Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-08
A Syndicate Formed to Engage in
the Business.
MANY Az! THOUSAND ACRES
Mountain Land In Burke County 10
BcAcquircd for tho Pnrpose VIII
mi"gton Comes 10 tho Front Win
a Ghost kelon.e of Giibort.
tho winston arorchnnis- a Peculiar
Crime.

Raleigh, N. C. Feb. IA syndicate
has been formed for the purpose Of
engaging in the sheep-raislng business
on u large scale. They will locate in
North Carolina under certain condi-
lions.
1t is corporation incorporated in
South Dakota, but compose OF New
4 York and North Carolina capitalists,
with half million dollars capital
These people are now negotiating for
the purchase of $1,000 acres of noun
tain land in Burl1 county, some twelve
miles from Morganton. The property
is owned by some Northern people and
has for many years been used only as
game preserve. They are now offer
ing it for sale.
1t is said by people who have ex-
amined IT. that 1t IS admirably adapted,
both by reason OF It's location and on
account of It's vegetation, to sheep
raising. The transfer OF the property
has not yet been made but 1t Is believed
1T will be In u few days.
The land Is all heavily tlmbered.
Some of the woods on It are very valu-
able, and 1t is said that the timber on
chase price OF the land.
Also there is in this same section an
other tract comprising 5000 acres, on
which an option has been taken by
Canadian, With a view to making 1T
sheep ranch. 1t Is his purpose to in
terest others of his fellow countrymen
In the enterprise and buy the land out
right.
If these deals go through they will
mean much for that section of the
State and start a new industry there
that can but be profitable.
WILMINGToN's GHOST.
About one month ago. says VIII
mington paper, Il strange knocking or
rapplng on the headboard of Mrs. Geo.
Towards bedstead was discovered,
which alarmed her. At first it was not
so frequent and loud. However 1t be-
came frequent and louder. AT times it
will rap every five minutes. 1t Is heard
more FREQUENT at night than any other
time, but 1t Is often heard in the day
time. 1t became SO annoying that Mrs.
Howard went to her mothers and it
followed her there. She returned home
and 1t so worked upon her nervous
system that she has taken her bed.
Dozens of people have heard it and
testify to the fact.Some nights 1t is
is able to sleep long at 4 time. At first
1t would not knock when any other
person was in the room with Mrs.
Howard. but now it knocks with others
In the room. 1T does not always con-
fine tslef to the headboard. but will
Knock on the mantle or in other por-
tons of the room. Several ladies who
have been in the room when 1T would
rap have been frightened badly. They
tl.nt
over them.
Mr.. C. L. Harding, the brother of
Mrs. Howard often stays in the room
with her since she has been sick and he
also hears it. None seem able TO solve
the mystery 1t raps three times and
then stops. The bedstead shakes when
it raps. Ii ouly raps when Mrs
Howard is in the room, but It does
not confines itself to any one room.
Several preachers and doctors have
tried to solve the mystery, but all have
failed. Many theories have been adj
vanced but none have been accented
We do not believe in the ability of a
spirit to perform such an act and vet
we arc as much mystified as other
people
GILBERT RELEASED.
A special from Winston says: w. III.
Francisco and brought to Winston to
await trial in the Federal Court on
the charge of defrauding his creditors,
gave bond and was released from Jail
this afternoon.
A PECULIAR CRIME.
peculiar crime was punished in the
criminal court in Halifax last week.
Two colored men were indicted under
charge of false pretense for placing 4
piece of iron which weighed over fifty
pounds in q bale of cotton. 1t was
sold and one OF them received the
money for it. When 1t reached
Spruirt's compress at Wilmington. it
came. very hear running the costly
machinery. 1t was traced back, the
criminals found and indicted. One
turned States evidence against the
other, and the States witness was let
off with cost. while the other man was
sentenced to four years in the peniten-