The Mystery of David Lang
On September 23, 1880, on the farm of David Lang, just a few miles outside of Gallatin, Tennessee, a remarkable
event was witnessed by five people.
On that afternoon, Lang's two children, eight-year-old George and eleven-year-old Sarah, were playing in the front yard
with a toy wagon and horses (their father had brought it to them that morning from Nashville), when Mr. and Mrs. Lang came
out of their house.
As David started across the pasture toward his quarter horses, his wife called after him. "Hurry back, Dave. I want you
to drive me into town before the stores close." He stopped to check his watch, then waved back. "I'll be back in a few
minutes."
The children stopped their play as they recognized the horse and buggy of family friend Judge August Peck coming up
the lane; he always brought the children presents when he visited. Mrs. Lang and David both saw the buggy also, and David
waved to the judge as he turned back towards the house.
A few steps later David Lang disappeared.
Fully witnessed by his two children, wife, Judge August Peck, and the Judge's traveling companion (the Judge's
brother-in-law), David Lang had just suddenly ceased to exist; understandably, Mrs. Lang screamed. All five witnesses ran to
the spot they had last seen David, but there was nothing to hide behind or under; the field contained just grass. The adults
quickly searched the field to no effect. By this time, Mrs. Lang was becoming hysterical, and was taken back into the house as
neighbors were called with an alarm bell. By nightfall, all the neighbors were involved in the search, and, by lantern, they
checked every foot of the field, stamping their feet to try to detect any holes that David might have fallen into. Nothing was
found.
In the following weeks, Mrs. Lang was bedridden with shock; all the family servants except the cook, Sukie, left; and
curiosity seekers were chased away from the farm by the local authorities. The county surveyor confirmed that the field was on
perfectly solid ground, with no caves or sink holes.
Seven months after the occurence, in April, 1881, Lang's children noticed that the grass at the site of their father's
disappearance was stunted and yellow, and formed a circle with a fifteen foot diameter. Sarah called to her father, and,
seemingly as a result, both the children heard him faintly calling for help, over and over, until his voice faded away.
Mrs. lang never fully recovered, and there was no funeral or memorial service for david. She eventually left the farm and
allowed Judge Peck to rent it out, with the exception of the field in the front of the house. That pasture was left untouched as
long as she lived. |
