Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-01-05

THE SINGING GH' II IN WEST VIRGINIA.
dreadful. The fact 10 be- noted, however, is
that a great many people Of some standing
in the intellectual world have lately avowed
their belief in ghC.ts, and, as a natural conse-
quence, Many oil r people have acquired the
courage 10 relat their personal experience
with apparitlunS
II is matter I sincere mutual cpngratula-
ton that ghost are far better hammered than
formerly. Tn NJ longer scare people or
conduct themselves otherwise in a reprehen-
sible manner Few of the old style ghosts
linger with Us, but the best authenticated
perhaps is that Of the singing Woman, " in
kanawha county, W. Va She is a very OBJ
jectionable ghost indeed, and hasa wild coun-
try 10 operate in.
In the rear Of Cannelton mountain is a
wilt, wooded and billy tract, inhabited by
the most primitive people in the United
States, Familiarity known as the "Seng Peo-
ple,n because one Of their industries is dig
ging ginseng. Deacon Edom Smith was a
preacher ~ these people many years ago, and
lived In a secluded forest glen. he was pale.
lank and solemn. His wife was Of the gypsy
type-dark. Of stormy mien, alert and active.
That she ruled the deacon with no gentle rod
no one had reason 10 doubt. She held her
self aloof from Ibis people though taking
part in the night services. He never preached
save at night, and then only in the light Of
the moon. For this he gave reasons founded
on Bible teaching, satisfactory 10 the flock.
The dark woman was held in yeneration
by the ''seng digyers," for she sang as none
others could, and gave them healing potions
and charms against the power Of the evil
one. Once, it is said, when Elom Smith
spoke Of death aud the gravel in his discourse,
she shrieked aloud and rebuked her husband
with angry words. Il was known that her
terror Of death amounted 20 madness, and
she had extorted an oath from him never TO
consign her body to the ground, but TO in
close il in an oaken box. 10 be deposited on a
specified stump near the house.
She died. and Deacon Smith disposed Of her
corpse as requested. The people often saw
her spirit near the unburied remain and
learned to avoid the spot The deacon mar.
ried again, and bis young wife compelled the
burial Of the crcwsome thing-then trouble
began. The deacon had deposited the coffin
In an almost inaccessible cave on the noun.
tain side above the road, and every night
hN tiNtiF bNalh NANAN AN SNIdiASs Niib
songs that Olga Smith used TO sing. In Dca-
con Smiths cabin there was no peace. The
Bible had fresh bloody finger marks on it
every morning, and he and his young wife
at last abandoned the place and left the
state. A fire consumed the hut. Thedaring
few who climbed 10 the cave saw the mold
ering collin and its contents, but the wild
nocturnal songs went on. Even nov the
songs may still DO heard occasionally at twi.
light, and fearful! shrieks just at midnight.
Who can doubt the realityo Of the Irish ban
shee when so many reputable witnesses have
testified 10 III
The Rev. Charles Bunworth, rector Of Bulle-
want, in county Cork, was lying Ill when ono
evening q servant named Eayanagh came in
apparently in great grief and wrinsing his
hands.
"What is il yon mean, Knvanaghr' in
quired Miss Bunyorth.