January 4, 1873 – Alexandria Gazette
PRINCE WILLIAM ITEMS. – It is rumored that a ghost of a departed has
been seen in this place, causing considerable commotion among some of our
people. We have made some inquiries in
regard to the matter but cannot get any particulars about its appearance.
December 15, 1868 – Alexandria Gazette
A GHOST – OR SOMETHING – IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA., Dec.
12.—It becomes my duty to chronicle a most singular and extraordinary series of
nocturnal visitations on the part of some ghostly apparition, to the farm of
one, who I shall call Silas Brown, esq., a peaceable and intelligent citizen of
this county. Mr. Brown lives in what is
known as the forest of Prince William, near the village of Independent Hill,
and his residence I completely surrounded with the growth indigenous to that
section of the county.
For the past few weeks visions of an alarming character have
been seen in the neighboring forest, but more particularly in the copse
adjacent to Mr. Brown's barn and stable.
At numbers of times has an immense figure been seen passing to and fro
near the barn, with large horns and terrible claws which it contacts to a sort
of hoof, and has assaulted Mr. Brown when he attempted after dark to feed his horses
and stock, in such a manner, and with such violence, that he has been compelled
to flee to his house for safety. The
figure, to the best of Mr. Brown's recollection, seemed about three times as
large as a man in its front, and having a back converging from its neck and
shoulders, horizontally to the distance of some six or eight feet, and supplied
on each side with huge and tremendous arms.
It is of a pale blueish color when first seen, but upon being irritated
by the near approach of any person, becomes a deadly white, and issues from its
surface a small volume of smoke, accompanied with a sickening smell. This ghoul or unnatural and horrible animal
or demon, has been seen as often as four times near Mr. Brown's stable, and
when seen, it has lingered till its deadly effluvia has completely impregnated
the surrounding atmosphere. One evening Mr.
Brown desiring to have another beside himself see this terrible visitant,
induced a courageous gentleman whom I shall call Siger, who happened with his wife
to spend the evening at Mr. Brown's, to go to the stable to feed his
horses. Mr. Siger not believing the
story, went without hesitation, when upon entering the stable, he was alarmed
by the fall, at or near his feet, with a deep rumbling sound, of a tremendous
stone. Mr. Siger, without looking to see
whence the rock came, picked the stone up, and it was so hot that he was
compelled to drop it; upon looking up he beheld the unearthly monster not over
fifty yards from him, and the air became quickly filled and inoculated with
brimstone. (!) Not wishing to be thought
a coward, he did not mention anything of this at the house, but upon walking
home with his wife the same night, he told her of what happened at the stable,
and instantly she became alarmed and was carried home in a state of apparent
insensibility.
The neighborhood is in a terrible state of excitement, and
steps have been taken to investigate this frightening matter.
By your next issue it may be possible that some clue can be
gained to the identity and character of this hideous monster.
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