The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-01-30
STRANGE FALLS0F STONES.
COUNTRY PEOPLE IN CRNTRM NBW
YORK GREATLY MSSTIfIED.

COUNTRY PEOPLE IN CENTRAL NEW
YORK GREATLY MYSTIflRD.
Remarkable Occurrences that are beneVed
TO Have Hnstened the Denth OF "en-
to.do Parmer-siones Failing 10 Church.
A letter from Jordan, N. T., to the
Sun says For twenty-eight years klch.
ard Stevens owned large farm about
two miles from this village. He was
much respected by his neighbors, and
was good example to the thrifty CEN
trail New York farmer. He had
family, consisting Of his WIFE, three
daughters. and six SONS. On TUESDAY,
after An illness Of about one week, he
died Of pneumonia, and his death Is Pc
lieved 10 have been fastened by exciting
and remarkable events in bis house,
which have astounded the country peo-
pie and puzzled many from neighboring
villages who have witnessed them.
A week ago last Friday, while the
household affairs were going on IN the
usual way, the family were startled by
the chatter OF several stones which iell
on the kitchen floor. The doors and
windows were closed, and there seemed
10 be no place where the stones could
have entered the room. On the follow
ing night, when the girls had pulled on
their shoes and were preparing TO go TO
bed one Of the shoes sudden assembled
to the ceiling and fell to the door. The
young women were frightened, and,
running out of the room, called their
brothers. who searched the room, but
found nothing to explain the singular
affair. After the girls had gone to bed
the noise OF the falling shoe was re-
peated, and Mr.. Stevens's sons being
again called, sat up all night to detect
the source Of the manifestations.
The next night stone fell, apparently
from the ceiling, when the girls were re.
firing. From that time on the fall OF
stones in all parts Of the house was fire.
quent. Mr.. Stevens was annoyed, his
nerves were unstrunR, and his disease
was complicated by the excitement.
Stories OF mysterious occurrences at
the Stevens farm house spread through
the country, and people began to come
from all quarters to crafty their Curl
osity. One day stones fell all the time,
and at night more than one hundred and
fifty were picked up.
A gentleman who does not believe in
spiritualsm, or supernatural Manifesto
tons, while staying at our village hotel
one night expressed doubt about the
reality of such phenomena. He accepted
an invitation from one OF Mr.. Stevens's
sons, who was present, to accompany him
home and see for himself. He tells OF
what happened m follows:
"When arrived they took me into
the kitchen, where | should think there
we're about dozen people, all waiting
for the falling of the stones, and all very
much excited.
"Charles Stevens, son Of Richard
Stevens, and myself went into the par
IOr and one Of Mr.. Stevens's daughters,
who il about II years old, went with us.
We were sitting around the stove, and
Mr.. Stevenss son was relating some o.
the incidents Of the affair Miss Stevens
was near us, on the other side Of thu
stove. / could see her plainly. Sud
denly stone fell within two feet o
where | was sitting. The girl jumped
and | jumped. The stone seemed to fal
from the ceiling and came with force. n
if it Ind fallen from Il great height TIL,
doors Of the room were closed, and N
one was in the room excepting us three
| watched both OF my companions, ant
am sure that neither of them threw
the stone. / could have seen then
plainly if they had.
"This occurred about 7 p. m. Ahou
1870 another stone fell, seemingly with
ont any more cause than the first N
more stones fell during the evening, mn,
about 10 o'clock | went to bed. Moth
ing occurred during the night. Tn
next morning, while was standing nea
the stove in the kitchen, about breakfaa
time, two more stones fell.
al cannot give any explanation Of tn
matter If the family are playing an
tricks, they certainly 90 through thei
parts well Int ! am very certain tina
they do not know any more about thi
affair than do. The youngest daugl
Ter, Celia looks like medium. Tn
day before was there about forty stone
fell. ;"
On Sunday two of the Stevens girl
went to the Presbyterian church, an
while they stood, joining in the singing
three stones fell ut their feet. Til
preacher picked them up alter tn
sermon. The family are very indignar
at the Rev. Mr.. Benedict, pastor of tn
Baptist Church, who, after visiting tn
house, reported that the stones were cas-
10y lucille, one of the daughters. Ii
asserted that he saw her throw one G
them in a forward direction, but the gil
denies that she did SO, or that she la
had anything to do with producing tn
manifestations. The physician who al
tended Mr.. Stevens says he has theor
about the case, but declines to say whn
it il.
None of the family except Mrs. Stcy
ems seems to be superstiious, although
they are all thoroughly alarmed. Mrs
Stevens related before her husband
death, that some years ago, a perso
named Penny, living Mt their house, sat
he had dream in which he saw n boz
lying in the doorynrd, and said tha
either he or Mr.. Stevens would soon die
Penny lived hut short time, and Mrs
Stevens expressed the belief that lii
spirit was haunting the house TO war;
them of her husbands death.
Belle, one Of the Stevens girls, he
came 30 frightened that she left tn
house, and refused to return till he
fathers death made it necessary, TIL
stones which were thrown appear to b
common pebbles from field, and var
from the size of II birds egg to half tn
size of ones fist. No stones have falle
since Richard Stevens's death.