Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-01-31

| from the old sOrceresS. TO do this, some
scheme must be fallen upon to entrap her
| into it unaWares, as, OF course, she would
not voluntarily abjure her dominion over
him.
A plan was conceived of inviting al the
women of the neighborhood, within a cir
cult to include old Mrs. Fox, to meet at his
residence on certain day, the object of
which was generally known. \ large con-
course assembled-men as we'll as women
but the WITCH alas ! was not among them;
and without her presence the rest could
avail nothing, for the intention had been
that each woman Of the assembly should lay
their hands on the sick man and say "tiod
bless YOU" 1t had been thought the nag
would be ashamed and afraid not to do as
the rest; and on her pronouncing the holy
name her reign would be ended. Old Mrs.
Fox did not come and what was to be done?
Among those whom friendship and curiosl-
ty had brought to the scene, was Colonel
Edward Lacey. He declared that the witch
should come; and off he cantered on his
spirited bay. In due time, expectation was
fulfilled, for up rode the gallant Colonel,
with the old woman behind him-a lean,
withered beldam; but wonder of wonders
Although she was only an old hag's weight
ninety-six pounds-the large blooded ami
NAL they had ridden was reeking with
sweat-in a perfect lather-and the horse
blowing as if he were bellowsed. Men and
women gathered around the painting steed
in utter amazement. But the witch had
come. There was nothing longer to hinder
their proceeding with the good work. All
the females collected in the hall where the
afflicted man was lying. One by one, IN
regular turn, with solemnty, they advanced
to old Mr. Rainey's bedside and pronounced
the desired benison, "God bless you, Mr..
Rainey." Old Mrs. Foxs turn was the last.
All eyes turned toward her. She went for
ward, however, nothing hesitating, but the
listening ears caught the words, "-Hy God
bless you, Mr.. Rainey" The Devil was
her deity, and the cunning witch had
banned instead of blessed the sufferer. She
outwitted them, and the pious effort was OF
no effect.
Perhaps some, in this enlightened age of
spirit-rappings, may feel desirous fmaklng
a Jest at our old superstitions, and say they
are sure not one particle Of it possesses them
I believe it an often infirmity OF human ma
ture, and hold with DIR. Brazier, of the
Methodist Church, when at the age Of nine
ty-six, of whom / once asked the question,
''if he was superstitious ?'' eyes," he re-
piled, "and believe all men are, if they
would tell the truth. l don't like to see q
rabbit run across my path"
"Pshaww said old Colonel Ben. Saxon,
Secretary of State, who was sitting by, 81
don't regard it pcayune; / always make a
cross mark and spit on it,"
Once afterward, in conversation with the
late Chancellor Harper, in regard to the
) prosecutions for witch-craft in Scotland and
New England, asked him what he believ-
ed. His reply was like that of Il Roman
augur, indirect. His words, though inn
pressed me. They were, ave have the
highest evidence of human testimony to
believe in witch-craft, for many individuals
have confessed, Just before being launched
into eternity, they were suffering the just
> penalty of their crimes, for they were gull
ty of witch-craft."
In discussing the subject of mesmerism,
in its early days, with the Rev. Mr. Elllottt,
of Beaufort, in which he strongly believed,
he told me of Mesmerist's power and clair
! vOyant skill to marvellous extent. l told
him we might begin to believe with ourfore-
fathers in witches, and, for his amusement,
related to him the tale of the beWitchment
of
MOSIE GABBIE, OF YORK.
Mosie Gabbie lived five miles above York
Court House, and it was either in the year
1920 or 1921, when he lived with a brother
in-law named Burns, that his family and
neighbOrs were much excited and beWilder-
ed by his case He said that he was beWitch-
, ed, and his curious state confirmed the
minds of others in the same belief. All day
long he would lie in bed, in Il kind of
stupor, and could be aroused only when
directly spoken to, when he would relapse
into the same cOmatOse state, If left alone.
Between eleven and twelve O'Clock at night.
he would utter fearful yell, spring from
, his bed where he had been lying all day,
; rush out of the house, be absent till day
light, when he would return with his hands
and feet full of chestnut burs. On being
, questioned by his family as to when these
nocturnal alarms first began, to where he
went, and why he so behaved, he would
), piteously declare he could not help himself;
that old Mrs. Biggert, a commonly reported
witch, rode him every night to old Violet
Weston's and hitched him under a MuYe
chestnut tree, in front Of the house, while
the witches had dance in the rickety old
dwelling. In vain did his sister and her
husband devise and execute means to keep
him at home. Every effort failed by some
mischance, for at the fatal hour he would
give the awful shrek and be gone, they
Scarce knew how. At last they ceased try
ing to prevent him, yielding undoubtedly
to the belief that Mose was bewitched and
: ridden every night. Winter came and
: passed; spring, summer, fall-the seasons
made no change, for it was a certain fact
: that every night, let the weather be what
it might-raining, sleeting or snOWing-he
would, between the hours of eleven and
twelve, give most hideous yell, jump out
of his bed and be gone till day dawn next
morning.
The family became so accustomed to it,
that their slumbers were scarcely arrested
for moment. Among the daily tasks as
signed the children, the picking Of burs out
of their uncle Mosie's feet and hands, was
: one of the most arduous. Only once, after
the first unavailing efforts made at the be-
, ginning of the strange occurrence by the
frightened household of his brother-in-laW,
to keep him from his midnight jaunts-only
once again-was an attempt made, l say, to
outdo the witch. 1t happened thus: Old
Sam Burns, father of MOsie Gabbie's broth
er-in-law, with whom the latter lived, was
talking with Col. Billy Ferguson on the SUBJ
iect of haunts and Witches in which Burns
was a strong believer Ferguson hOOted
the idea. Burns told him of Mosie's case,
: and Ferguson laughed the tale to Scorn,
offering to wager that he could keep him at
: home. Old Mr.. Burns insisted it was sup
ernatural, and proposed that Ferguson
. should go some night and make the trial.
Colonel Ferguson was eager to 90 so, anu q
night in the next week was agreed on TOR
the purpose.
: Punctually, the two met at Gabbie's house,
and having announced to the family the
cause and object of their visit, the family, at
the usual hour, retired to the other room OF
the cabin, and left the old gentlemen to their
watch in the room with MOsie. Time wore
on rather slowly, as time watched usually
, does. and Ferguson, little weary, reclined