The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-11
a Struggle with u GhOuI.

| 1 ork clty-at least IL IS about sixty -fiv,
miles from it. One night in November, Mar
Pancs and myself were coming home from
dancing party at Snake hill. The nigh
was dark and cloudy, but the clouds wcr,
occasionally broken Il little, and thus CAV,
the moon chance to peep out and show u
our route. We were walking home alone
| having left group of girls behind in charge
OF Ned North and Bobby White, two of tht
boys who liked to be with the girls bette,
tnan we did. In those days | was MOI
very timid, and was quite ns strong.as
am now, but real, earnest, rough-und
tumble test of my strength had never been
called for.
We were trudging along ahead of tho rest
ol our little party, when suddenly Puincs
startled ne with proposition to cut across
lois and go through tho cemetery, which
would shorten our journey Il little, and give
us chance to get into town far ahead OF
our companions.
When Mart and got to the ccrncr where
the stilc crossed the fence leading into the
silent dwelling place of the dead, | felt ror
my match box togct Il "lucifcrn with whicl,
to light a fresh cigar Smoking is no new
haDlt with me, you scc), and somehow |
managed to drop the box, and as it struck
inc wooden stilc with sharp, metallic
ring, we heard wcll-dctincd "whist, "
that was half word and half low whistle
ei warning We two lads instantly sunk
10 the ground, wigglcd up close to the
fence, ana began to look and listen in Or
dcr 10 see where the noise came from. In
a moment Mart nudgcd me and whispered,
"Gravc robbers, by thunder! - And sure
chough-as just then the moon came out
~ i,rn viii l.,;
who, TO my distorted imagination, at first
looked TO be about eight feet high. While
inc moon was shining they stood perfectly
motionlcss; but IL moment later, when t
mad withdrawn its light, they STONED
down and resumed their disrcputablc on
prations.
by this time we got their bearings pretty
well, and ], who had been grasplnr Mnrt's
hand, suddenly felt him begin to trcmblc At
first thought it was fear, but Il moment
later knew what was the matter when he
1airly Kissed in my car: "Charic, that is
Amys grave, and if you will stand by me
will kill or capSure the hcllhounds who are
trying to tear her out of it. - them !" |
had never imagined it before, but in Il
twlnkling graspcd the idea of why he had
been so sad since beautiful, naughty Amy
Ii died, and | was in moment as
angry as he was We listened and watched
and made out that there was one negro and
one white man in the graveyard the negro
being certain big, spay-footcd mokc from
'flddlcr's Grccn," a classic portion of old
Goshen, where the niggers have lived ever
s.ncc srnc tncr 1 aork lEat sSvcEofdns
was once the custom in that state. The
other chap was smaller, and was evidently
man of the kind who preferred to let others
do the hard work. lie gave orders Now
these grave robbers don't dig open tho en-
tire grave. They simply dig hole in be-
side the grave, smash in the coffin box and
cnskct, and with hook or rope drag out
the poor dead remnant of mortality, double
it up and thrust it into a bag, refill the hole
replace the turf and drive Off.
BY the time we got our plan of attack
upon them digcstcd they had dug their hole
and were making arrangements to smash the
coffin with sharp crowbar when we ,lp and
at 'cm. The fence near the stic was broken
down, and we had each selected one of the
square pickcts as a weapon. They use oak
pickcts down there, Charlie; heavy oak,
about an inch square, and they were excel
lent things to break a mans head with, M
least white mans head but found a col
orcd mans skull hard nut to crack. We
made dash over the graves and were
upon them before they got fairly turned
to face us-for the scamps did not run, as |
thought they would. l selected the white
man, but as we closed upon them found
had the African to deal with, and let him
have it with all my might, stumbling rs l
struck, and falling upon the ground with
the ghoul on top, my head and his heels be-
ing in close proximity. TO change ends
was short job, and just as was fastening
my grip on his throat he got one of his long
arms free and dealt nc horrible blow he
tween the eyes, and at tho same moment l
saw flash, heard q sharp report, heard
Mart yell, and then all became confused,
for only knew that l and that terribly
strong black devil were locked In each 9th
cr's arms-that had his head Gin cl,au-
Gerry, and almost had ono hand on his
throat,
never shall forget the agony of those few
moments when we each fought for life.
They seemed as hours rs we writllcd and
struggled over the graves. If could have
got him by the throat could soon have fix
cd him, but we each had to usc hand for
protection, and It soon developed into a
mere question OF endurance. had no time
oS breath to. call for help, and, indeed, |
am not sure that l thought of IL, ] only
thought Of how to choke off that black and
hidcous fiend, and at tho same time keep
him from rising to his feet to choke me
OF, almost prayed for an arm six inches
longer in order to get my digits around hls
throat, for we were locked in suoh queer
shape that, although had his head under
my arm, ! Could not get my hands on his
thoyaoie duct. and for q time almost do
SPARED, until the big fellow, by an effort
that must have strained his muscles not
little, managed to got to his knees. But |
was too quick for him, and, breaking all
holds, I sprang to my feet and struck
him square in the face. I could hit hard
in those days, Charlie, and, after staggeH.
ing, him, closed with him again, and TAX
ing him by the throat well, l guess
banged his head over against the pretty
hcadstono that Is sacred to the memory Of
MAioE Winslow's daughter.
They told me afterward that Rob White
and the girls heard Nart yell, and heard
the pistol shot, Qna o moment aftcrward