Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-04-12

sights and weird sounds seen and
heard in the Businesses Of tho noun
tains near Woodland, Penn. Farm
ers and simple-minded woodmen are
speaking only in whispers and in
broad daylight OF an occurrence
which actually took place few
miles from hero some weeks since,
and, in consequence. there is not q
man, woman or child who has heard
| the story who dares traverse after
nightfall the lonely road where it is
said German peddler was found with
his head broken and his pack riiled
some twcnty-eight years ago The
road has always boriie the reputation
of being haunted. but it was hot until
u few days ago anything more tangi-
BILE than hcarsay was the basis for
the belief
| On that night. however. the Phila-
dclphia Times says, three we'll
known young farmers, who had been
counting in the vicinity. met about
midnight rs was their habit, at the
forks Of the road, and started to
walk to their homes about five miles
away. All three being Good Tenn
plars, there Is no reason TO doubt
their statements of what they saw
and heard. The road leads through
a dense forest for nearly mile, and
upon either side are high hills where
a heavy growth of underbrush ron.
ners the woods impossible. a wilder
| locality could scarcely be imagined.
Tic night was dark and chilly, but
the young men were. fall OF life and
spirits and made tho hills re-echO
with their shouts and laughter up to
the time they entered the forest.
Even here they chatted and ioked
about each others girls" although
the clammy gloom seemed to
once the younger OF the trio threw
back his head and gave ahearty yell.
laughingly remarking that that
would raise the dead. Scarcely had
tho echoes died away ere what
seemed II RESPONSIVE cry cane from
SO newhere beyond in the darkness
"What was that" muttered the
elder farmer.
Sounded like catamount,' sug-
gcsted the younger.
Nonsense" said the other, sit
was only an echo" As he spoke
the cry was repeated. From n faint,
low tone it rose to shrill shrek of
mortal terror and anguish. Then 1t
broke and died away in heart-rending
groans.
The farmers huddled together and
pcered panic stricken into the black
ness ahead. Then from the gloom
came the sound of heavy footsteps
rapidly approaching. Instinctively
the men shrank to the roadside,
listening and watching ia fascinated
horror. Again the blood -curdling
shrek rose in the darkness. followed
by q coarse oath in an Indifferent
tone. Then strange spectacle oc-
CURED.
A great phosphOrescent body sud-
denly appeared in the middle OF the
road, moving rapidly toward the be-
holders. In the center was the figure
of a German peddler bending under
the weight of his pack. his livid
countenance expressive OF the most
agonizing fear fancy can conjure. He
was striving to run, even while his
features betokened the utter hope
lessness of the endeavor to escape
from the pursuer, great. burly ruff
nan. armed WIN cluD As tue uil-
canny vision approached the terrify-
ing scream of anguish again burst
from the peddler's lips, while before
their aifrlghted gaze the farmers saw
tho villain bring down his club with
/ killing force upon the victims head.
The peddler tumbled to the ground,
his pack rolling heavily toward the
ditch.
Then from above, beneath. before
aud behind burst forth a chorus OF
dem oniac shricks, groans and wild
laughter. while upon the road lay
the body of the peddler, and crouch
ing over him his murderer ried his
| pockets. The illumination grew
stronger. blue flames played around
the rair. and the fumes of sulphur
half choked the terrified beholders.
| The flames changed into fierce
blaze. and the youths experienced an
irresistible desire to throw them
selves into the center of the fire.
| Speechless with unnamabln fear.
| they felt themselves drawing closer.
closer to the unhely spot
"Oh, God, = gasped the eldeE In an