the shore before reaching Advocate Harbor there are many spots to which the spirits of the departed were of late wont to return, and unless the telephone and other materialistic influences have wrought for evil, the same is true at present. A precipice by the highway down which a carriage rolled with its human freight, has its well known ghost. There is a shipyard where, perhaps twelve years ago, a woman’s form appeared almost every evening throughout the summer. Moving lightly and mysteriously about the frame work and stagings, passing securely over perilous places, she ever sang strange wild songs, which were heard by scores of the neighbors and by passers by. There is a spot on the beach where ghosts have been often seen hovering near the foot of the high-arched headland above Spencer’s Island, where strange deeds have perhaps been done, and it is said, though on shadowy authority, that the spirit of the sailor whose tomb on the island itself gives the place its name, has been met by the lone tourist. The ghost of one of Capt. Kidd’s murdered men, killed and stationed to guard buried treasure, is familiar to those who go to Cape d’Or or “Isle Haunt” to dig for pirate gold. These and a few others are all the ghosts that remain of the grand old company that formerly dwelt in Parrsboro and its neighborhood. Of the ghosts, who are personal attendants of bad men, who can write of them? Those who possess the best information are, for obvious reasons, the least communicative. It is not, perhaps, to the credit of human nature that the belief in witches survives the faith in ghosts. This truth not only reflects upon the spiritual faculties, as indicating the need of a material form wherewith to connect the supernatural manifestations, but it also tells against our disposition, since it leads to the suspicion that the refusal to abandon faith in witchcraft may be due to a lingering desire to believe ill of a neighbor. It is probably safe to say that in this country every rural township which has been long settled has at some time within the century contained a family skilled in witchcraft. Parrsboro and the adjoining region is certainly no exception. Fifty years hence, if we all live and do not change our minds, fuller historic details will be in order. One of the most prosperous communities in the neighborhood of which we are talking, was one day, within the recollection of all elderly, and of many middle-aged persons now living, thrown into great confusion by remarkable and dangerous flights of stones. Pebbles of all sizes were seen hurling through the air, journeying horizontally, perpendicularly, and in all manner of unnatural curves. They changed direction at right angles while moving, doubled back on their track as if thrown from a celestial boomerang. Never were the laws of projectiles so absurdly violated. It was absolutely impossible that the singular storm could be due to human agency. Many of the best citizens of the place saw this wonderful sight, and several had demonstration more painful than that of sight. It was a terrible day, one well remembered and often spoken of. You may believe that this rain of stones was caused by some natural process, but if so it will on the whole be better for you not to say so in the presence of the good people who were there at the time. They will assure you with dignity that they have the testimony of their eyes, ears and sense of feeling, and will regard your questioning as a reflection on their veracity. One thing is certain that the character of the witnesses forbids the assumption that the story is a fabrication. If you will pursue your inquiries you will learn that the ordeal or test known as “boiling for witches,” was solemnly applied, and with such success that the human associate of the Prince of Darkness was forced to the scene of inquest, so that any doubt, (not that there was any) must be set aside. Much may be learned of other dark doings of the above-mentioned workers of witchcraft. How domestic animals brought under the spell sometimes died, but more frequently acted in a most unaccountable fashion. The hitherto well-behaved ox no longer followed the furrow, the best of cows either went dry or gave red milk, the staidest of horse kind became coltish and exhibited evidences of terror. For these bewitchings the remedy was the boiling or burning test. The milk of the unfortunate cow thus treated, with the proper solemnities, brought the agent piteously begging, and in awful suffering, to the door — where pledges of total abstinence from witchcraft against the afflicted family were promptly administered. It is said that this remedy eventually reduced the offenders to general good behavior. There is no foundation whatever, for the report that Cumberland has had more than its share of witches. A few families, not more probably than half a dozen, would include all those who have wrought these mysteries west of Spring Hill and Amherst within the lifetime of any but the patriarchs. It is doubtful if there are now more than two or three survivors of the many who have seen the Evil One in any of the shapes which he is wont to assume. Not long ago there were those whose evidently genuine accounts of diabolical visits were calculated to keep small boys from going out at night. It is not necessary to explain these things. But we will understand them better if we keep in mind the fact that in New England over a century ago, when the Cumberland settlers came thence, ghosts and witches were plentiful enough, and that the Yorkshire colonists who located in the country had attended the meetings of John Wesley to whom, as he has himself recorded, the Devil in the form of a beast sometimes appeared. The secluded life of a settlement apart from the outside world, and the home training of the young in the shadows of the forest, by parents bringing their beliefs from over seas, would not be likely to induce scepticism in the second generation.
A GHASTLY APPARITION
A Strange Spectre Daily Haunting Niagara’s Lonely Places
Kingston Daily Whig, November 22, 1880
The town of Niagara is in a state of excitement over a ghastly apparition which has haunted the place of late. The experiences are growing more numerous, and even men are chary of going abroad after dark. A farmer leaving town the other night about eleven o’clock, the moon being bright, avers that he saw the thing rise from among the tombs, in the churchyard, and trail toward him. It had the semblance of a woman with long white garments and fair hair, apparently floating, or else with far more than the average length of limb. The farmer closed his eyes, and turning his horse drove back into town at a furious gallop, his animal seeming to share the fright. He never looked round until safely in the heart of the town. Another account states that at one of the lonely crossings in the outskirts of the place the woman was seen crouching beside a low fence. The spectators, two in number this time, did not at first recall the stories of the apparition, and went toward the thing under the impression that some vagrant was crouching there for shelter. As they went near, a peculiar sensation affected them both, and without speaking to each other or exactly knowing why they stopped involuntarily and turned away. As they did so a shuddering thrill went through them, as they say, and they broke into a wild run for the nearest lights.
Other tales have contradictory points, but all agree that the apparition has the form of a woman, and possesses a strange floating motion. There is much speculation in the place over the matter.
Five successful burglaries have been accomplished, and three unsuccessful ones attempted, and the evil deeds are still going on. It is possible that the burglaries have been committed by the ghost, although there is nothing to show this positively.
DR. BRIGGS’S GHOST STORY
Professor De Morgan
Toronto News, April 19, 1883
Dr. Briggs, when quartered in the Hill Country, used to meet once a week with the officers and others; the custom being to breakfast at each other’s houses after the sport was over. On the day for Dr. B.’s turn to receive his friends, he awoke at dawn and saw a figure standing at his bedside. Having rubbed his eyes to make sure that he was awake, he got up, crossed the room, and washed his face in cold water. He then turned, and, seeing the same figure, approached it, and recognized a sister whom he had left in England. He uttered some exclamation and fell down in a swoon, in which state he was found by the servant who came to call him for the hunt. He was, of course, unable to join his hunting friends, who, when at breakfast on their return, rallied him as to the cause of his absence. In the midst of the talk he suddenly looked up aghast, and said in a trembling voice: — “Is it possible that none of you see the woman standing there?” They all declared there was no one. “I tell you there is; she is my sister. I beg of you all to make a note of this, for we shall hear of
