The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-06-22
Ora7ed by Fear.
WHAT TIE SUPPOSED VISIT OF AN APPARI-
TION HAS CAUSED.

SNYpERrowN, Pa, June l0.-The
most curious cases of insanity ever
heard of in this region are reported
from Brush Valley, some distance from
here. About five years ago man
named Moore was killed in the mines
near here He left widow and son
of eleven years of age They moved
into farming region aud by dint of
hard work managed to exist. Both
mother and son were practical,
sensible people, quiet but sociable
Last night, about twelve o'clock,
Mrs Moore was awakened by hearing
terrible outcry in the room adjoining
hers, occupied by the son, now a boy
of sixteen years. In haste she ran to
the room and found the boy almost
paral yzed with fear, standing by the
open window with beads of prespira.
ton OH his brow. With difficulty she
calmed him, and questioned him as to
the cause of his srepidation. Still
quaking terribly, he told that he had
been awakened by some oneIopening the
window, and, turning saw the figure
OF man peering in. Horrified he
gazed at it, unable to move, and after a
few moments discovered in the intruder
the face of his dead father. Then he
gave utterance to a shrek which had
SO staatled his mother.
THE MOTHERS TERRIBLE FRIGHT
After he had finished his t ale the
mother turned toward the wind ow and
saw something which caused her to
lose her mind, and, with a wild yell,
she sprang through the window and
fell to the ground below, lnjuring her
self fatally.
The shrleks of the boy brought few
neighbors to the scene, and they car
ried the injured woman into the house.
From the son these facts were learned.
When the woman recovered conscious
ness she gazed about her for an instant,
and then, as her eyes fell upon her son,
sho went into violent fit of laughter
and laid one hand upon bis shoulder
Instantly the young man became seized
with the laughing fit, and in few
minutes sank exhausted to the floor.
In short time the laughing fit
passed away, and it was followed by
violent symptoms of insanity He
barked like dog and frothed at the
mouth, and the neighbors were in de.
spair as to what course to pursue.
1t was some miles to the nearest vii
lage where physician could be found
One of the number hastily saddled a
horse and set off in search of doctor.
Three men and two women remanded
in the house.
The lad in the meanwhile had been
laid upon bed, and Henry Herrick,
young farmer, mounted guard over
him. About . o'clock Moore was
again seized with violent spasms, and
Herrick, in trying to quiet him, took
hold of his hand. No sooner had he
done so than he was attacked with
spasms and fell to the floor, and show
ed all the symptoms that Moore had
manifested. Horrified and appalled, the
four other watchers fled from the room
and left the three maniacs alone.
NO HOPE OF RECOVERY
One of the women went home and
soon returned with her father, Josiah
Bellheimer, stout, grav-haired, old |
man, who had been an attendant in an
old hospital during the war, Mr. Bell
heimer entered the room, and Eeizing
young Moore, bound him to the bed, |
He then secured Mrs Moore and the
young farmer, Heroick, An hour later
a physician arrived and conveyed Her
rick TO his home. Another physician |
arrived soon after and attended to Mrs |
Moore and her son.
lie said this morning that but little
hope could be entertained of Mrs,
Moore's recovery. He also states that
the woman and her son have broken
down their systems by hard work. 1t
seems insanity is hereditary in the case
Of llerrick, having manifested itself in
many of the family in the past, This
young Moore was unusually
violent, and arrangements are being
made to convey lin to an asylum. The
entire farming region is agog over the
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