The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-06-10

clause of the committee. The deed for th,
church property in Denmark, Europe, is il
the name of missionary to that country
The conference instructed the title to b
vested in the officers of the Rrethren Nation
al conference At half-past four P. N. thi
conference adjourned TO meet next year il
the Valley of the Miami. Ohio.
In the mountains of Jenner township
about five miles back of Forwardstown {
party of seven men, Jacob Thomas, DAME
Snowman, Alex. Austin and George Gard
ner, brothers. Michael Lohr and Georg'
Lohr. father and son, are eamped, in daily
converse with spirits from another world
and keeping watch and ward over spring
in ledge of rocks, from which the spirit;
have promised to deliver them bushels ol
gold and silver coin. For several year
Thomas has claimed to have knowie,igs
of the place and to have communicated with
the spirits, and on former occasions has
made efforts to secure the gold Of which the
spirits freely gave him glimpses- SO cen
slant and 80 frequent has been his inter
course with these spirits. that he seems to
have discarded both his native Pennsylya-
MIA Dutch and English. and adopted the
spirit language, which bears striking re-
semblance 10 4 mixture Of the two with sib-
berish in the proportion of one TO seventeen
To the vain man Of this world the spot
where the spirits have chosen to locate dur
-inP their stay 10 this section, Is a rough
piece of mountain land on which a kill
deer would starve, unless be carried a knap-
sack in passing over, but to Thomas and his
companions, who look with the eyeof faith,
IL Is peoplei with mysterious forms which
rise and disappear az frequent intervals.
One spirit is represented Is q man Of might,
seven feet tall and with arms and legs like
Young trees. whose constant companion is
a headless woman. Thomas. wis seems to
possess the entire confidence Of the spirits,
saws that number Of years ago they, being
in the flesh, robbed the coaches on the old
Pittsburg and Philadelphia turnpike, which
the money was then brought 10 the spot
where they are now eucamped, and buried.
that afterward the giant murdered all his
companions, in order that he might not
have to divide the plunder with them, that
the giant died before the money was re-
covered. and that now the spirits Of the
dead, with one exception. srnitten with
Thomas charms, want 10 deliver the gold
to him: but the one recaicitrant
phantom bangs TO the gold for
which he committed murder, fer which
be is doomed to walk the earth, and con-
tends nightly with his fellows for its re-
tention. Several of these battles in which
swords clashed and shots rang while the
combatants breathed hre and slaughter, have
been witnessed by the terrified watchers who,
but that they had been assured in advance
by one Of the spirits that no harm should
hefall them. would have fed incontinentiy
from the spot When Thomas first discover
ed the place. years ago, he was attracted by
a rock near the spring which seemed rich
with ore; he broke piece from il with his
hatchet, when the spirits appeared, seized
his hatchet and commanded him 10 desist
In the last spectral scene one Of the good
spirits was seen to hit the big one such a
crack with hatehet. recognized as Thomas,
as laid open his bead. and renderefkim for
the time hors du combat. The spe51e ers de-
scribe how his companions DIR his
wounds and led him from the field
The story of the camp and its purpose has
become noised abroad and created no little
excitement, and when or Thursday night
the wives of several members Of the party
who had been at the camp returned, with
Snowman, who said that the spirits had or
dered all women 20 leave the camp. and
promised that as soon as George Gardner
would come, so that there would be three
brothers together, they would give up the
money the excitement rose rapidly. show
man al once seut 10 Jefferson township for
Gardner who arrived here after midnight
when they left for the spot where their
comrades kept guard. Two ex-county Off
rials, after interviewing Thomas wife in re-
gard to the matter seem 10 have become so
that they awakened Mr. Jacob
Zeigler. who it seems had driven some Of the
.ame party to the spot last year. TO ask
what he knew about the matter. Mr.. Zies-
er hsd not seen or conversed with any Of
The spirits, but having left his horses stand
rk xrh- Ia. Ao-
gery narrow, was attracted by the sound of
In approaching team; he hastily pulled his
cam into the bushes 10 make room for the
,,her wagon. but to his great surprise, al
hough the runbling approached him and
he could distinctly hear the beat of the
iorses' hoofs on the hard stone OF the noun
ain road, ne saw no horse. no wagon, no
lriyer. This phantom team passed up and
lown the road some twenty or twenty-five
lines, until Ziegier. thinking the place un- 4
amy, drove hastily away from the spot
aore than ever interested in the matter, the
x -ofieixls hastily hooked Up team and
hrowing half bGshei measure in the wag-
N, set out for the scene Of gold Arrived at
he camp they snxiously interrogaf~i its oc-
upants rs 10 the whereabouts Of the spirits, !
Fhen one of the latter, pointing to tree.
aid with an Involuntary shudder that be
sw the air between his eye and the object |
'ecome more dim. and condense, as il were
nto the faint appearance Of a form, through |
Fhich, however, so thin and transparent !
Tas the appearance OF the phantom. thst he |
ould discern the outline of the tree as /
Trough rel Of fne Grape; There il Is, !
ont you see II IS the big one right there
= the tree Nov. the woman xiihou: /
cad Is BY bis side Whist can't you see
hem. There they are Snowman pulled |
pair of spectacles from his pocket swung
hem a<traddle Of his nose and declared be
sw them ss plain as any other object. Sew
-ai other members Of the party saw the
hsntons, bat the ex-oiiicials were not IA
ored with = sight Of them After waiting
Il day in vain hope Of seeing something
be ex officials left the camp and returned to 4
while Thomas party kept watch
nd ward until Nonday. when they return
] without the gold, bat firm in the belief
lat they win yet secure il