Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-10
a Ghost Guard. a Murdered Lover.

snip.
a Ghost Guards n Murdered Lover
A Jackson (Ky.) special 30 the Globe
Democrai of August 22d SAYS; About
twenty miles east Of this town is high
mountain, which, on account OF the
many strange and peculiar sights wit
messed there, has been called 4" Maiden's
Ghost Ridge" 1t is very siugularly
shaped mountain, and some Of the old
mountaineers ascrbe to it wonderful
properties, alleging that Its sides rise,
swell, and fall like real live,
breathing monster, ana that II
possesses other attributes OF on
animated character. The " Dead Mans ~
spring issues from beneath this noun
tain, the waters of which are supposed
to contain remarkable supernatural heal
ing qualities, and are even reported to
be patronized by spirits, who are be-
lieyed to resort thither 10 quench their
thirst. few days ago very strange
adventure happened on Maiden's Ghost
Ridge, which, if reports be true, Is only
one among the many astonishing sights
that have been Witnessed there.
John s. W., a respected citizen, while
crossing the range, saw an interesting
but frightful spectacle. He vas on his
way to look ut some timbered land on
the other side OF the ridge, when Just as
he had emerged from the forest near the
highest point of the mountain, and
though the air was apparently perfectly
quiet, yet almost inshntaneOusiy there
came a rush past him as If miniature
cyclone had broken loose. and
the trees were swayed and bent
as though q furious storm were
bursting over them. Not cloud,
however. was 10 be seen, and Mr.
". stopped and gazed at the strange at
mospherical phenomenon with silence
aud establishment. Suddenly, however,
there came voice from the direction OF
the rushing wind, and in a few moments
more Mr.. w. recognized the outlines
ana features OF a woman clothed III long
white garments, reckoning to him to re-
turn again IN tue direction from whence
he came. The voice, which spoke IN
deep. sepulchral tones, at intervals eX-
claimed: "Stop? Danger and by
motion of its hands the figure urged HIM
to return IN the direction from whence
he came.
At first W, who is quite an unbe-
lever in the existence OF spirits, affected
to disobey the voice and was preparing
to resume his journey, when again the
hand Of the ghostly maiden warned him
in more certain manner than before to
proceed no further. and Immediately he
changed his determination and returned
TO jackson, and, though be told no
one except his most intimate ac-
quaintances, yet he was deeply az
fected. and will return home without
renewing his trip. The ridge on
which w. received his warning often
seems covered with fires after nightfall,
and the cause is entirely unexplalnable.
The appearance Of the spirit woman on
this mountain is attributable to the mUr-
der of Young man, a lover. the crime
being committed here many years ago.
The young man who was killed was
about to be married to a beautiful young
lady Of this vicinity, but, unfortunately,
he had O very jealous riyal, who had
vowed revenge for the loss of the
Young ladys affection. So one day,
while the prospective bridegroom
was making his way across the noun
tain. it is supposed that he was followed
by his rival and cruelty murdered, rs bis
BODY was afterwards found IN lonely
cave horribly mangled and crushed The
rival fled the country before the discoy-
cry of the dead mans body, and thus es-
capped punishment. The betrothed young
lady. on learning of the awful fate that
had overtaken her lover, pinned away and
died of grief, after long and patient suf-
fering.
All who have seen the figure on the
mountain describe it as of brilliant
white, and that the voice exactly cor
responds in tone to that of the deceased
Young lady. Some foX-hunters, while
rambling around in quest Of the object
of their sports, were among the first to
observe the curious spectral lady, and
though they returned to their homes
declaring the wonderful sight and
were quite nervous with fright,
yet their neighbofs only ieered
Mt them for the discovery, and
treated their statements with mockery
and contempt. At last, by frequent ban
terings the hunters succeeded in getting
some OF their neighbors to accompany
them to the place, and the same sights
were again witnessed, the neighbors be-
coming 50 frightened that they ran away
in haste, leaving their ioE-hunting com
panions, and have never visited the monn-
tain since, affirming it to DO bewitched.