Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-19

believed implicitly in witchcraft. I made
the discovery by accident, but carefully
Investigated and found it true. Then I
wrote s little story about their legends
and traditions for newspaper syndicate
10 which I was contributing. This story
had a wide circulation Ca friend recently
Informed me that he had read it in an
Australian paper), and on the Pacific
coast it created such a sensation that the
spiritualists took up the matter quite Sc
riously. Hundreds of copies were sent to
rle-for fear I would not know the article.
l suppose-and hundreds OF letters and
kilograms were sent me by supersttious
crankS.
NOT SO AMUSING AT HOME.
But it was not quite so amusing at home
in F'incastle. Some OF the good people
read it there. and felt themselves ag-
gricved because it seemed to reproach
them for Ignorance. Now, as matter Of
fact, FncastIe ranks second to none in
the State fcc culture. refinement and old
fashioned pride and honorable intelli-
sence. The incontestible truth that u
few superstitous people were still to be
found there who cherished traditions and
invented imaginary tales about their
neighbors vas a matter for regret but
nothing to bring shame upon the ole
place. The local stories were embraced in
the collection I gave, and while the most
marvellous legends I found in the noun
tain regions, the article was dated at Fin
castle, so threw the whole famous fabric
cf mystery around the place. Practical
friends brought me sharply to task about
1t! And TO add to my grief. one Of the
mysterious cpileptics called witches. Ann
Croft, heard the tale read to her. at the
yilIag- postofiice and tI.en she gave me
he full benefit Of her knowledge! She
Swore between her false teeth that she
would let me know what a witch could
10: that I Should roll on my back with
cain and should gnav my own heart out
Nth grief! She came to my street and.
hakiag her fist, treated me to such
y;tchly billingsgate as ! never heard be-
ore or since. She was poor old. hait-
lifted wanderer, who came to Flncaste
very summer TO tell foE'ires to the sum
aer guests She is now dead. but she was
;nlieved in by hundreds of people in the
fountain counties and her record for
ntling stolen articles or lost things. and
or predicting coming events: for actual
.crtorinances Of q spirituaiistc nature
though entirely ignorant of any modern
schcmes or Of hypnotic poHers-certa!.l!y
'lrnis;led unusual and ccnEin@'Ig proofs
y a most remarkable power Of her own.
SHE SCATTERED sREEP.
In this same story I mentioned several
,coplc who We're natives Of Craig county,
ore among, them being an inmate OF the
.,ncr house-Mrs. Ida Hues-now dead.
This woman was said 20 be able to scat
tar q flock of sheep mile away by siinp-
ly pointing her finger at them. y certain
publishing concern was anxious to secure
ell the information possible concerning
thesa people, and paid me Well Tor what
| sent them; but I did not pursue the sub
yect farther until l came to live here
Then l heard Of the Mcdaniel witch,
and my nephew, DR.. Grant. tool: me with
aim one day when he visited the mouse
professionally.
Perhaps my past experience somewhat
leterred me, for let the story die in my
.esk It may now be of interest as an
Illustration of the primitive conditions in
ONE parts of the State. since the ''un-
tnrstanding clause in the new Constltu-
on requires voters to be to certain ex-
ant, reasonable creatures and practically
ltelligent.
It was in 1895 or 1896 that the ccmmu-
,ity became stirred up by the story.
When we reached the house we found the
areavel mother and father Of George
TcDanicl. deceased. porting over a huge
9py Of the Bible, and they We're studying
he story OF Samuel and the Witch of
,nlor Mrs. Mcdonald was handsome
Id woman. and her husband apparently
ar ahead of the average mountain farmer
n intelligence. The house was an ordin-
Try old fashioned cabin. with implanted
porch and small windows. The rag car
rets. the nigh bureau and post-cord beds,
With their fluffy feathers and the gay
calico quilts We're all only the ordinary
OF = Iii ne