Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-05-29
spooks rnAr rHnow srosBs.
Jackson Centre, PA, nambardcd
by Unseen Agents.

by Unseen Agents.
New York World special says; Un-
oanny Happenings at the late home Of
Deacon Harrison, In Jackson Centre,
Mercer county, have thrown that usually
quiet hamlet into state Of disorder, and
the staid Presbyterian residents OF the
place are nttribntipg to malicious disem-
bodied spirits phenomena that they are
OF loss 10 account for by earthly logic.
Jesse Harrison, wealthy farmer of
that vicinity, died in February last, leav-
ing q wife and several children. A sale
TO settle tho estate took place early in
March, but Mrs. Harrison and her chill
dren continued to occupy the homestead.
At that season OF the year 1t is the GUS
tom Of Mercer county farmers to make
maple sugar, and one day as Mrs. Harri-
son and family were boiling down 'sap"
the peculisr mystery that has since stirred
the usually comatose village into whirl
of feveriah excitement was developed.
While stirring FIRE under sap kettle
Mr.. McElres, tbeaged father OF the widow,
was startled by q shower OF stones, which
came apparently out of the air, and
struck the side of the house and the
ground near him. The strange occur.
renee so alarmed the family that they
fed 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 neigh
bors wore told this strange story aud
although the Earrisons are reputable
people there we're many wise conferences
and sad shaking OF heads in quiet farm
houses that night.
day or two, however, convinced the
IN st skeptical that The unseen force was
one that passed all explanation. Eeigh-
bors were invited to witness the phenom-
ena, which we're displayed impartislly TO
strangers and members Of the family
alike. sudden whizzng in the air, the
sound Of conclusion aud large stone
would be rolling at the feet OF the spec-
tator. Mr.. McElrea Of PittsburR, q
brother Of Mrs. Harrison, was snm-
moned by his sister and acquainted with
tue facts. He laughed of the story, but
D few days stay in the vicinity, how
ever, convinced him that some mys-
terious agency was at work, for the most
vigilant watch aud search failed to re-
veal any cause for the appearance Of the
stones
Last week men from the neighboring
farms appointed themselves Aa guard to
patrol the premises. This guard has Rince
been kept up aud, although the patrol
men hear and see the stones fall they can
not trace the source from which they
come. During the evening while the
cows are being nilEed, pebbles fall into
the milk buckets or strike the animals.
Stones fall At the feet of various members
OF the family WHO are performing duties
about the honsehold, aud fly through
windows with no apparent force and even
drop from tho ceilings.
But stone-throwing lalone does not
seem TO satisfy whatever influence il at
work. Within the past week new freak
was developed. Whenever the family sit
down to the table the latter, in q sort of
drunken frenzy, will waltz to the other
side OF the room. Chairs will fall over
aud the clock will mysteriously jump
from the shelf into the coal boz below,
while the fuel will rattle Rs IL possessed
Of life. The spring houae has also re-
oeived attention, and broken milk pans
aud general confusion attest the vista
ton OF the strange power. Even at
night, when the doors aud windows are
securely barred, stones will roll along
tbs floor AID the kitchen furniture will
reel and change positions as though going
through a ghost!y quadrillo. The ami
mails in the barn have been badly fright
ened by the falling of stones, and the
windows in the building have been com.
pletely smashed from this cause.
The Harrison home is visited daily by
hundreds Of people who drive in from
the surrounding country for miles TO wit.
ness the strange occurrences. On last
4 Sunday, Mercer, the county seat, nine
miles from jackson Centre, was Slmost
dspopulated during the day the popula.
tiun turning out en- nlBs5e to see whether
the story WAS huge fake or areality. All
4 who visited the pace went away myBti'
tisd. Strangers gather up the stones
which are of all sizes and OF the ordinary
sand formation, and carry them away as
reiica. Even the house aud buildings are
suffering from the depredations OF the
relic hunters and Deacon HRrrison's opot
vell-hept fields resemble mud fiat from
the constant traInping over them.
Although many persors have beer
struck by the flying missiles thoir force
il not great enough to intiict injury.
Spiriiuaiists in nsighboEing towns pre-.
tend to explain the mystery by attribut
inN Il to some deceased member OF the
family who ia offended at something the
living relatives have done, but this meet
with little credencs
The HarriSons will probably be forced
TO yacste the premises in short time, a.
no work can he done under the present
conditions. The neighbours, In fact, ar,
as n uch, II not more, excited and wor
ried over the affair than the Hardsons
All in all, Jackson Centre il in bad way