Strange Phenomena.
At this age of the world the public is not expected to give credence to every ghost story and haunted house report in circulation; but we have just received from a reliable source the details of some very singular manifestations that have been witnessed for some time past in the neighbourhood of Mill Creek, about four miles north from York, Illinois. Those who are inclined to doubt the truth of these statements have only to consult fifteen or twenty families in that vicinity, or open a correspondence with some of the parties named, for additional proof of the validity of this story.
The first manifestations of this chain of supernatural events took place several days ago, at the house of John Haddox, and after strange and apparently impossible phenomena had been witnessed, a series of like performances was opened at the residence of the widow Haddox, a sister-in-law and neighbour of John Haddox. Tables, chairs, beds and articles of furniture were tumbled about in the most reckless manner. Dishes, fruit-jars, and all articles capable of being moved, were misplaced and often broken and destroyed.
Members of the family frequently received blows from flying articles, and everything was kept in a constant state of agitation. On one occasion the head of a little boy terminated the flight of a small article, which inflicted a very severe and painful wound. Knives and forks flew out of the cupboard drawer, the drawer remaining closed. Rocks, clubs, pieces of mud, and all kinds of moveable articles, were hurled about by some unseen and mysterious power. Some parties carried away the marks of clubs and rocks, thrown by his (or her) ghostship. A lady’s shawl was picked up in a remote part of the house, thrown into the fire and burned up. A number of eggs had been stored away in a small drawer for several days, and on opening the drawer were found to be all broken to pieces. Everything capable of being injured or removed is reported unsafe.
These are only a few of the results of these strange manifestations, which differ from those usually related in the fact that they have actually been seen in daylight, as is testified by numerous reliable witnesses. Persons from all parts of the country go to Mill Creek to see the “ghosts,” and numerous efforts have been made to ascertain the causes of the wonderful phenomena, and a certain old lady of the neighbourhood was at one time decided to be a witch and responsible for all the excitement. Certain parties talked of lynching and hanging the unfortunate creature, but she stoutly denied all knowledge of the disturbance, and was not molested. Further developments are feared, but more are especially desired.
It seems, according to reports current in the neighbourhood, that the wife of John Haddox died about a year ago and that on her deathbed she declared that she would return and haunt him, if spirits were permitted to return to earth, in case he ever employed a certain woman in the neighbourhood to keep house for him. A few days since he took this woman to his house, and then the strange performances mentioned above began. – Terre Haute Mail.
Idaho World (Idaho City), June 1st, 1871.