The Darkish Knob is a hill in Tucker County, just beyond the town of Parsons. It is known for its steep sides and loose, rocky terrain. Before West Virginia was formed out of Virginia, there was a railroad that ran straight through Parsons, often used by runaway slaves. During the Civil War, slavery had not yet been outlawed. Therefore, a network of secret paths was created on the base of Darkish Knob, leading to a series of safe houses where slaves could seek refuge on their journey for freedom. Unfortunately, the safest time to travel was at night, and navigating these paths in the dark was treacherous.
One night, a young slave girl was on the run. She had done what many other slaves had, and set out in search of the Darkish Knob safe houses. She traveled on horseback, but unfortunately, due to the darkness and hidden location, she became lost. As she reached the top of the hill, she turned around to see that she was being closely pursued by slave catchers. She rode as fast as she could, but in her hurry, she led her horse over unstable terrain. The horse lost its footing, fell, and threw her off its back. The fall sent her tumbling down a steep section of the hill to her death. Her scream was so loud that it could be heard from miles away. Now, it is believed that she returns to the hill every year on the anniversary of her death. Locals say that they can hear her crying and moaning for several minutes, then, there is a long, shrill scream as she once again plunges over the cliff-side. Many witnesses have also reported other strange sightings, such as unexplained orb-like lights.
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