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| ===Bristlecone Lake=== | | ===Bristlecone Lake=== |
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− | ===Campbell, Elijah (1810 - 1822)===
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− | The Campbell family were the original homesteaders of the Twisted Wood Ranch, near Bridal Falls. The area has since acquired a rather sinister reputation dating back to the death of Elijah Campbell. There are, of course, claims of supernatural happenings predating the Campbell homestead. However, these are unsubstantiated and likely superstitious stories invented in the wake of the Elijah's death.
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− | The journals of Solomon Geller are the only record available which detail the events leading up to the boy's illness and eventual death. Geller was a prominent member of the so-called Dogs of Gilead, who were active at that time. While it is not my place to call into question Geller's integrity, his religious convictions coloured his judgements, to say the least, and further he did not exercise the utmost care in differentiating between what he personally observed and what was related to him by a third party.
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− | Elijah Cambell was the youngest son of Ruth and and Joseph Campbell. He had from his early childhood been an unruly and overly imaginative child. He was known to have played with the children of the nearby savage tribes, and it is quite possible that he learned from them some of their more beastly superstitions and behaviours. As he grew older, his behaviour grew increasingly erratic, and he became the focus of a number of strange occurences. Inexplicable rappings or voices were often heard in his proximity. He occasionally fell to the ground and had fits of frightening violence. He was reported to have exhibited remarkable strength, and spoken in unknown languages, or in multiple voices while in the grip of one of these convulsions. The incidents increased and in 1822, Elijah fell to an unidentified illness. He was at this point given to the care of Solomon Geller.
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− | Geller diagnosed Elijah as possessed of a demon and began an exorcism. The exorcism lasted many days, and Geller records behaviour on the part of the child too horrific to detail here. It was ultimately a failure and the boy died while in Geller's care.
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− | Elijah was one of the many unfortunates who fell victim to the religious zeal of the Dogs of Gilead.
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− | The grave ministrations Geller subjected upon a sickened and unruly child extend well into the realm
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− | of the criminal, and were if not the direct cause, most certainly hastened his death.
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− | -Joseph Fish, Associate Proffessor of History, Bridal Falls University
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− | See also: Geller, Solomon, Twisted Wood Ranch
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| ===Cold River, Battle of=== | | ===Cold River, Battle of=== |