Deadpan Flook and The Blog Of Stuff!: Spook Sightings Of Yester Year - No.15

Saturday, 26 October 2019

Spook Sightings Of Yester Year - No.15 - A Curious Cataleptic Case

The illustrations on this page are from George Du Maurier's Trilby, which as well as being the story this articles writers associate the events with, is also the rather odd origin of the Trilby hat!

(Today's post is from The Salt Lake Telegram, November 25th, 1903)

TRILBY IN REAL LIFE, WITH MORE MYSTERY THAN DU MAURIER'S HEROINE

Sings Weird, Unknown Music; Makes Chairs and Other Articles Move About the Room

DANVILLE, Ky., Nov. 25.-- On the Bradfordsville turnpike, about two miles west of Hustonville, is a country store with a dwelling-house in an adjacent yard. Years ago the store was owned by Burt Woolford, who owned and occupied the dwelling near by. Woolford was a unique character, and is remembered by the older inhabitants as a kinsman of the notorious Gen. Woolford of Civil War fame, and many are the deeds of daring credited to him. The place recently has been called Carpenter's Station. Numerous stock farms near by are owned by men named Carpenter.

Strange Events Happen

About eighteen months ago L.A. Farris of Lexington, Ky., purchased a stock of goods, the dwelling and the storeroom from one of the descendents of the Woolford family, and has since been conducting a general merchandising businees there. Everything moved along in the same old way until a short time ago, when some strange events transpired.

Mr. Farris and wife, who have no children, adopted an orphan girl several years ago, and she made her home with these good people as one of the family until she is now about 16 years of age.

Sent to Lunatic Asylum

Last May, her parents, having noticed several very peculiar actions in the girl, and not grasping the situation thoroughly, decided that her mind had become unbalanced. She was taken to the Lexington insane asylum, where she remained until last August. Being reported permanently cured, she was brought home and seemed to have regained her previous good health and vivacious spirits. About a week ago she was taken sick with what the attending physicians prenounced catalepsy. At one moment nearly the whole muscular system became rigid. She talked at random and sang the most pathetic airs, composing as she proceeded. As she had developed no musical ability previous to this, all who heard her vocal performances were surprised. Many musical people are being attracted by the occurence, and sit patiently awaiting a repetiton of her extempore productions. After a seemingly deep slumber the girl awakens and bursts into rhapsodies while her hearers sit spellbound.

Photo by Waller Overton Bullock, 1898, KY Virtual Library

Auditors Moved to Tears

At times her auditors are moved to tears by her sweet and sympathetic songs. As none of her productions had ever been heard by those who have been so fortunate as to be present on these occasions, some of the more gifted musicians have been trying in vain to retain and reproduce them, but as she never has been known to repeat, it seems improbable that the outside world will ever be thrilled by her unusual talents.

Mysterious Rappings

Last Saturday morning about 4 o' clock, loud and distinct knocks were heard on the weatherboards on the outside of the house, loud enough to be heard several yards distant. Supposing someone desired to attract his attention, Mr. Farris went outside, but could see no one. The raps were then repeated on the other side of the house, but again nothing could be seen. After daylight he removed the weatherboards on each side of the house sufficiently to see that no animal of any kind could have been imprisoned. During the day and night continued rapping is audible around the girl's bed, never fewer than three raps at a time.

Enough to Make One Shiver

Upon entering the house Mr. Farris saw an ordinary cuspidor ambling along the floor and following him. A glass of water was on the table near the bed where the sick girl lay. It tumbled off to the floor and was picked up and replaced. Off it went again, and then the third time, the last fall breaking it into atoms. Tables and chairs in the room seemed to be posessed with life, and paraded around at times as if they were members of the family. The bed upon which the young lady reclines shakes at times like a ship in a gale.

With Strange Life

The old-fashioned cupboard that stands in the corner of the room is also endowed with this strange life, and its doors are opened and closed at intervals as if by invisible hands,

While these weird scenes are being enacted the sick girl is singing or chanting some strange melody, accompanying her music with all kinds of gesticulations with her arms, feet and legs. She sprang out of bed Tuesday morning from an apprently deep slumber, walked to the fireplace, sat down, and her slippers moved gracefully from under her bed to her feet, when she quietly put them on. At times her face seems rapt with rare enthusiasm, and she seems to be listening to something intently.