THE JEFFERSONIAN — DECEMBER 9, 1875
A BEWITCHED WOMAN.
Talking about witch stories we have seen nothing to equal the following, condensed from the Mechanicsburg, Journal :
Several weeks ago, a Mrs. Nesbit, living with her husband, in Warrington township, York county, on the farm of Wm. Ross, Esq., discovered in an old hut adjoining the house, and also in their house, the face of a human being, with large eyes, like balls of fire, moving around from room to room. Shortly after, she was stricken with rheumatism, so badly that she could not rest in any position. Suddenly the rheumatism left, and nightly the strange image visited her in bed, and she could then discover in it a naked human being with the same eyes. The form would snatch her with the bed clothes and throw her on the floor, causing her to faint or go into convulsions.
These strange actions became noised abroad, and one night recently almost the entire neighborhood gathered to witness the apparition. The house was crowded, many persons being unable to get in. The lights were all put out and the woman retired to rest, with her child in the cradle beside her. About ten o’ clock the ghost made its appearance. Although the lady said she could see a human form, those in the room could only see two large balls of fire approaching the bed where the lady was. The lady fainted, and several gentlemen going to her assistance, the balls of fire moved away from her and grasped the child in the cradle, but it was also released by the persons standing by, and the balls disappeared, leaving all very much frightened.
