Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-17
MYSTERIOUS RAPS.
GuOsTLY MANIFESTATIONS IN A
HOUSE IN ACCOMAC.
Little Miss Taylor Answered BY
vigorous KnOclSings-An Exhfbi-
tIon for the Dencfit OF the owner
OF the Property.

ONANCOCK. VA, March l6.-tSpecial)
For several weeks past the people living
in and around the village OF Belle Haven.
in the southern part OF Accomac, have
been considerably agitated by mysterious
knockings on the walls Of the house or
william Taylor, n tenant-farmer. who re-
sides near that place. These knockings
began one night during the cold weather
in February, and were first heard by Tay-
lor's 15-year-old daughter. The rapping
began about midnight. and continued for
nearly three hours. Taylor's daughter ana
her aunt were sleeping at the time In the
room in which the noise seemed to be
made. These noises were kept up almost
every night for two weeks, when they
ceased. MIR. Taylor's little daughter, who
at first was very much frightened by the
strange sounds. at length became used
to them. and II Is said that she coula
cause the rapping by going into the room
and asking the spirit TO rap on the wall
Plastering on one side OF the room was
shattered. apparently. by the pioWs thd'
fell from some unseen power.
HOUSE TREMBLED.
Hundreds OF people visited the house,
ing the sounds and feeling the house
rremble. as If shaken by an earthquake
or a powerful peal OF thunder. Sucn large
crowds went almost every day 10 near
the mysterious sounds that Mr.. Taylor
was finally compelled 10 close the mouse
10 visitors.
FOR THE OWNER.
The property on which Taylor resides
belongs to a popular and accomplished
young lady Of Onancock. who In com
pany with several of her friends has just
visited the scene Of the ghostly manifesto
tions. The ghost after silence Of ten
days, when informed by young Miss Tay-
lor that the owner Of the property was
present and would like TO hear IL rap,
gave three or four rousing whacks on the
wall that set the house 10 quiyering and
the windows to rafting. as II an earth
quake had shaken IT, The visitors, after
making a careful inspection Of the house,
and failing 10 find any reasonable expla-
nation OF these strange sounds. came
away fully convinced that the case Is
NEST remarkable one.
a CLEVER SCHEME.
There are some, however, who, when
the matter is mentioned. shake their
heads and intimate that it is cleyerly-
devised scheme to dupe the community.
Since the cold weather ended oysters
have greatly improved in quality and
are bringing good prices.
More than 5000 barrels OF oysters were
shipped by Chincoteague Island alone
during the past week.
The Southern Methodist church at
Cape Charles will be formally opened
and dedicated on Sunday. the 2ith in
slant. The dedication sermon will be
preached by Rev. Or. David Morton, Of
Louisville KY, and addresses will be de-
livered by five or six resident ministers.
The church is large and slightly brick
structure.
FINE HORSE DEAD.
VincenZo, a fine horse belonging 10 Mr.
Robert l.. Parkes, of this county. for
which he was recently offered $500, fell
dead on Wednesday.
The fafmers Of the Eastern Shore, espe-
clally those living in Northampton coun-
ty, are IN open revolt against the wea-
Their. They have been able TO DO
scarcely any work since Christmas. 1t Is
time the Irish potatoes and early peas
were planted, and yet very few have
been able to do anything towards pre-
pairing their land for important crops.
The ground IS full of water. and rain -
still falling almost every day.
Eight Baptist ministers met in con-
ference at Accomac Courthouse one day
this week to discuss important ques-
tons, but the result Of the meeting has
not yet been made public.