The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-02
PEOPLE WERE
VERY SCARED.
Haunted Well In Warren. n. y,
Was Long Tho Cause.
WAS QUITE 4 FAMOUS HOAX.
TrsiiviJ iat Wares Hal 4 Heap Of Fun
Before They Decided u DIvulgs
the Secret
WAS QUITE A FAMOUS HOAX.

''The best hoax that ever was perpetra-
ted" said an old pioneer OF Herkimcr
county New York, was in the town OF
Warren. r. r.. Treadwsy and Elias War
ner, farm hands OF Foster Mobiles, we're
the originstors OF what became known
as the haunted or talking well. They
made a good sell out of the whele cloth.
and the people everywhere were taken
by IL.
'The Mobiles farm was some distance
from their own homes. They carried
their dinner while at work I'm the field,
and one day sat down 10 eat at an old
well. which had pump logs leading from
II to a trough.
They observed that the water did not
run from the logs. and they tried the ex-
pertinent of talking into the logs at the
trough.
Their words conveyed from the trough
30 perfectly that they appeared to come
from the well itself Then they decided
TO play a joke on their comrades.
They had excellent foundation for a
good ghost story. In the preceding win
ter John Wick. who had gone with his
neighbors to Albany with wheat, disap-
peared.
They had disposed OF their loads. and
had covered about a mile of the home
ward journey. when Wick discovered he
had forgotten some of his PURCHASES. and
returned for them. saying that he would
soon overtake his friends.
HE was never seen again. His team
was found under a shed. but no trace Of
him was ever discovered.
HEARD SPIRIT TALK.
"As the Wick incident had made deep
impression on the minds OF all in their
neighborhood 1t was decided to uss the
spirit OF John Wick In the hoax. Warner
was to tell the boys that he had heard
the spirit that day at the well.
THAT night there was a meeting OF the
members OF the band for practice, and
Warner, who was one OF the musicians,
told the others tho story agreed upon.
that when he Iried TO draw water from
the well, as the bucket struck the water.
the spirit OF John Wick cried out:
. Take the stone of my head.'
The musicians after practice. accom-
panied Warner TO the we'll. Many ap-
preached TO the side OF the well, but the
more timid remained at a safe distance.
Isaac Lake, one OF the boldest stood with
his hands on the curb and leaned his
head over to catch the first sound from
the spirit"
Warner tied q red handkerchief
around his head and Treadway lay In tho
trough TO do the talking when the signal
was given.
Warner lowered the pail into the
water, and as IL struck the water the
words came In sepulchral tones from
the well:
:" Take that stone off my head"
'The band of musicians fed. The news
spread through the neighborhood rapidly
and the next night there was a crowd
around the well to hear the spirit talk
There were old and young people OF
both sexes. Treadway resumed his place
in the trough. and Warner was the medi-
um TO communicate TO the spirit He
wore a red sash about his loins and
handkerchief OF the same color around
his head.
with a pole as his wand he troubled
the waters In the we'll. and the response
came forth: Take the stone of my
head!
FINALLY TOLD TRUTH.
''Soon the neighborhood no longer con-
fined the story OF the haunted well People
from miles around congregated each
night at the side of the well, and finally
the deacons OF several churches as
sembled in solemn conclave, with Deacon
Warren Wick as the leader.
They knelt around the we'll, and Dea-
con Wick addressed the Throne OF Grace
in such a stentorian voice that he could
be heard for half a mile.
AT the end OF the prayer they arose
and Warner troubled the water with his
wand. Take the stone off my head! came
forth as usual
Deacon Wick then demanded In a loud
voice: In the name OF God and the Arch
angel. who are your
% The spirit of John Wick was the
solemn reply.
How came you there?' asked the dea-
con.
Il was murdered and put herev
1T was resolved TO dig into the well the
next night. and the folks were on hand
with shoves and picks and bars to carry
their resolution into effect and remove
the stone from the head OF the murdered
man.
'rhe boys then thought that they had
carried the Joke far enough. and told
the truth about the AFFAIR greatly TO the
indignation and chargin OF their credu-
lous dupes."