Ghost story
The black figure of the Raka stone cross
In the Raka manor forest near Ambla church stood a large stone cross; people believed some Swedish-era commander was buried beneath it. A local man once pushed the cross over. That night a black figure stood by his bed and would not let him sleep: "Why did you push over the cross? Go and set it up again!" Each time he lay down, a cold hand gripped his own and the demand was repeated. The next day he raised the cross again, and only then could he sleep in peace. The tale was written down in Ambla parish in 1895, when the man was still alive. Raka is a village just west of Ambla.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
Raka mõisa metsas Ambla kiriku lähedal seisis suur kivirist; rahvas arvas, et selle alla on maetud mõni Rootsi sõja aegne väejuht. Üks kohalik mees lükkas kord risti ümber. Öösel seisis tema voodi ees must kogu ega lasknud tal magada: „Miks sa risti ümber lükkasid? Mine pane rist püsti!” Iga kord, kui mees magama heitis, haaras külm käsi tema käest ja nõue korrati. Järgmisel päeval pani mees risti püsti ja alles siis sai ta rahus magada. Lugu pandi Amblas kirja 1895. aastal, mil see mees veel elas. Raka on küla Ambla aleviku lähedal.
Source: M. J. Eisen, 'Narvast Tallinna' (no. 14; manuscript E 15076, J. Neublau, 1895) ↗