Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1879 — THE MYSTERIOUS HUNTER [ARTICLE]

THE MYSTERIOUS HUNTER

It Was In the early part of a distinguished nobleman’s life that he attended a hunting club at their sport, when a stranger of genteel appearance and well mounted Joined in the chase, and was observed to ride with a degree of courage mid address that called forth the utmost astonishment of everyone present. The beast he rode was of amazing power; nothing stopped them; the hounds could never escape them; and the huntsmen, who were left far behind, swore that the man and his horse were fiends from the infernal reigons. When the sport was over, the company invited the extraordinary person to dinner. He accepted the invitation, and astonished the company as much by the powers of his conversation and the elegance of his manners as by his equestrian prowess. He was an orator, a poet, a painter, a musician, a lawyer, and a divine; in short, he was everything, and the magic of his discourse kept drowsy sportsmen awake long after their usual hour.

At length, however, wearied nature could be charmed no more, and the oompany began to steal away by degrees to their repose. On his perceiving the society diminish, he discovered manifest signs of uneasiness. He, therefore, gave new force to his spirits and new charms to his conversation, in order to detain the remaining few gome time longer. This had some little effect; but the period could not be long delayed when he was to be conducted to his chamber. The remains of the company retired also; but they had scarce closed their eyes when the house was alarmed' by the most terrible shrieks that were ever heard; several persons were awakened bj the noise; but, its con tiftuance being short, they concluded it to proceed from a dog who might be accidentally confined in some part of the house; they very soon, therefore, composed themselves to sleep, but were again soon awakened by shrieks and cries of still greater terror than the former.

Alarmed at what they heard, several of them rung their bells, aud when the servants came, they declared that the horrid sounds proceeded from tiie strangers obamber. Some of the gentleman immediately arose to inquire into this extraordinary disturbance; and while they were dressing themselves for that purpose deeper groans of despair and shriller shrieks of agony again astonished and terrified them. After knocking some time at the stranger’s chamber door, he answered them as one awakened from sleep, declared he had heard no noise, and, rather in an angry tone, desired he might not be again disturbed. Upon this they returned to their chambers, and had scarce begun to communicate their sentiments to each other, when their conversation was interrupted by a renewal of yells, screams and shrieks, which, from the horror of them, seemed to issue from the throats of damned and tortured spirits. They immediately followed the sounds, aud traced them to the stranger’s chamber, the door of which they instantly burst open, and found him upon his knees in bed, in the act of scourging himself with the most unrelentiug severity, his body was streaming with blood. On their seizing his hands to stop the strokes, he begged them in the most ringing tone of voice, as an act of mercy, that they would retire, assuring them that the cause of their disturbance was over, and that in the morning he would acquaint them with the reasons of the terrible Cries they had heard, and the melancholy sight they saw.

After a repetition of his entreaties, they retired; and in the morning some of them went to his chamber, but he was not there; and on examining the l>ed, they found it to be one gore of blood. Upon further inquiry, the groom said that as soon as it was light, the gentleman came to the stable, booted and spurred, desired his horse might be immediately saddled, and appeared to be extremely impatient till it was done when he vaulted immediately into his saddle and rode out of the yard at full speed. Servants were immediately sent into every part of the surrounding country, but not a single trace of him could be found. Such a person had not been seen by any one, nor was he ever afterwards heard of. * The circumstances of this strange story were immediately committed to writing, and signed by those who were witnesses to them, that the credibility of any one who should think proper to i\'ate them might be duly supported. Am . ngthe subscribers to the truth of thi history, according to Lord Lyttleton’,* letters, are some of the first names of this century; and it is supposed that this story suggested to Fenwick his poem of the “Goblin Groom.”