The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-25
Remarkable EXprl,lC.S Of a Mysterious
IprIlHiliSt.
DIGGING FOR ] Is IN HEERICO.
She Claims TO be Descended From an I'm
menseiy Wealthy Hugucnot Who Left
Vast Possessions Arrested for As
sauif In the County -Uncanny
scances Eeld Ina HoyeI.


OF a fascinating goblin story tnan the
strange dolngs OF "a spirltualistc me-
cium. which have recently been carried
on In and around Richmond. The facts
as gathered flavor OF the supernatural
1herc is certain weird mysticism. an
almost witchery that would make a
model Christmas ghost-story for a coun-
try house-party II put into the hands OF
The novelist 10 turn them Alright
Some months ago "a woman, who gave
as her name Mrs Laura T.. Taylor, APP
peared in this city There was nothing
particularly striking about her appear
ancc when seen from "a distance. She
was past middle age. and came from far
OF Dakota, where her husband still re-
sides. For "a while she was seen about
tho city. and not long alter ner arrival
che went out just below hollywood Gene
tory, and commenced digging about the
roots OF some trees. When asked what
she was up TO she appeared 10 be anxious
70 conceal her motives. With her was a
boy, and they dug about M several places.
= disposition 10 have these proceedings
stopped caused the woman 10 go 10 the
Chesapeake and ohio people here, and
ask for permission 90 pursue her WOfk
on some land belonging 10 the railroad
company along the James river oiN-ivn
Of the railroad Doubtless the request
seemed altogether unusual and mystic
f4NNrf out never illltlt-Ns lfN MNiihI NFNNi~
al permission TO dix around the side OF
the road at certain places upon condition
she would 90 no dmage and would replace
the earth removed
TO ascertain The object OF these strange
proceedings was not the easiest thing IN
the world Half dozen e1orts were
made on the part of reporters TO un-
ravel the mystery. But during the day
the woman and her associate, who rs
thought 10 be- her son. could not be found.
Several newspaper men tried 10 secure an
interview with her. No one seemed 10
know anything OF her Whereabouts. Sic
was stopping at none Of the hotels IN tte
city. and inquiries as 10 her movement
proved futile 6tin 70 was generally cor
ceded that the reports were true, ana
that tie woman and boy we're from time
70 time prosecuting their work near
the riverside below Hollywood.
Most Of their work was said 10 be done
during the night, and some very Welrn
stories spread around as 70 the pro
ceedings. II was stated that from ths
ghostly hillside OF Hollywood, where
screech-owls and cfckets break the still-
ness OF tho night al times, could be seen
now and ihcn faint light glimmerinE
beside the river. Sometimes this hgh,
woulG disappear, and subsequently reap
pear az intervals Now ana then Two
figures were indistincty seen moving
cautiously about The tumbiing OF
waterfalls on the river, the mournfm
sound OF the wind. sighing through the
distant owl in a great. sonbre oak, ana
the lights from the city glimmering away
on in the distance. gave The scene pc
cularly impressive aspect, ana late
wayfarer would have found himself from
time 10 time peeping over DIS shouiler
10 see II all went right.
10 was generally understood that the
woman and boy were digging Tor treas
ures, and the impression soon prevailed
that they were trying TO recover jewels
and documents Of great value hoW
these valuables were put there ana VINO
had buried them could not pe learneu.
SUFFICIENT 10 say, the diggers haa N,lse
they regarded as ample PROOF that the
treasures had been buried az the place
for safc-keepirg. and they were the
proper heirs TO what they found
TIE WOMAN DISAPPEARS.
After a week or two Of work and careful
search about that place the woman and
her son suddenly disappeared. At any
rate nothing was seen q ;nem IN that
locality afterwards. and no one appeared
10 know whence they had gone. Va neither
hey found any of the treasures could not |
be ascertained. FOR several Ne-Ks moth
ng more was heard OF then and news
paper reporters. who are W mt 10 lnNesu-
gate mysteries. lost track Of Them. Some |
lime ago. however a woman answering /
10 the same description appeared in Hen |
leo county She went by the same name, |
md a rs presumed she was one and the /
same person. She was very quiet IN her /
and thtro was an air OF /
mystery about her and her conversation /
hat smacked Of spooks and their doings |
ma got a number Of the negroes in Hem /
leo worked up TO a high pitch OF excite
ncnt Some Of the more supersttous |
iarkies We're afraid OF her, and manufac- |
ured all kinds Of yarns about the wo- |
nan and her strange manner.
one day OF lat. she appeared az 'Bnena /
Vista" the country place Of DR. r. Powell /
Dunn. the homeopathic pharmacist
faf o. a.. mill frTr
he city, on the Hermitage road, and the |
icinity IS quite picturesque. Accompany /
ng tho woman was another woman,
much younger and was understood 10 be
married daughter from Philadelphia.
The also had the spiritualistic fever. 20
II Appearances. and seemed 10 be much |
Interested IN the work Of digging for
reasures. The boy who was with them
vas some eleven years of age, and IS
hought 20 be the son OF Mrs. Taylor.
Ie Is the same one who helped 10 do
he digging out in the vicinity Of Holly
OF HUGUENOT DESCENT.
The three soon made known their mis-
ion TO Or Dunn's wife. They told her
very interesting story, which was after
his order: Away back I'm the seventeenth I
entury they had an ancestor who was
genuine HuRuenot. His name was Wal
ron. and he was man OF wide influence
nd great wealth Ia one OF the French
royinccs. He owned great lands. a state
y chateau. with its retinue OF lackcys,
verymen IN high-top boots and pointed
haDeauN. and extensive forests in which |
D chase the boar lie was fine old
entleman. wore ruffies and laces, was
lnd OF the cup. and bore his honors
ke typical Huguenot. When the trOu-
le between the Catholics and Protestants
aNed warm Monsieur Waldron loft
rance. after disposing OF his estate. and
ga 20 this country with other Hugue-
OTIS. who settled in Massachusetts, Nir-
inia. and other colonies.
The spiritualist then went into the de- |
lils OF her ancestors experience. referred |
Henry OF Navarro Cardinal Rlchelieu, !
M others. who figured so cOnSpicuOusly |
the troubles that shook France from
s foundation. and colorcd up her narra-
We to such an extent as 10 put one in /
ind OF king Hugon. the great hob
ohlin OF France She went on TO tell /
ow Monsieur Waldron had buried on the
ace now known AS ~Rucna Vista" deeds
"a documents that would establish her
cht to valuable property and rare
easurcs. and offered 10 buy the place
a. 10 dig thereon and secure the pa
~. She offered TO give back tho Hem
co place 10 It's owners after she had
covered the papers.
Or Dunn, when informed OF the wo-
ems visit refused TO permit them TO
x Up his yard around the roots of GER
In trees. and regarded the whole pro-
edings as altogether unheard Of and
Ild. He told the women that he was
II a spiritualIst and that II they were.
they said. following the dictates Of
oSium. Il must have been on evil spirit.
ais greatly distressed the people, and
ey argued the point from the spiritual
- point OF view. but could not carry
cir point. Finally they left the place l
THE WOMAN ARRESTED
rhus ends the inst chapter, but there
Q other facts connected with the story ,
at while substantlatng the first chap