The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-01
.IIUEN LIGUV.
The Curious Story That Comes from Litli
Hamlet in Georgia.

Hamlet i'll Georgia.
The Atlanta Constitution publishes GU.
r1ous story told by Mr.. Alonzo Lyon and
vouched Tor by hundreds OF the best citi-
Zens OF De Kalb county concerning what j.
called "Jude's light" Mr.. Lyon was
raised in De Kalb county, Ga four mics
from Lithonia and about thirteen miles
from Atlanta. one-half mile from Macedonia
Baptist church, on the StOne-Mountan and
Flt-ShOllS road. Ii is in the quiet rural
hamlet on the farm formerly owned by bis
grandfather. Edmund Bunt, deceased, then
after his death bought by Mr.. Lyons
hrOther-in-law, Mr.. Hartman, aud now
owned by Nj. David McWIliams, that
".Jude's light makes its regular appear
ance.
About forty years ago man named Reid
owned the farm, and he also owned ne
gro woman by the name OF Jude. Reid
had Jude punished for some offence by
placing her in close confinement. and on
very short ratiOns. Jude finally died.
She was buried in the woods on a hillside
across branch about 800 yards from the
house occupied by Rcid's fImily. No one
else was buried there, and the grave is to this
day solitary one. soon after the burial
Juttt : ll-Hb dDIJtdltu IiOll
the grave and wandered about the house
and premises at all hours Of the night.
This light = manifested so much mtelli-
gence and struck such terror into tie
hearts Of the Reid family that they sold all
their possessions and hastily left the State
OF Georgia. The light" has continued
TO appear frequently from that time to this,
hut never seemed TO inspire terror aud
uneasineSs in the breast Of Others nor visit
the dwelling often.
After Edmund Bunt grandfather OF Mr.
Lyon. purchased the Reid farm, Mr.. Lyon
lived several wears with him. He saw the
light " probably thousand times at ali
seasons OF the year and in all kinds OF
weather. So also aid his mother, brothers,
and sisters. Many OF the neighbOrs have
been present occasionally and watched it
The Reid dwelling is situated in the fork
Of two small streams, which flow together
and form Poll-bridge creek, short dis.
lance below the mouse. The bottom land
along the creek Is here very broad and en-
tensiye and covered with dense growth
OF cane and bushes. 4 field had been
cleared between Judc's grave and the
dwelling, so that the grave could be seen
from the house.
"Jude'a light" always seemed to come
straight up out Of the grave, about eight or
ten feet high, and keeping about the same
distance from the ground, it would float
slowly off up or down the swamp, or to-
ward the house, or up the hill through the
woods. Ii would often glide about for an
hour or so in sight, then suddenly 90
straight down ont Of view. AT such times.
said Mr.. Lyon, he and others had some
times started for the grave with the in
tentiOn OF beating this light" there,
in order 10 see what il was, il pos
siOle, but none had ever succeeded in do
ing so. by the time they had taken ten
steps in the direction OF the grave they
would see the " light" returning toward
that point with railway speed, reaching il
before the wOuld-be investigators were
fairly started. Ii invariably paused an in
slant just over the grave. then dropped
straight down and disappeared. A visit
there Immediately afterward revealed no
phOSphorescent or other lights.
Mr. Lyon described the eight" as about
the size Of mans doubled fists, OF some
what reddish tinge, sparkling somewhat.
but not very brilliant, and only slightly
Illuminating the bushes and trees in pass
ing among them. The nearest Mr.. LYON
was ever to "Jude's light" was about the
distance from the dwelling to the small
stream in the direction of the graye-say
one hundred yards. His brother-in.laW
Mr.. Hartman, who owned the place
after Edmund Hunts death, and lived
on 1t until 1876, was once within six or
eight PAGES OF 1t. On that night his " ife
and her sister, Mrs. Thomas MiZe. and
himself, were all awakened from sound
sleep just after midnight by some mvsteri-
Gus sensation, and on looking out into the
yard they saw a very unusual illumination.
Mr.. III rtman opened the door, and there
in the yard was the familiar ball OF reddish.
sparkling light. 1t remained stationary
few seconds; then slowly glided off in the
direction OF the grave. Mr.. Hartman said
he was not particularly scared, nor were
the ladies, but each felt that they had been
awakened by this unusual approach OF the
light"