Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-05-28
Stone-Throwing Ghosts.
vOLLEYs FIRED BY UNSEEN HANDS AT
JACKSON CENTRE, PA.

voLLEYs FIRED BY UNSEEN HANDS AT
JACKSON CENTRE, PA.
Uncanny happenings at the late home of
Deacon Harrison, in Jackson Centre, Mer-
Ger county, Pa, have thrown that hamlet
into state of disorder, and the staid Pres
byterian residents of the place are attribu-
ting to malicious disembodied spirits
phenomena that they are at a loss TO &C.
count tor by earthly logic. Jesse Harrison
wealthy farmer OF that vicinity, died in
February last, leaving q wife and several
children. A ssle to settle the estate took
place early in March, but Mrs. Harrison
and her children continued to occupy the
homestead. At that season of the year it
Is the custom of Mercer county farmers to
make maple sugar, and one day as Mrs.
Harrison and family were boiling down
''sap" the peculiar mystery that has since
stirred the usually comatose village into a
whirl of feverish excitement was developed.
While stirring fire under the sap-kettle
Mr.. McElsee, the aged father of the widow,
was startled by shower of stones, which
the side of the house and ground near him.
The strange occurrence so alarmed the
family that they fled into the house and
bolted the DOORS Without cessation the
stones continued falling for half an hour
When the family attempted to resume their
labors later in the day the stone. throwing
recommended with greater force, and with
irregular interruptions was kept up until
evening. The neighb0rs we're told this
strange story, and although the Harrisons
are reputable people there were many wise
conferences and sad shaking Of heads in
quiet farm houses that night.
Last week men from the neighboring
farms appointed themselves as guard to
patrol the premises. This guard has since
been kept up and, although the patrolmen
hear and see the stones fall, they cannot
trace the source from which they come
During the evening while the COWS are
being MIXED pebbles fall into the milk.
buckets or strike the animals. Stones fall
at the feet of various mem bers Of the family
who are performing duties about the house.
hold, and fly through windows with no ap-
parent force and even drop from the CELL
ings.
But stone-throwing alone does not seem
to satisfy whatever influence is at work.
Within the past week new freak was de-
veloped. Whenever the family sat down
to the table the latter, in sort of drunken
frenzy, will waltz to the other end of the
room. Chairs will fall over and the clock
will mysteriously jump from the shelf into
the coal-box below, while the fuel will rat
tie as if possessed of life. The SPRING
house. has also received attention, and
broken milk pans and general confusion at
test the visitation of the strange power
Even at night, when the doors and windows
are securely barred, stones will roll along
the floors and the kitchen furniture will
reel and change positions as though going
through ghostly quadrille. The animals
in the barn have been badly frightened by
the falling of stones, aud the windows in
the building have been completely smashed
from this cause. Although many persons
have been struck by the flying missiles,
their force is not great enough to inflict in
jury. Spi4itualists in the neighboring
towns pretend to explain the mystery by
ettributing it to some deceased member of
the family who is offended at something the
living relatives have done, but this meets
with little credence.