The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-11-05

IeOplc Say Snc
is Bewitched
DRESDEN, Tenn, Oct. 26.-A most ex-
traordinary phenomenon is at present
occupying the attention of the people in
this neighborhood. Already the news
the case as far as observation could so,
and from what has been brought to
light thus far there is now no doubt that
the little village OF Greenfield, about
twenty miles from here, will become fa--
nous in connection with the eXtraordi-
nary freak of nature to be found there.
1t is nothing less than a girl who at
regular intervals elects genuine cotton
from her eyes, ears and throat, and
hitherto all attempts to solve the mys-
terry have proved futile. The neighbors.
were at first inclined to attribute it to
some sort Of legerdemain, but now they
have been repeatedly convinced of the
absence Of any trickery, and they have.
done the inevitable thing among small
communities where anything cannot be
properly accounted for-that is, to as
cribe it to witchery.
The Hayes girl, who is the subject of
this strange story, lives with her parents
near Greenfield. Mr.. Hayes is seventy
one years of age and his wife is but a
few years younger. The daughters
name is IneZ Ophelia, but she is gener-
ally called Tinesey. She is a rather
good-looking girl of twelve years, with
fair skin, beautiful golden hair and
light blue eyes-a perfect specimen of
the blonde. She is stoutly built, though
her family say she is gradually losing
flesh. She has spent some time at school
and is sharp and intelligent to a degree.
Questions from visitors do not worry
her in the least, and during the periods
when she is in possession of her health
she is the soul of good nature.
Early yesterday morning a party OF
women and two gentlemen visited the
Hayes residence for the purpose of
finding out for themselves if the story
of the cotton was true or myth OF
some enterprising romancists. On the
way to their destination several persons
whom the party encountered were
asked to direct them on their way. In
all such cases rather dubious answers
were given, but there was an incllna-
ton displayed to avoid giving any details
of the knowledge possessed on the sub
ject. One man who had seen the cotton
plainly elected from the girls eyes ad-
mitted the fact: but doubted that it was
caused by any operation of nature.
The HAYES family live in a small,
wooden, b0x-like house, which contains
but one room of any account. In this
room the three sleep. There is a kitchen
in the rear. Everything around the
place was neat and clean. The girl was
lying on an old-fashioned trundle bed
near the fireplace. She was dressed In
street attire and was playfuuy toying
with little harp and some other knlck-
knacks. She appeared to be IN geeG
health and spoke cordially and lntell-
gently. TO look at her: nobody would
think that she was more or less than
girl taking an ordinary lounge after din
ner. The visitors. conversed with her
for some time and began to grow some
what impatient, when finally Mrs: Hayes
asked them to look at the girls feet.
Then sad sight was revealed. Since
the poor girl became afflicted, few
weeks ago her toes have curved around
towards the bottom of her feet, and all
attempts to straighten them have
proved futile and caused her terrible
agony. They are cold as death, and SO
lifeless that physicians have pierced
them through and through with needles,
causing no pain. When an attempt is
made to bend them back to their natural
position, however, the girl screams with
agony.
The woman in the party thoroughly
searched around the bed and examined
the patient carefully for any evidences
of concealed cotton, but found none. AL
of a sudden the girl was seized with one
of her spells, and with piteous screams
she besought her mother to Rub harder!
rub harder" at the same time gestlcula-
ting violently with her left hand, with
which she vainly tried to reach her
| throat, as if to knock something away.
The mother rubbed vigorously at the
girls throat meanwhile. This spell last
ed couple of minutes and three min
utes later it was followed by another and
another. At the cessation of each quite
| a large ball of cotton was removed from
| her throat. AS soon as she began to re-
| cover from the prostrating effects OF her
spells she smiled and talked IN Just as
agreeable a manner as she had before
the spells made their appearance.
TO inquiries as to how she felt durlHss
the time that she is thus so strangely
Iagitated she said her throat felt as If
somebody were sticking a sharp knife
Into it. and the only thing which relieves
her is a brisk rubbing OF the muscles OF
the throat, which her mother always at
tends to. Sometimes the cotton is eject
ed clean through the skin, and on one
occasion her throat was completely coV-
cred with it. The sufferer at these
periods wanders in strange manner,
and positively asserts that her bed IS
surrounded by strange forms, one of
which she describes as "a woman dress
ed in yellow" She charges these forms
with depositing the cotton around her:
y strange thing in connection with
the girl is her peculiar sense OF hearing.
This is in itself very extraordinary.
People standing by her bedside cannot
hear a sound when she will tell themshe
hears voices at certain points, and, sure
enough, she has been correct IN every
instance. She has been tested repeated
ly. but has never slipped. Superstitlous
people ascribe the whole business to the
| influence Of witchery, but her parents,
while ridiculing this idea, cannot ac-
count for the phenomenon.
Scores of visitors have been to see the
afflicted girl, among them being many
reputable physicians. Dr. Clopton OF
Milan says she is perfectly sane, Cap
tain II. c. Roberts aScrlbeS the tits by
hysteria, but no one can explain away
the presence Of the cotton. Mrs. Har--
yey brewery watched by the girls bed
side last Sunday and distinctly saw the
cotton come out Of the girls eyes. AT
breakfast the same day portion was
elected from her mouth. Mr.. IL. {.
Pucket says he witnessed it coming
from her throat while she slept as he
watched her. Next Monday the parents
will take the girl to Loyelace. Ballard
/ u-bara bar ra1a tivaC live