The Spectral Well of Virginia
One of the images seen in the Haunted Well
Hold a mirror over a well on May first, and you will see the image of your future husband or wife. Talladega, Ala.
Memoirs of the American Folk-lore Society, Vol. 4 1896
The story began with that simple premise—that a young woman wishing to see her future husband’s face, held a mirror over the family’s well on their Virginia plantation.
A Gruesome Mystery
Some days ago at Joynerville, Southampton county, Va., Miss Lizzie, the eldest daughter of Hon. John J. Deyer, playfully remarked to her mother that she was going to try her fortune by the familiar method of holding a mirror over the well, and looking down upon the water, when you will see, it is said, the picture of the person whom you are to wed. So picking up a small mirror she went out in the yard to the well, and holding the mirror over it with the glass down was patiently awaiting the decree of fortune, when suddenly there appeared before her the complete outline and exact likeness (life size) of an old gentleman who has been dead for several years, well known in that country, and who was an intimate friend of Mr. Deyer’s family while living. The young lady was very naturally shocked and not a little frightened at the appearance of this “departed spirit,” whose likeness she said, was so perfect that she could not be mistaken.
Returning to the house she related what she had seen to Mrs. Deyer, who immediately accompanied her daughter to the well, where her every doubt was dispelled by seeing everything that had been seen by her daughter and they together saw several other pictures, some of whom they recognized, others they did not.
These apparitions seem to pass in panoramic view, entering the well, apparently, from one side, and leaving it from the other. Some of them can be seen to move their limbs, while others are lifeless and extremely hideous. A corpse in shroud is one of the pictures plainly and distinctly visible.
These various pictures can be seen most plainly from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sun, however, it would seem, can have nothing to do with it, as the well is overshadowed by a large tree. Various sizes and kinds of mirrors have been used with the same results.
For the past few days nothing else scarcely has been talked of and more than three hundred people have been to the well, seen for themselves, and will testify as to the truthfulness of the statement made above. Each day large crowds flock to Joynerville eager to satisfy themselves of the truth or falsity of this report and they return bewildered, puzzled and completely at a loss as to a solution of the mystery.
That these pictures of shadows are seen upon the surface of the water there can be no well-founded doubt. From whence they are reflected or how they got there none can conjecture. There is no attempt at an explanation by any person who has seen the figures. Alexandria [DC] Gazette 20 May 1892: p. 1
Word quickly spread to the papers and to interested Spiritualists such as Mrs. Mary Kyle Dallas, a well-known poet and short-story writer, who wrote the account below:
Colonel Deyer’s Well.
In August, 1892, the reports concerning a certain well on the property of Colonel Deyer, of Virginia, so interested the managers of the Herald, that they sent a special reporter to the spot to investigate the matter.
This gentleman, having entered upon the work with the intention of exposing the fraud, became convinced that it was no fraud whatever, but a genuine phenomenon—and so reported in an exhaustive article in the Herald, which was afterward extensively copied. As I shall copy the communication, I need say nothing more just here than that Miss Lizzie Deyer, a daughter of Colonel Deyer, discovered, by mere accident, that by holding a mirror over the surface of the well, one could see arising from its depths, the faces of human beings, as well as curious objects of all sorts, and that the faces were recognized as those of the departed by many neighbors, and by thousands who poured in from all quarters to see the marvel for themselves.
We discussed the matter in the family, and some of the gentlemen were of the opinion that it was simply a clever story, without foundation, in fact. I felt sure that this was not so, and took the liberty of writing to Colonel Deyer, telling him that I possessed all the natural curiosity of a daughter of Eve, and could not refrain from asking how much of the wonderful tale was true. The result of my letter was a most courteous reply from Colonel Deyer, and also, a little later, a letter from Miss Deyer, which I give my readers as being valuable attestation from persons of refinement and education, as well as of good social position, to the truth of phenomena, which the great majority of readers would simply consider too absurd to believe.
Handsom’s Depot, Va.,
Kildare Manor,
10-18-92. Mrs. Mary Kyle Dallas,
My Dear Madame:
Pardon delay in response to yours of the nth inst. A press of business and absence from home are my best excuses to so distinguished a lady as yourself.
Now, as to the “haunted well,” none of us consider it haunted, but merely a freak of nature, a phenomenon, if you please, but, frankly, beyond my ken or that of the thousands who have witnessed its more than strange antics.
I assure you, the report in the Herald was not concocted in said Herald office, but was written by a Mr.H, a reporter of said paper. Said H was sent here by the Herald to investigate. I met him at Norfolk, Va., my old home. I was introduced to him by R. C. Murray, Esq., editor of the Norfolk Landmark. I was questioned by a party of gentlemen in said Land-mark office, among whom was said H, who laughingly said he “would like to come down and expose the fraud.” I gave him carte blanche, and in a few days, to my astonishment, down he came, and, lo! as he stated, “the half had not been told.”
Now, I have no explanation to give—all my theories are exploded; but the well is here, and has a solid foundation in fact, as well as a mystery in doubt. It is no advertising dodge—I have never charged a stiver [small Dutch coin, i.e. a nickel] to any one to look, and the well is not for sale, tho’ I should be pleased to have some enterprising Yankee remove it, even to Chicago.
I only wish I had time to give you a succinct acc’t of all its doings, but time forbids; however, if you should want a full description, my daughter, Lizzie Lee Deyer, if you wish to address her, will take pleasure in gratifying the curiosity of a daughter of Eve, she being closely allied to that noble degree. With many apologies for this rambling scrawl, I remain with sentiments of highest esteem,
Your ob’t servant, &c.,
Jno. J. Deyer.
Kildare Manor,
Read more @ http://hauntedohiobooks.com/news/spectral-well-virginia/
Fascinating read! Water would have the same affect as Mirror Gazing.....
The Trigger of Mirror-Gazing
http://missionquest.fpb.yuku.com/topic/1046/The-Trigger-of-MirrorGazing?page=1

