Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-01-13

rHE SINGING GHOST IN WEST VIRGINIA.
dreadful. The fact 20 he noted, however, is
that great many people of some standing
In the intellectual world have lately avowed
their belief in ghosts, and, rs n natural conse-
quence, many other people have acquired the
courage 10 relate their personal experience
with apparitions.
II Is matter for sincere mutual congratula-
ton that ghosts are far better hammered than
formerly. They no longer scare people or
conduct themselves otherwise in a reprehen-
nble manner. Few OF the old style ghosts
linger with US, hut the best authenticated
perhaps Is that Of the Singing Woman" in
Kanawha county, w, Va. She Is n very OBJ
iectionabe ghost indeed, and has wild coun
try 70 operate in.
In the rear Of Cannelton mountain is a
wild, wooded and billy tract, inhabited by
the most primitive people in the United
States, Familiarity known as the "Seng Peo-
?le,n because one of their industries is dig
cling ginseng Deacon Edom Smith was a
preacher to these people many years ago, and
lived In a secluded forest glen. He was pale,
lnnk and solemn. His wife was of the gypsy
type-olark, Of stormy mien, alert and active
That she ruled the deacon with no gentle rod
no one had reason ~ doubt. She held her
self aloof from "his people" though taking
part in the night services He pever preached
ave 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 i'm generation
by the 'seng diggerS, for she sang as none
others could, and gave them healing potions
and charms against the power Of the evil
one. Once, II Is said, when Edom Smith
Spoke Of death and the grave in his discourse,
she shrieked aloud and rebuked her husband
with angry words. It was known that her
terror OF death amounted 10 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, To be deposited on "a
specified stump near the house
She died and Deacon Smith disposed of her
CORPSE requested. The people often saw
her spirit near the unburied remains and
learned 10 avoid the spot The deacon mar
ried again, and his young wife compelled the
burial OF the grewsome 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
the passers heard there the strange elfin
songs that Olga Smith used TO sing. In Dea-
con Smiths cabin there was no peace Tho
Bible had fresh bloody finger marks on it
every morning. and he and his young wife
ut last abandoned the place and left the
state A fire consumed the hut The daring
few who climbed 70 the cave saw the mold
sring coffin and its contents, but the wild
nocturnal songs went on. Even now the
songs may still be- heard occasionally at twi-
light, and fearful shrieks Just at midnight.
Who can doubt the reality OF the Irish ban
shee when 50 many reputable witnesses have
testified to itl
The Rev. Charles Bunworth, rector Of Bulle-
want, In county Cork, was lying III when one
evening servant named Kavanagh came in
apparently In great grief and wringing his
hands
what Is II you mean, Kavanaghrr in
CURED Miss Bunworth