN.

/ a correspondent at Ostervnie, Mass writes
US: suppose nearly,every village on New
| England coast has its Traditional story con
/ nected with the exploits Of far-famed Cap
tain Kidd, but the one to which universal
/ credit is given, in the small seclu- ded place
in which 1 am now staying may be new 10
/ some Of your readers. It was told us by an
/ old sea captain one beautiful afternoon. Just
( toward dusk (Which enhanced the interest OF
the tale) to while away part nf an hour dur
ing which the wind left our litt' e-bark as
Idle as painted ship upon a painted
ocean, 1t seems, so the legend runs, that
Captain Kidd, after an unusually successful
expedition, entered the bay on the shores Of
which this village stands, in search Of a safe
repository for his ill-Eotten gains He select
ed a sheltered spot on an island in its centre,
and to guard against its ever being disturb
ed, be killed a village maiden named " Han
nah," and left her spirit to watch over the
place till his return. Years passed and in
in all human probability Kidd had been many
years dead, and there lay the treasure un-
claimed, and TO the somew hat ind0leut villa
gers it seemed a shame to miss the chance Of
acquiring wealth in such a rapid manner: so
two of the most daring men started at mid
night, Of course, and rowed in a light skif
to the fatal spot, taking with them rods OF
the witch hazel, which, as every one knows,
are unfailing indicators Of the resting place
OF any hidden treasure. They landed and
slowly advanced inland, watching anxiouslv
for the bending of their wands to show the
spot where the hopes Of wealth Law. At
length the witch hazel quivered, waved wild
dropped slowly, till it nearly touched the
ground.
The men seized their tools and eagerly set
to work. Soon deep pit yRwned before
them, and their strength was Beginning TO
fail, when dull metallic sound greeted their
ears, and reused them to redoubled activity
They had struck something ha-d. and soon a
heavy iron chest was exposed to view. It
had two strong rings in the top, and these
the men firmly erasped-when at once there
arose on the night the fearful scream Of a
woman The chest was slowly drawn down
into the earth, nesrlYpulling the men in with
It. On looking round, thev beheld them
selves the centre of a circle round which
were moving white animals Of every descrip-
ton. prancing and uttering the various cries
Of their species. The terrified men fed TO
the boat where a new horror awaited them.
When they tried to pull of, behold. Han
nah" at the stern, robed in white her hair
blowing in the wind and her eyes cleaning
with unnatural light, holding the boat fast to
the shore. Their fear was great, but one,
happily remembering what name was used
TO exercise evil spirits, cried i'm a loud voice
" Hannah, in the name of the living God.
let 90 - and she threw up her hands, shrank
back and slowly vanished from their sight.
and their boat was free. Having been once
disturbed Hannah " can never rest. and
any time passing.the island YOU can hear her
piercing cries. Skeptical " city people saws
1t IS only the owls, have it on the authority
Of the oldest inhabitaut that it is none other
than Hannah Screechem. Boston Transc-iBt