The morning news., 1888-09-06
THE PHANTOM HUNTER.
wny . Carroll. County Miller viii Not
Run His MIL When the Moon is Full.
r1ro,, he Rnyfiuors EIeroId

Why Q Carroll. County Miller Will Not
Run His MIL When the Moon is Full
From the Baltimore Herald.
WESTMINSTER, Nd, Aug. 26.-Not far
from this city beautiful stream makes
4ts way between high hills and through
open fields and densely wooded valleys
uutiidt reaches a spot between two lofty
v,mmits. Across this valley many years
20 was built dam 80 feet high. Not far
,slow IL the old-fashioned mill, whose water
xhsel Is never still, but, turning ceaselessiy,
nakes music for the. old miller, who still
oliss bis trade as though, almost within
hearing, steam'h mills did not turn out
! 600 barrels of -four every day. Passing
Nv the mill a few days : ago i'the cor
respondent was startled by the silence of
yhe old mill, and entered to inquire the
cause. To his question as to whether he
was going to give up the mill, the'oid man
replied:
hOhi no, but don't you know that this
evening the August moon will be fulls"
Certainly, but why should the moons
getting full stop your mills" asked the news
paper man.
Well sir, I will tell you," said the miller.
MANY years ago one of the most reckless
and daredevil fellows In this country laid
wager that he would on horseback ride
hanters and hounds in every chase, if he
we're compelled to ride into the other world.
On the morning following the full moon in
August, 1S40, the body of the young farmer,
yhoss name | will not mention, for his
children and grandchildren live not far
from this place, and are among the most
respected people in the community, was
found upon the banks of the dam. Just
below him lay his horse, and, young man,
toll don't SuOh
horses around here now-she was
beauty. Both were dead How it all hap
pened no one knew, and for year the mys-
terry remained unsolved, but on the night of
the full moon in August, 184l-I was a
young fellow them was running the mill.
and about midnight feeling of the desc
lateness of the place came over me. l had
never been lonely before. The dog, which
always slept on the porch, came to my door
whining, and when / let him in crawled un-
der my bed. The noise of the rushing of
the water and the turning of the wheel
drowned all sounds from without, and, al
though my nervousness continued through
out the night until day dawned, could not
account for my condition. In the morning
was ashamed to speak to any one of my
experience, and lin a few weeks it was
forgotten.
"This same experience was repeated for
five succeeding years before | began to as
sociate it with the August full moon. Then,
when began to feel the sensation of lone
illness and fear 1 went to the door of the
mill and looked toward the dam. The
night was a perfect one. Just overhead
hung the full moon, and glistening like bur-
nished silver under her rays | could follow
with my eye for many hundred yards the
winding course of the stream While l
was looking far UP the west side of the
stream | saw a moving object, which
rapidly drew near. As it approached
| beheld a sight which filled me with
horror and held me motionless. Both
horse and rider were as white as the morn
ing mist, but from their eyes fire seemed to
flash, and in the man recognized Jack, Il
had almost mentioned his name), who was.
founddead six years before. Ashley reached
the breast Of the dam L saw just before
the ghostly rider, a fox running in zigzag
course, as though seeking to avoid capture.
Across the dam they flew, until about mid
way; then I saw the rider lean forward, as
with a muttered curse-and, strange to say,
| could distinctly hear his words--he swore
that he would capture the animal if he had
to follow him to the lower regions.
Just then the fox !eaped far out into the
water, and horse and rider followed close
upon him. As they sank beneath the water
lost consciousness and knew no more until
in the morning farmer came to the mill
for -four. Since that night there is not
money enough in the world to keep me in
this mill after nightfall at the time of the
full moon in August. 1t is growing near
sunset now, and if you will excuse me. l
must get ready to go, but If you would like
you can spend the night in the mill and
take a look at the ghostly horssman, and l
hope you will enjoy his VISIT"
The invitation was declined. and the
visitor passed the evening in calling on
number of farmers in the neighborhood, all
of whom expressed belief in the miller's.
story, and a number told of belated travel
srs who had seen the phantom hunter.