St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-26
The Haunted Oak.

st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
On the main travelled road leading to
Suffolk, Va, and about three miles
from Portsmouth, there Stood as late
as 1860, venerable white oak tree,
nearly three feet in diameter, with
large, spreading branches and dense
foliage that afforded a cooling shade to
the tired traveller who CHANGED to pass
that way.
Numerous were the stories told of a
ghostly visitant nightly to this tree.
In fact. many persons living in that
neighborhood claimed to have seen "it''
on more than one occasion, and there
were but few who were acquainted
with the facts that desired to
pass the spot after darkness had
fallen upon the earth. The knowing
ones said that a murder had been COM
mitted near the place, somewhere back
in the '30s, for the purpose of robbery,
and the money taken from the victim
had been buried at the root of the tree,
but every attempt to secure the treas
ure had failed because of the phantom
hOrseman.
In the country roundabout there were
numbers of small white oak sapplings
not larger than mans arm that bore a
kind of fruit. very acid, yetnot unpalat-
able, called oak balls, but the large tree
of which / have spoken was the only
one known in the whole country that
bore these balls, which it did every
spring, and furnished to the credulouS
additional evidence that treasure was at
its roots.
Numberless attempts had been made
to secure these riches-always at night
but in every instance, so far as is
known, the treasure-SeekerS were
driven away by the frlghttul Shrieks of
the phantom, who seemed determined
to thwart all efforts in that direction.
From one of three gentlemen who at
one time made the attempt | received
the following account:
''Jt was 10 o'clock Oh bright star-lit
night in June, 1S47, when we started on
the adventure, and the moon was just
rising. An ak, a pick and two spades
constituted our outfit, but, it being
c"'7y undertaking, we felt that a nerve
re rthener would be needed, so we
OK flask of liquor along to keep our
ss IS in proper trim.
"A mutual understanding was had
before starting that when we reached
the tree not a word should be spoken,
lest evil might befall us or our search
be rendered futile. We had visited the
spot the day previous, and every detail
was then decided upon. The moon was
shining brightly when we reached the
scene of operations, but the tree being
on the east side of the road, ali beneath
1t was dark and gloomy. and seemed a
very uninviting place.
"We soon went to work, however, and
had made quite an excavation, keeping
our eyes and ears open for any unusual
sight or sound, and were beginning to
silently congratulate ourselves when
scream of unearthly character, freezing
the blood in our veins. came from the
opposite side of the road. where every
thing appeared almost as clear and dis
tinct as if it had been daylight.
'InStinctively each of us jumped out
of the hole, and, with eyes almost start
ing from their sockets, stared across the
way, when second and more piercing
shriel1 broke the nights stiffness.
quickly followed by the cry of Help!
oh, my God!" and there before us, not
sixty feet away, On the opposite side of
the road, and in the full glare CT the
moon, appeared large, powerful bay
horse, with the rider topping from the
saddle.
1--WE stood riveted to the spot. unable
to speak or move, and could almost
hear our hearts beat. The rider was
lying prone on the ground, with his face
toward us. and, in our excited state of
mind, seemed to be gasping for breath.
but the magnificent charger. with head
erect and blazing eyes, began
to melt gradually away before
pur astonished gaze. As soon
as the horse had disappeared
the.fallen rider rose to his feet and, look
Ing directly at Us, started for the tree.
This was more then human nature could
endure, and we fed In haste from the
scene, glancing over our shoulders to
see if we were pursued.
Apparently without further notice
of us the specter went to the tree and
pointing with its right hand to the
ground at the root of the tree, uttered
deep groan and vanished from sight.
"The next morning we returned to
the scene of the last nights operations,
and were astounded to find that not a
trace was visible of our work, or even a
sign that the earth had been inthe east
disturbed. The tools were there, and"
added the narrator, there isn't money
enough in the whole country to attempt
me to such another experience"
Proof Of Spirit Return.
Religlo-Philosophical Journal.
Since reading your paper of Nav 81