Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-03-27

grunt of an OLD sow disturbed IN ner DcQ.
Down went the candle to: the ground.
"Shew shew ~ cried Williams, and he in:
voluntarily ran. After little he checked
heard the ill-natured grunt "ayh! agh p,
just a little behind. "Shew shew!' said
Williams The cultural note drew nearer.
"Lqh ! atgh % "Shew shew! the beast is
going to bite me, 1 do believe. SheW!
shew!" Again the ominous ''ngh e! ugh !'
of the SOW. Unable longer to contain him
self, he incontinently took the undignitied
pace he had Just abandoned. Once or twice
he slackened it. Each time the disagreed
BILE familiar grunt admonished him of the
proximity of his pachydermatous foe, and
believing himself pursued by the angry an
imal, he ran nearly all the way home.
However, he did not hear the sWinish tones
after he passed McNeel's, and next morning
met Oh the street his grunting, now grin
ming pursuer, in the person of Charles, the
rent1iIoqatist. Col. Williams would hardly
believe he was his quondam enemy, but his
assertions were cOrroborated by McNeel,
who was with him. The strange crying of
the baby wasalso accounted for, much to the
anxious mothers relief.
Col. Williams was once run for Judge, and
on one ballot elected; but there being some
informality discovered, another balloting
was ordered and he was beaten by one vote.
Judge O'Neal, I believe, was the successful
opponent. Colonel w. was frequent men,
Der of the Legislature from our district.
In 1888 he removed to Montgomery, Ala.
Alas how many ornaments Of our society
has South Carolina lost by the restless
spirit of her sons. In Montgomery he was,
for many years at the head of his profession.
During our late civil war he passed away
from among the living. TO his generous
soul and high spirit, the chains of our pres
ent state would have been CALLING indeed,
as they are to his few compeers surviving.
How many feel like the tabled man of the
classics-chained to rock, with vultures
ever and anon feeding on his liYer.---
~FFhere stfft stands on the cross street in
Yorkville, opposite the residence of the
late Col. Witherspoon, and at present occu-
pied by Mr.. Whit, house built by John
Mcknight, carpenter, and known in my
day as "the red house."
Mcknight sold the house in few years
and moved to Florida. 1t passed from one
to another-frequently changing hands, 1t
bore an ill-name. Strange and unaccounta-
BILE noises had been heard in it. 1t was said
to be haunted house, and, therefore, was
often without tenant.
ton, sailor previously, moved up to York
vile, bringing with him some trunks of dry
goods on speculation. He rented the "red
house." and in one of the lower rooms laid
the goods out on long table, in default of q
counter, ready for inspection and sale.
Himself his wife and his mother, occupied
apartments upstairs. They soon told Of
being awakened at night by the sound of a
crush, like goods falling off the table. AS
soon as they could get a candle lighted they
hurried down stairs. No one could befound.
The table, though, was overturned and the
goods all lying on the floor. On examining
them not a piece was gone, and nothing else
they conld discover appeared to have been
disturbed. Looking to bolts and bars with
redoubled vigilance, they set the table up
right and replaced the goods as they were
before. Hardly had they retired to their
beds, until they heard the same sound of
crush On going down, it was repetition
of the first disturbance. Table overturned
goods on the floor-but not the wrapping of
finger to be missed. This, Alternately, his
wife and mother, all solemnly affirmed,
happened night after night. They also
heard, they said, strange rappngs in differ,
ent parts Of the house, for which they could
find no cause, nor in any way explain. The
reputation of the house-confirmed in his
mind by those mysterious occurrences
termined Alternately to move his family, as
soon as he could get another house to 60 in,
firmly believing this one to be haunted
house.
!: For long time "the red house" was
without an occupant, and had consequently
! fallen much out of repair. 1t had got into
Dr. CrenshaW's hands, l think when an Op-
portunity of renting it, if in better state,
induced him to have it fixed up. Alternately
had moved into the country, but being a
s'iack of all trades" DR.. Crenshaw got him
to take the job of glazing it, the windows
being nearly guiltless of glass, there being
scarclya pane to sash.
Alternately came to town and went to
work quite readily, for in day time he did
not mind being in the haunted house. One
evening, having been drinking good deal
during the day, he laid down before the
fire he usually kept up in one of the fire.
places while he was at work, and fell asleep.
He did not awaken until the next morning,
and then was proud beyond measure at the
accident, boasting that he had staid dN
night, alone, in the haunted house.
Abernathy, in his eatiOn, began to banter
me for bet that he could spend the night
alone, in the haunted house. |, Of course,
caring nothing about the matter, declined.
For day or two, every time we came in
contact, he would again propose and insist
on it. At length, becoming annoyed by his
pertinacity, determined on some fun at
his expense, and agreed to make the bet
with him, on certain conditions. He was
so eager for the wager, he subscribed to any
thing to get it up. The stake, by his own
choice, was fine hat, and a condition Of
the bet was that after once he laid down
that night, he was not to rise. If he did
so on any account, he lost.
After supper, armed with his tools and
bottle of whisky, he went into the "haunted
house." He worked until late, taking fire.
quent pulls at his bottle to fortify his cour
age. He locked and barred the doors, and
over each lower window sash drove nail
to prevent them being hoisted. At length,
tired and sleepy, he laid down on his pallet
before the fire.
Outside, watching our chance, were, beside
myself, William McCaw, Randolph Erwin,
and one or two others. We were tired of
waiting, for Abernathy had worked later
than we anticipated. AS soon as we saw
through the windows that he had laid down,
we began operations. His head could hard
ly have touched his pillow till he slept,
and SO sound was his slumber, he was not
cas- easily disturbed We were provided with
one of old Mrs. McCall's cats, bladder
containing shot to tie to it's tail, and Will
liam McCaw had a syringe which held near
ly quart, filled with water ready for use.
Abeernathy had fastened the windows SO
securaly, it was great deal Of trouble to
get one open. With the help of a crowbar,
we at length succeeded in doing so. We
threw in the cat as we raised the sash for
she was getting obtreperous and using her
claws vigorously, and then let the sash fall
with it's own weight. The noise aroused
Alternately for the first time. Around the
room went the cat rafting the BAG of shot