The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-10-09
ooNoERN1Na THE STONE MAN.
The Assistant Postmaster at In
stanter, Elk county, Tells Strange
Story About the Affair.

From the Bellefonte (Pa) News, September 20
The story sent out from Instanter, Pa, to
the effect that man had been turned to stone
there for threatening to shoot God. has Gre
aied quite a sensation and has been subject
of dispute for some time past. DIR. y. W.
McEntire, OF Howard, desiring to satisfy HIM
self, wrote to the postmaster at lnstanter IN
regard to the matter and received the two fol-
lowing letters in answer. There must be
something in this if these letters are to be be-
lieved. and as they are from responsible
party il seems very hard TO doubt them.
Thinking they might be of interest to our
readers, we secured the doctors consent TO
allow us TO publish them. We might add
that Dr. McEntire is personally acquainted
with Assistant Postmaster A. G. Quigley and
can vouch for his reliability. The letters are
as follows:
fxsTANTER Pa September u, 1897.
o. W. McEntire NJ. D., Howard. Pa.-Dear Doc
tor: Your letter of the 18TH. inquiring as to the
truth of the several different reports running
through the newspapers of your section OF the state
concerning farmer being turned into stone,
will say in reply that man by the name OF Deck
err living here is reported to have had an eX-
perence of that kind, but was in town yesterday
looking very pale and scarcely able to walk he
denies the allegation but there are different people
here who positively claim TO have seen him when
he in the position reported by the papers.
These people say that on account Of some mysteri-
GUS influence they were unable to get close enough
to make Identification complete but they were
positive he was the man. On tine contrary, Decker
is very quite the subject and absolutely refuses
to discuss it, One thing is very apparent, that be-
fore this supposed to have happened he was
very profane man, but now he Is altogether
changed, SO much so that anyone having known
him before would not now recognize him at all.
Trusting this explanation will crafty your Curl
osity, remain yours respectively.
A. G. QUIGLEY, Assistant Postmaster
INsTASTER PA, September %, 1897.
o. w. McEntire, NJ. D., Howard, Pa.-Dear Doc
tor: As you have received my answer 10 your let
ter of the 18th inst have since learned more
concerning the matter you wrote about. Decker
has finally admitted that part of the matter said of
him is true. In respect to making the threat and
getting his gun and going into the orchard and
pointing to the heavens he says when he had
the gun in position feeling came over him that
would be impossible to describe The muscles OF
his whole body seemed to be paIalyZed. He could
not change his position. He tried to call for some
one to help him. but could make no sound. There
was but one person at the house. that being but n
small boy, and he noticed his position and went to
him, but could not get within 100 feet of him:
In regard to any one trying to build shed over
him he says attempt made. He WAS in the
position two nights and one day. He says that as
long he lives he will never utter another oath
but viii try to serve his Maker to the best of his
ability from this time on. He says: ut was di-
rect warning from the other world
You can give this publication in your papers,
mail is literally overrun with inquiries Very truly
yours,
4. c. QUGLEY Assistant Postmaster.