Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-04-26

i IllSn prices Ol COTTON VIII always have tcnden-
cy to destroy southern soil. While that is high
men will not take time to save, much more i'm
prove their lands.
"WhO thr0Wed that last Brick !''
! We copy the following ghost story from the
Eastern Clarion, published al Paulding in this
State. 1t lays the Rochester knockings in the
shade.
RALEIGH, MISS, March 2Ist, 1851.
Mr.. Editor: a portion of the good citizens of
Smith have had their eyes opened within 2 few
days past. ''Wonders will never cease is an
old saying, and what has occurred within the pre-
sent week has not disposed me to doubt its truth
If stranger were to pass through the North
eastern portion of our country about this time, ere
long he would turn his heels upon us in rapid
succession, fully convicted as was the Irshman
when he halted at the Hot Springs in Virginia,
that hell Is not a mile distant
Col Desha, who now resides in Raleigh, has
farm about fifteen miles North Of here, upon
which Mr.. Fleming Bates now lives. On Wed
nesday, the 10Th inst, report brought to the
Colonel that some one was brick batting his house,
situated on his farm. He immediately repaired to
the scene of action, accompanied by Messrs f. Z.
OVERLY, j. G. Blackwell John Watkins and DR..
Bates. 1t was night when they reached the farm
Pieces of brickbats were stl falling in and about
the house. The Colonel, with the gentleman who
there, took their stations, armed with dOublebar-
rel guns to guard the house, and find out, if pos
sible, Who HreU tie bricks But few moments
elapsed, when the Colonel heard some one at the
house exclaim, ''What did you come here for 20
and as he heard pieces of brick fall on the house
only moment previous, he supposed they had
caught one of the gentleman. He ran to the house
instantly but instead of finding the desired OBJ
ject, to his utter astonShment he beheld Mr..
hold
unseen object. What voice, or whose voice it was
no one could tell, 1t seemed TO issue from some
one beneath the house. The voice said he
a half breed Indian, had been dead one hundred
years had been to the place of torment, but was
released for seven years that he had six thousand
dollars buried near certain corner of the house
that if Mr. Bates continued to live there, lie would
stone the house for seven years; and if be remov-
ed he would burn it down-and many other
velous things the ghost was heard to say.
While the above conversation was carried on,
several persons had gone under the house, ii being
raised off the ground but when they reached the
place whence the voice seemed to issue, it appear
ed to proceed from the room above, where the
family of Mr. Bates was, consisting of his mother
in-aw, wife and FIVE children. This convinced
nearly every that the mysterious voice was the
voice of some one of the family.
On the next day, Notwithstanding there Is open
space for one hundred yards round the house, and
men were stationed on guard at proper intervals,
the brickbats continued to fall and no could
tell whence they came About O'Clock in the
Col Desha discharged both barrels of
his gun at some one about forty yards distant,
whom he supposed to be negro. The last barrel
he thought, took effect but being very weak from
recent sickness, he was unable To pursue him
Two other persons were TO make towards the
one that was shot, to give him assistance,
supposed. The throwing of bricks has slackened
considerably since that time.
On Friday, when there were very few persons
there, Col. Desha, who began to think that some
one of the family had something to do with the
mysterious talking determined to test the matter.
He sent the family off two hundred yards, woman,
children and negroes. The Colonel, Marshal
Watkins and Fleming Bates, were the only PER
sons that remained. The last named person put
questions to the esprit" if | may call it such,
when answers were given by the utterance OF
groans, whenever it was probable that the answer
would be in the affirmative but when 1t was pro-
bable that the answer would be in tie negative,
nothing was heard. Mr. Bates was then sent off,
and Col Desha asked questions, and answers were
given, as before Col Desha and some others
dug at the place where the 'spiris said the money
was hid, and every time the mattock sunk in the
ground, deep groan was heard. Who made it,
no one knew
That there is a deep laid scheme to accomplish
some foul object there can be but h,te doubt Time
and exertion will bring every thing 10 light, in
the mysterious throwing and sounds should con-
tinue
The question now is, rho hroced that last
brick 20 Until it is answered-adieu
HF JOHNSON.