Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-09
VIRGINIA WITCHERY.
A BELIEF IN SPELLS, CHARMS, AND
NlcHT.PROWLINc 6ocLES
Mrs. Fields Supposed to he In League
with the Devii-A Scott County
Mans Authorizations.
Correspondents of the DIspatch.)

GATE CITY, VA, SePteh'oer ''-i ic'"
an article in the Dispatch of recent date.
copied from the New York World. rela-
tive to witchcraft South. which recalls
some odd stories in this line which were
related to the writer In some instances
by the AFFLICTED ones themselves. The
belief in witchcraft is much more popular
than one who has not circulated freely
among the less intelligent class would
think To the credit OF the advance OF
enlightenment, however, 1t may be SAID
that the superstition Is much less preva-
lent in the present generation than It's
predecessor.
PLANTING sUPERSrITIoNS.
In the early years OF this century, when
this section Of the country was new and
the "schOol-houses were mud-hovels ana
very scarce, and when a newspaper rarely
made its way hither," the people would
assemble around the capacous fireplaces
at night and begulle tho lingering hours
away with the relation OF experiences
with witches and ghosts. and tell other
blood-curdlng stories not calculated to
inspire the youthful hearers with an ar
dent desire to ramble in the dark Thus
there was q belief in witches. spells,
charms, and night-prowling bogles I'M
planted in the young mind, and II IL
little wonder that the superstition Is not
yet eradlcated.
a HAG-LIKE SPECIMEN.
One Of the most dreaded witches in this
vicinity In recent years was an old wo-
man name Fields, who died about ten
years ago. Her home was as the foot OF
Clinch mountain. In this county. near
the Tennessee line, and the surroundings
were gloomy and forbdiing in the ex-
treme. A more hag-llke specimen OF hui
mainly could not be imagined. Old. de-
creplt and wrinkled. with long hawk
bill nose. and irregular, black teeth pro-
truding almost TO her chin. her appear
ance was indeed most reDulsive. Chill
dren would flee at her approach, and
older people avoided meeting her when
possible. Notwithstanding her feeble APP
pearance, she would make long journeys
on foot, going and coming in a most mys-
FERROUS manner. SO general was the be-
lief that she possessed supernatural
power. or was I'm league with the devil"
that she was popularity known as the
WITCH The stories told of the manifes-
tat!ons of her evil powers are numerous.
THE CATTLE DIED.
One evening she was passing a house
and made some request. Which was re-
fused. Nowing vengeance she passed
on TO where three milch-cows belonging
70 the family We're grazing, and. stop
ping, looked steadily at the cattle for
a few minutes, gestculating and num-
bling inaudbly as she did so. Then cast
ing a malignant look at the house. she
turned and hobbled off on her way. Two
of the cattle died on the following night
of my yet faoiaIy 81
said they were "bewtched."
on another occasion she went TO the
house or a man named Jones with some
fanced grievance, bsrated him soundly
and told him he would speedily feel the
weight OF her vengeance. In 4 day or
two Jones was Frustrated with illness.
from which he did not recover for two
years.
ONE OF HER DAUGHTERS.
There are many other instances in which
a speedy realization Of her avowed ven-
geaBce seemed TO follow. One OF her
daughters, the wife Of an ignorant. back
woods preacher. has acquired consider
able notorlety as a sorceress, causing, 1t
I Is claimed, loss OF property, illness, etc,
to those who are SO unfortunate as to
incur her dlspleasure. She processes the
| ability to teach the black art TO others.
and many sage matrons, who ought to
| know better, wisely nod their heads and
warn young people against coming under
| the malevolent influence of her magic
| wand This worthy, however. strikes the
writer as being very ignorant, and pos
| sessing an inordinate fondness for mis-
| chief-making In the community.
ODD DELUSIONs.
| Four years ago n man who had the
ability TO accumulate a considerable for
| tune died at his home near here, who
| labOred all his life under the hallucina-
| ton of the reality of wtchcraft. While
| engaged in his duties about his farm he
| frequently imagined he saw three old
| cronies Of the community holding con-
sultation near him, and he was at once
| thrown into the deepest dependency.
| lie asserted that the witches transformed
| him into beast of burden at night and
| compelled him to perform whatever ser
vice they chose. often riding him rapidly
| for miles TO their Internal orgies. He
| mentioned different men whom he saw
| hitched up as horses at these meetings,
and the strangest part OF the story -
| that those men were under a similar
| delus.on. He would often exhibit bruises
which were inflicted by their goads in
urging him 10 greater speed He was a
| truthful and upright man. and never
| drank His thrilling account OF some Of
the orgies Of the witches surpassed in
| horror Burns's burning description of the
| witch dance in Kirk Alloway. which
proved 30 disastrous to the gray mare
| Meg"
Another man told the writer that he had
| suffered many losses and been subjected
| 10 many ills by means of the witches. He
mentioned several women whom he posi-.
| lively knew 10 be possessed with evil
powers, and claims that they are teaching
| witchcraft to others
No. the believers in witchcraft are not
| all dead, and will not be- as long as
| ugly old women live. and there are igno-
| rant people.