Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-26
PEGS GHOST.
A Story that Has Been Corroboratea
by n any Persons.

A writer in Lippincotfs Magazine says the
following story, well vouched for, was related
10 him by the gentleman TO whom it hap
pened, and whom 1 shall call Mr.. Kennedy.
1t was mentioned in the most commonplace
way in the ordinary course of conversation
NOT as supernatural occurrence, but
simply as a singular and puzzIing expert
ence. There is long and very narrow strip
OF wooded Land, known as "Peg Alleys
Point" situated between the M ain stream OF
Miles river and one of the navigable creeks
which flow into it. This little peninsula
is about two miles long, from fifty
to 200 or 800 yards in width, bounded
by deep water and overgfown with
pine and underbrush. There is ira
dition that many years ago a party of
Baltimore oyslermen encamped on the point
among whom was man named Alley; who
had abandoned his wife. The deserted wo-
him at the camp, where some words passed
between them, the result of which was that
the man induced his wife to follow him into
a thi6ket and there murdered her with a
club. The point has ever since been known by
Peg Alleys name, and her perturbed spirit
has been supposed to haunt the scene OF her
untimely taking off. Mr.. Kennedy had
lived from boyhood on the place and had
never given a serious thought 10 the story.
Two or three years ago he had a party of
railsplitters at work on the point, the FORE
man of whom finally refused TO 60 back, de.
claring that queer things happened down
there and that he had seen ghost. His en-
ployer laug he'd at him and dismissed the
matter from his mind. Some time after this
Mr.. Ksnnedy had occasion to ride through
The woods one afternoon to look after some
sheep, there being but one road and the wa
ter on either side. As he approached the
point his horse started violently and refused
to go Oh, regardless of whip and spur. Look
ing about for The cause of this unusual fright
he saw a woman rising up from log upon
which she had been sitting, few yards
in advance, aud stand by the roadside,
looking at him. She was very
poorly clad in a faded calico dress
snd wore limp sun-bonnet, from
beneath which her thin jet black hair stray
gled down Oh her shoulders. He face was
thin and sallow, and her eyes black and
piercing. Knowing that she had no business
there, and occupied in controlling bis horse,
he called to her somewhat sngrily 10 get out
of the way, as the animal was afraid of her.
She turned and walked slowly into the
thicket, without a word, looking back at
him as she went. With much difficulty he
forced his horse to the spot, wishing 10 find
find out who the intruder might me, but no
trace of anyone could be found after csre-
full search, although there was no place of
concealment and no possible way of escape,
for which indeed, there was not sufficient
time. Mr.. Kennedy declared that the
thought of Peg Alley never entered his
mind until that moment, but, upon finding
that no one was on the peninsula besides
himself, he turned his horse homewsrd Eith-
out looking further after his sheep and with
q decidedly sympathetic feeling toward the
recusant rail-splitter.