The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-12-13
TIE TERRIBLE ARM.

TIE TERRIBLE ARM. - =
The building Of a railroad through
the Black Mountains, In Arkansas, ex-
planned mystery which foryears was
regarded as beyond the power of earthly
agenciesSto solve, t@L5{HSi !. Z
Years ago when all travelling was
done by stage coach or private convey
5ance, the road which CROSSED the Black
Mountains was--regarded as the best n
the State. At one place the road
wound round through a narrow pass,
OH each side of which, rising perpen-
dicularly for hundreds Of feet, were
massive rock walls. b The pass was so
narrow that it reqaired quite an Ok.
Eperiehced dfiver%to go through swithou4
striking the walls. This place was
always SO dark and gloomy that the
travelling public dreaded 1T, although
no depredations had even been COM
mItted there, and, many attempts had
been made to cut road by another
route, but all of the attempts failed,
and Rock pass still continued to be the
gap through. which the stages we're
compelled to travel. ...
>. One night, as the stage, loaded with
passengers: had gained the drearlest
part of the pass, tho horses stopped, and
the driver was heard to exciaim,
:'Great God!'' .'. ~ .'...-..... g" =
4. "What's the matter2" demanded
the superintendent of the road, who
happened to be In the coach.
Just come herel','. the driver said.
II ain't 10 coward, an have cit many
a man \, my life, but IL this thing
don't skeer me, then I'm willin' to
throw down the lines to the first man
that comes along" ~
The superintendent got out, and In
few moments he was heard to say,
'1f | had, room. here I'd run twenty
miles SWithont sSopping.s Never saw
the like nannSsllifa SWhatthe deuce DO
you suppose 1t wants2"
Moneys" came In voice likea a stiff.
led cry. =, ....tYst..,,.l...,.,
Every one left the coacli and edged
along the walls to get a view of the
terrible something in front. From the
middle of the road arose an enormous
arm, with the sleeve turned up. At
the end Of the arm, in the most, natural
way possible, was a large hand, pale
and with subdued glow The fingers
Of tho hand closed in 4 kind of circle,
and from the hand came the rshrlek.
Every one was frightened, and the
driver, who was regarded as the. e.boldest
man in the country, satand shook the
lines 80 great was his frighta q
81 want money" "sagaiu shrieked the
hand. .a.s+,. vr-,,.,
:: "Let U.s. investigate sthis thing,"
said one Of the passengers. s.svy.stsA After
we leave here and attempt to tell of
the adventure, we WON'T have anything
to tell only'that we became frightened
and gave up our money to something
we knew not what" 49,
II am with you," exclaimed the dri-
yer. II never was blulfed yet by any
. man, an III be blamed If Idon't orgy
with Satan San' feel Of his weak points
afore I let him bluff me. Come on,
stranger" and the driver climbed down.
The horses were so badly frightened
that they shook in every joint, and the
superintendent, having lost all control
of his courage, allowed 1t to slip away
from him while he leaned on one of
the coach wheels for support. The two
mon approached the hand, which low
cred itself to receive them. In the
intelligent passengers own words, we
Will give his experience: "The closer
drew to the appalling thing, tie more
confirmed became my Impression THAT
it was supernatural, Suddenly the
hand reached down, seized me ana
gave me shake that / can never for
get. Its grasp was Bcold ana sent d
chill through me. As soon as released
! retreated as fast as my trembling
legs would carry me. The driver was
more unfortunate. H6 attempted to
grasp the&hand. but, was seized and
hurled against the wall with a force
that stunned him. Regainlng his feet
after much difficulty, he staggered
away moaning as though every bone in
his body had been broken"
Just at this stage of the unholy per-
Torrance, the hand drew up its fingers
and shouted
81 want money. The tortured men