HAUNTED CASTLE

Evening Star, Issue 20132, 23 March 1929, Page 10

HAUNTED CASTLE

CURSE OF THE BLACK SHEEP Since flic ancient days when they danced in the. Avoods in ceremonial worship of Nature, their deity, the Bohemians have believed in good (hozi); spirits and had (biesi) spirits which appeared in the forms of varoiis boasts, wild or domestic (says the Npav York ‘Times 1 '). The hozi AA-cro Avhite animals, the biesi black. So it happens that the most famous “spook” in Bohemia in the black sheep that has haunted the ancient' castle of the Schonbnrgs since the fourteenth century. The castle is in a thick forest, and is surrounded by a deep moat. The first to fall a victim to the Avoolly hicsi Avas a limiter avlio mysteriously vanished on his Avny to the caslla one night. His body was found at tlm bottom of the moat Avifli the throat torn out. Fifty years ago, it is said, one of (lie Counts of Sdionhurg returned late one moonlight night to the castle, and as he crossed the bridge a huge black sheep rose up almost from under Ids horse’s hoofs and jumped for his throat. The terrified horse threw his rider and galloped into the courtyard, Avhile the young man fought off the sheep. A few years ogo two peasants walking near the castle at dusk were set upon by tin? phantom sheep. One fled and told his story in the village inn; the other was found next morning with Lis head almost torn from his body. For the last half-century the castle has only been occupied during tho hunting season. There is a legend that on? of tho Counts of Schonbnrg fought the Turk ish invaders, and Avith his SAVord pierced the throat of a black-bearded giant, who leaped up to drag him from his horse. The Turk shrieked as ho died: “1 will be your biesi for ever!”