The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-04-24

DN Jiic stcduIIN INCREASING DGttZt.
Her sllapely arms were encircled
With bracelets that fla, he'd and
glIttered in the moonlight, while
the crystals around her neck and
resting on The wtllformed and un-
covered bosom reflected lights OF
varying brilIiancy. In every re-
Spect the fl CURE was the acme OF
grace AS it gently swayed to and
fro in slow measures 10 her sac
and pathetic cadence-ihe ever
lasting chant OF Singing Springs,
the reproduction of which by a
human being seemed an impossi.
bllitv. But the face! The superb
beauty of the form added to its
hideousness. 1t was not that of
life nor that Of death, but seemed
like The work of some evil power
10 depict in one countenance all
the agencies, terrors and t0rtures
the entire human race had suffer
ed. The features were terribly
pinched and wan, the cheeks hol-
low and shrunken, The lips drawn
back until they exposed all the
teeth, from which the tongue pro-
truded frightfully, while the eyes
bulyed from their sockets IN a fix
ell glare, and emitted phosphores-
cent rays OF Ii ieht. No grinnine
skull could compare in hideous
ness with The face of the solitary
dancer. The tall, tender grass did
not bend under her feet, there was
no movement of the eyes 10 ac-
company her graceful motions, and
the bps were still when she sang.
Ii was the music of the soul and
moi of the vocal organs-a soft q.
dismal monotone, that spoke
naught else but deepest anguish
stood lranslixed with fear, held
in breathless and painful iascina-
ton to the horrible scene before
me, when suddealy the sharp re-
port Of a rifle rang out on the still
night air; in my nervousness |
had accidentally discharged my
Winchester, which | had been
holding in readiness for service.
The report was followed by one of
the most piercing, appalling and
unearthly screams that ever greet
ed human ears. and before | could
recover IRON this additional shock
to my already overstrained nerves
the squaw had disappeared IN the
woods. Another eXcruciatlng cry
Of terror and anguish-far more
humaD-arOse from our camp be-
low, and we hurried there TO ascer.
tain whether any strange misior-
tune had befallen our companions.
They were greatly alarmed and
had their guns in their hands IN
anticipation of danger. They in
formed us that one of our pack
mules had broken loose and run
away, while the other had uttered
the most piliful and terrifying cries
in its frantic yel futile efforts to
join Its frightened mate. This was
the answer we had heard 10 The
Indian woman's awful scream.
| am not superstllious, and give
little credehce 10 the tales of the
supernatural usually heard, yet
admit that am still unable to &C
CONT for my strange experience on
Mazatzal mount ain six years ago.
Friends have suggested that the
ghost-dancer may have been a de-
mented and starving squaw from
the San Carlos reservation, but
this seems improbable on account
of the dread which Apaches enler-
tain for Singing Springs, as well as
The fact that The woman's dress
was unlike any now worn by her
race. Another peculiar coinci.
dence observed in connection with |
the Indian legend is that before
morning of The night Of our
strange adventure there was a
heavy fall of snow on the noun
tains-previously unheard of i'll
that region go early in the season
and il was with much difficulty
that we succeeded in moving our
camp outfit down into the valley,
with one mule, The next day.