The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1873-08-09

be seen haunting u lonely spot; on the
river road near n venerable oak that
stood in the center of the street, near
the residence of Mr. Jacob Rickenbaker.
a number of negroes and little children
about the place fully believed all this
aud had sometimes declared they them.
selves had seen "the spirit" Quite an
amusing story is told in connection with
those on one of the jurymcn who served
at that time. Old "Uucle johnnie" as
he was more familiar by known, was a
queer eccentric character, not only great
lover of his drink. but highly supersti
tlous also On sale and election days
and at numerous other times, he might
bo seen on venerable looking gray
horse riding about the village, where he
wouldremain until u late hour drinking
too tipsy to return home. One light
Uncle Johpnie" was taking his usual
drinks at one OF the little doggerics. a
number of persons being present the
conversation turned upon the late hang.
ing and the stories that had been set
afioat. With a sly wink at "Unclc
johnnie" which the set understood, one
wagcish young fellow wrnt TO giving
awful blood Gu. d ing stories Of the ghost
ly visltant. Uncle Johnnie" listened
terror stricken, SO greatly frightened
that his knees shook together. This oak
at which the ghost was said to make lis
appearance, lay directly on his road
home, and the more he thought of it
the more his courage sank, and he
kept delaying his time Of departure
unobscrved by him one or two of the
oung fellows stole out, and securing
the services of a ventriloquist who was
then passing through the place, proceed
ed 10 this huge oak, and there made an
efhgy of La Crew. Stretching a rope
across from the tree to the fence by
means of n ring fastened around the
efhgy's neck they could ut any moment
swing it out into the center Of the read
Hiding in the fence corner they awaited
old ''Unclc Johnnic's" approach 1t was
at quite late hour i'll the night when,
having screwed up his courage to its
highest pitch, he sailed forth for his
home.
AS he ncarcd the much dreaded oak
suddenly hcra swung out before his hor-
rifcd. gaze the figure Of the murdered
Spaniard. With a cry OF terror, Unclc
johnnie" reined in his horse, and be.
gan pleading to Tie ghost as he suppos
ed, for mercy. But the figure ina deep
sepu!chral voice, declared tina. he had
come from the other world for him, and
he must now so. Then as it made
swing towards the frig ghtchcd man, as If
to clutch him, human nature coull en-
dure it no longer. Turning his horses
head 'Uucle Johnnie" galloped mudly
back to the village one ycila another
ringing out upon the night air, startling
the Inhabitants from their slumbrr III
that night he lay awake at the tavern not
daring to return lrumv again, Sroan ing
with terror and declaring thfr. the ghost
Of La Crew had come for him. Though
the joke was found out afterwards vet to
his dying day old Uncle Johnnie"
fully believed aud firmly protested that
he had seen the ghost of the Spapard,
and no argument or proof could con
vince him to the contrary
These, as we have told them, are some c
OF the principal events and incidents
that marked the past Of Oraugebury
some torty years ago. W hat its present
is all who live here now can tell; what
its future will be that future alonc> c>will
show.
ATLANTA, GA. 1873.
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