The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-03-12
THE STORY OF WIZARDS CLIP.


"The town of smithfeld, seven miles
east OF Charlestown, used TO be called
Wizard Clip" began Mr.. Littleton, after
q preliminary cough. ut gained that
name by the incidents am about to tell
you. In the year 1890, 80 the story goes,
q man named Adam Livingston settled
in that locality. He built himself a
pleasant home, and lived there for sew
eral years in apparent comfort. He was
reserved fellow, and very bigoted in
bis religious notions, but people re.
spected him, and he was prosperous and
content.
zone dark night in 1904 a stranger
came to his door and asked shelter. The
newcomer was mysterious looking
man, so completely wrapped in large
cloak that but little OF his face and figure
could be seen. Livingston, however,
took him in and placed him in the
guest chamber. During the night the
stranger became i'll and grew worse 80
rapidly that he was forced to call his
host. AS Livingston entered the room
he saw that the man was a clerical APP
pearing individual, with smooth
shayen face which was now covered with
great doops of peTgpiration. The sick
guest assured Mr.. Livingston that he was
about to die and asked him to call in
Catholic priest to hear his confession.
This Livingston absolutely refused to do.
He hated Catholics, and he had sworn
that no priest should ever enter his door.
Besides, he thought he was more scared
than sick, and would probably come
round all right. Tho sick man begged
and prayed and entreated. He said he
could hardly live IN hour, and that he
had black crime on his soul, which be
must confess. Livingston was firm; he
did all he could for the stranger himself,
but the latter was right. He died with
in an hour, cursing Livingston and his
home and everything connected with
him.
"His soul had hardly fled when there
was terrific knock at the door, followed
by the paving Of hoois. Then began
what seemed the galloping OF cavalry
about the house, and hundreds OF horses
seemed to be circling around 1t at the
command OF unknown riders. The mas
Ter and servants few to doors and win
dowe, but there was nothing there.
Only the knocking and the noise OF
hoof-beats, which grew so loud as to
drown the questions they tried to ask
each other. In the midst OF it the dead
mans body disappeared, leaving no
trace behind. The noise, however, kept
up all night, growing fainter and fainter
as dawn approached until with the rising
OF the sun the sound Of the last hoot.
beat died away.
"That was the beginning OF Living.
ston's troubles. From that time every.
thing went wrong with him, and all
that he undertook failed. The worst
troubles occurred right in his own
house. The noises in 1t became simply
uncomfortable, but Livingston was
naughty man and would not give in.
Then everything in the place which
could be cut was clipped into ribbons.
The clip, clip, clipping OF apair OF scis-
sors went on constantly, and clothes,
bed.linen, towels, curtains, carpets and
handkerchiefs were cut to pieces before
his very eyes. If he hung. up a
curtain it was in shreds before it
could be draped. The neighbors who
cane to verify the rHmoTs suffered also.
Before they left, even il they remained
but five minutes, come part oil their
clothing was in tatters. Old Dorothy
Mcclure, whom a good many people
here remember, declared to the end OF
her life that she once suffered in this
way. She said she called out Of curiosi-
ty and that Just bsiore abe entered the
house abe took of her best cap and put
| 1t in her pocket to protect it. She stayed
ten minutes and when she left and felt
for her cap she drew 1t out in dozen
pieces.
"Liyingston went everywhere for
advice. He consulted his minister, and
the minister called once, but suffered
like the Others and could give no expla.
nations Of assistance. Then he went to
Catholic priest, but the latter could
not help bin. Finally he gave the
Catholic church q large piece os ground,
which Is unclaimed to this day, and
which will be pointed out TO you just on
the outskirts Of Smithfeld. It Is called
tho Priests's Field, and until very re-
Gently was left uncultivated. The town
was called Wizards Clip for many
years. Livingston disappeared and the
old house was torn down, for no one
would ever live in it, and 1t bore an IN.
savorv reputation to the last"