Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-06-23

SNYDERTows, Pa, June 10.

SNYDERTOwS, IA, June 10.
Monday night Mrs. Moore, a widow,
who lives with her young son in an old
dilapidated house at Brush Valley, near
here. was startled by hearing a shrek, fol-
lowed by agonizing yells, in the room
next to hers, occupied by her son. youth
about sixteen years of age. In a fright
she ran into the room and found the boy
almost dead with fear and trembling in
eyery limb. She quoted his fears and
questioned him. and after considerable
DELAY he told her that about twelve O'Clock,
while listening 20 the furiously raging
storm he was startled by seeing through
the dim light of lamp which burned in
tho room a man raising the window. AL
v,ost naralyzed with fear he sat up in bed,
unable TO move, until by the aid of a vivid
flash of lightning he perceived the fea-
lures of the man to be to those of his
father, who was killed in the mines five
wears ago. With the shrek that had so
startled his mother lie sank on the bed and
the intruder fled hastily.
When the mother had heard his story
she turned her gaze towards the window
and beheld the identical face pressed
against the pane. With terrific yell she
sprang to the window, and raising the
sash jumped through, striking the ground,
twenty-five feet below, with terrific force
and lnjuring herself fatally. The shrieks
and means of the young Moore brought a
few neighbors to the spot, and they car
ried the limp body of the woman into the
house and after few hours labor sue
ceeded in bringing her to sensibility. AS
soon as she fixed her eyes OH her son she
burst into violent fit of laughter, in
which the son joined and which lasted
until both fell to the floor exhausted. On
the part of young Moore the fit of laugh
ing was then followed by violent spas
modic attacks. He foamed at the mouth,
barked like dog and made vicious snaps
at those who attempted to quiet him.
A young farmer named iierrick went
up to him and, while attempting to quiet
him, caught hold OF his hand. No sooner
had he done so than he too was seized with
fearful spasIns and writhed on the floor
in intense agony, exhibiting the peculiar
symptoms manifested by the others. The
few other neighbors who had come to the
scene were so badly scared as to be Of
little assistance, and they fled precipitate-
ly, leaving the three maniacs alone In the
room. Mrs. Moore was stark raving mad
and soon the two young men were busy
at work dcmolishing the furniture and
striking ole another. One OF the women
who had at first rushed to the scene ran
home and returned with her father, an
old army sergeant named Billhcimer, who
ran into the room and, grasping Herrick,
threw him to the floor and, putting his
foot upon his breast, bound him with the
bed ropes. He then secured young Moore
i'm a like manner. Mrs. Moore was bleed
ing from the wounds received from fall
ing out of the window and lay on the floor
insensible. Lifting her in his arms Bill
heimer carried the woman to the open
air, the storm having ceased.
One Of the neighbors had mounted a
horse about an hour before and ridden at
full speed across the rough country road
in search of doctor After long search
he found one and brought him to the
stricken family. The young man Her
rick was taken home by his father in the
morning, and another physician attended
him. No hope is entertained Of Mrs.
Moorc's recovery. Mrs. Moore's husband
was killed in the mining region five years
ago. She and her son are practical, steady
people. The case has occasioned much
excitement among the farmers throughout
the neighborhood.