LEWIS COUNTY MYSTERY

Columbia Herald, 3 Sept. 1873

Lewis County - "The citizens on Lankford's branch are fast becoming accustomed to strange things.  Some forth years ago strange sounds were occasionally heard close to where David Himes now lives.  The sounds seemed to be subterraneous following the channel of the branch, and resembling the noise caused by the splitting of heavy timber with a maul and wedge.  No cause could be discovered to explain the strange noise, which seemed to be concealed in the bosom of the earth.  A deep mystery brooded over the place.  A great many persons who were acquainted with the character of the place decided it was haunted; consequently it was regarded by the superstitious as being the great pandemonium where devils met to hold their midnight carousals.  However, no evil spirits were ever seen, yet the strange sounds continued, alarming the fears of the guilty for about 30 years.

"The supposed devils made their first public demonstration in 1860 by spouting water, and up heaving rocks in the channel of the branch just below Himes house.  Two ladies, who believe in ghosts, witnessed this strange phenomenon, and today to them this is the most interesting chapter in their lives.  Escaping the clutches of the evil one, it exploded the theory that the place was haunted by devils.

Last fall Himes witnessed another great explosion in the channel of the branch about a 150 yards from his house.  His attention was first attracted by a heavy report of a cannon and simultaneously with the report he discovered the water of the branch raised to a great height, and it fell in solid sheets.  going immediately to the place, he found a great many rocks busted up, weighing from 100 to 500 pounds.  Last week Mr. Himes witnessed the third explosion in the channel of the branch not over 30 yards from the house.  The report of this explosion was equal to the report of the second.  The water spouted up as before and large rocks were thrown to a considerable distance.  This strange phenomenon is still wrapped in mystery.

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