The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-07-08
LOST IN COSEY.
4 Legend Brought from the Indian Era.

Between Woodland academy and
Coodys creek there is an extensive
wood Of closefy-sct ccdars, known as
Coscv. In the earlier settlement of this
ncighborhood this wood offered an cx-
cellent hiding place for the Indians.
hence there were many Of them lurking
in it's recesscs. It's intricate nature also
led off the unacquaintcd settlers with
out their intention into it's wilds, where
they wandered about, sometimes for
days, frequently forever; that is, they
were probably murdered by the Indians,
but the negroes and most supcrstitious
white people thought them still seeking
in vain for place Of exit. Whenever
one, after being lost in these woods
found his way out he would give such a
marvellous account Of his adventures
that these over credulous persons had
come to regard the wood under some
evil spirit, and to hold it in as much
fear and dread almost as the "old boy"
himself. Under no consideration could
they b" induced, knowingly, to venture
near for they deemed it of such
subtle nature that the sight Of it alone
seemed to draw them into its mcshes
They would 20 out of their way to avoid
proximity; but Notwithstanding all
their caution, persons would frequently
disappear mysteriously and rumor
gave it out that they were lost in
Cosey.
Before the war the following Ara
bain-nightish tradition was prevalent
among the negroes and supcrstiti"us
whites:
In the time Of revolutionary war
mutual affection sprung up between n
young officer and dainsel Of this neigh
borhood: Not long after they be-
came bcthrothcd the young man
suddenly and mystcriously disap-
pcarcd. He was lost in Coscy. BY the
instinct OF love the girl quickly suspect
ed the cause of her lovers absence I;
and with blind devotion plunged heed
lcsSly into the enchanted wood to seek
for him. Here in vain quest did she.
search for years, while he in agony Of
ycarning to fly again to her sought like
wise in vain to eXtricate himself from
his labarynthine prison till instinct told
him she was n ,ar. Then did both seek
night and day for each other. But in
vain; though apparently constantly
nearing each other they were ever
bafiled by the evil spirit while the in
stinct Of love or the will Of the demon
made them sensible each Of every
of the other. Thus were
they kept continually and pcrpctually
In the course Of time, the fancy Of
the evil spirit led him to change them
the girl into n dove. Here with their
same feelings and longings they wander
ed in quest for years and years; and
here it was said they were doomed there
to wander till some good spirit should
triumph over the evil one. Then they
should find each other, and the spell Of
cnchantmcnt which had changed them.
thus he broken. Then and not till then,
would the power of the evil spirit over
the wood be at an end.
After the Indians were removed from
these parts the negroes still kept up
their supertitious beliefs and the grow
ing up white children being thrown
much with them were inspired
with their same notions. 1 have
heard old negroes relate adventures i'm
putting US having happened in this wood,
which were as marvellous and incrcdu-
lous as the romanccs Of the cast.-But
| have heard authentic tales Of children
getting lost in the wood, and after wan
dcring many hours, finding themselves
many miles away, and sometimes
across streams or roads, and not rcmem-
boring having crossed them.
Thus a party of hunters were one
night lose in here. They wondered
around for hours, now thinking they saw
nm opening, and directly finding them
selves back at the place they had first
started after discovering they were lost.
Thus they wandered till far in the night,
when an old negro, who was along,
proffcrcd to lead the way out by the
north star. which they could see at in
tervals through the tops Of the trees.
Following their guide for on hour or so.
the noise Of falling water now fell on
their ears, and they shortly found them
selves at Hopewcll factory, two or three
milcslfrom Cosey in ii southerly direc-
ton and across the Broad river road.
which they had no remembrance Of hav-
ing crossed.
The most interesting, however, OF