Men who have been chased describe the “queer thing” as something very spooky. They say it wears black clothes, a thick, black veil, and has clawlike hands.
Jesse Whitman, who alleges that he was chased one Tuesday night, described his experience as follows:
“It was about twelve-five a. m., and I was passing Chandler’s springhouse on Willis Road when it stepped out from the shadows and stalked along behind me. When I hurried, it hurried, and when I slowed up, it slowed up. But it kept getting nearer all the time, and in a minute I was scared out of a year’s growth.
“The thing came alongside of me and laid one of its hands on my arm. It gave a kind of grunt and my hair stood right up straight. It was then that I started to run, and I kept running for two miles.”
Gypsy Queen’s Body Lies Long in State.
The queen of the gypsies is dead. Lying in a costly mahogany casket, her body bedecked with jewels and ancient gold coins, it was being viewed by scores of members of the nomadic tribe.
Mrs. Callie Mitchell, wife of Emil Mitchell, as the pair are known in the States, died at Lolita, Ark., and her remains were taken to Meridian, Miss., to be held until all the wandering nomads might come to view the body. Hundreds have arrived so far.
Emil Mitchell, the king of the tribe, came to this country with his queen from Brazil seventeen years ago, and his followers, about eighty, were mostly his relatives. All were Brazilian Indians, and have multiplied numerously since. When the queen died, long-distance telephone messages and telegrams were sent broadcast to all members of the tribe, and now many wagons and caravans are hurrying to the place to see the last of their queen.
A general council will decide the burial place, which will probably be Cleveland, Ohio. No expense is being spared by the king to make the funeral rival anything of its kind ever seen before. A solid mahogany casket contains her body, which is covered with gold coins and jewels. It is hoped to get every member of the tribe there in time to view the body before it is sealed up.
Duck Now Acts as Watchman.