The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-06-10
CHARLESTON GHOSTS.
STRANGE BEINGS USED TO WALK IN
SILENT PLACES.

Disappearance of the Meeting Street Ghost
The Ghost of the Jewish Cemetery-Of
st. Philips Church Yard-The Woman
I'm White-Six Little Ghosts Sitting in IL
Row.
The Meeting street ghost disappeared
during the early part OF the week and
will not frighten the good people liz that
vicinity any longer.
This is not the first ghost that has ap-
peard in Charleston. Many Of them
have visited and revisited us under the
glimpses of the moon. making night
hideOus with their weired-likc move
ments and terrifying the spectators with
their grim and CHASTITY countenances.
All of the midnight marauders, of course,
were not ghost some of them were
real flesh and blood. 1t is we'll known
that there are persons who, like the
nyena, have an insane desire to prowl
around grave yards and cemeteries at
night. For instance, about thirty years
ago what was thought to be 4 ghost,
used to appear in st. Philips Church
yard. sometimes seated upou the tomb
of the Meacher family. and sometimes
moving with cat-like tread among the
trees and monuments. The excitement
at the time was so great that women and
children in the vicinity could not be
induced to remain in room ut night
aloncs fla door opened suddenly they
expected to see a grinnng raw-head and
bloody bones enter. The moaning Of
the wind out side or the bowling of q
dog in yard were signs that the ghost
was somewhere in the vicinity. The
ghost was at last captured and proved
to be negro by the name OF Charles
who belonged to the Mcachers.
Many years before the war watch
maker by the name Of Lyons was mur-
dcrcd at his residence on East Bay.
The assassin entered the house through
the street window and cut Lyons throat
while he was quietly sleeping IN his bed.
Scarcely were the remains of Lyons laid
away in the tomd before ghost appear
ed IN the old Jewish burying ground in
Coming street. The ghost appeard in a
while shroud, and when not walking
among the graves. could be seen seated
upon the hearsc house shed. The en-
element became so great and rumors so
much exaggerated that some people
declared they saw the ghost at night
climbing st. Michacl's steeplc. The
negroes became so alarmed that many
of them were afraid to walk the streets
at night. Finally several persons STAR
ted for the Jewish burying-ground with
the intention of shooting the ghost.
Ghosts, like crows can smell gun-pow-
der far off, and you can never get within
gun-sh0E rtngc- OF them. While the
ghost hunters were marching around the
graveyard, Determined ,tnmnkc q rkost,s
ghost out of the ghost if the ghost would
let them. the ghost Of the cemetery was
in their midst following them around.
1t was one John McCullum. Il wild
young man of the city who used to ap-
pear in the grave yard at night covered
with a sheet. and amuse himself by
frightening people and creating a SEN
sation.
If there is place in Charleston that
seems inviting to ghostly visitors that
place is st. Philips church-yard: Its
recessed position, its weeping willows
with their branches nearly trailing over
the tombs. and intensi!ying the dark
ness of the night. the numerous graves
in such close promoXNy to each other,
all offer rs delightful 4 home to the
restless spirits as the Vale OF Tempe
offered to the dreamy child of song.
About halfof q century ago, midnight
pedestrians along Church street were
startled by the appearance Of a woman
in white who was frequently seen walk
inc solemnly but majestlcally near the
fence railing. After making her rounds
of the graveyard she would disappear
in the darkness of the trees and be seen
no more until the next night. One
night we'll known sporting man OF the
city in passing the Church saw the ghost
standing near the railing. Herright hand
was thrust out. and she was as motlon-
less as a statue. He seized her hand
and squeezed it in his vice-likc grip. a
piercing shrek caused him to release
her and she turned and fed, passing
into a window OF small house which
bordercd on the graveyard. She was
SOmQaInDullSI uuu llfCu III tiio Aoa"S
mentioned. The window was low and
she had no difficulty in passing in and
out of it. This was the last time, how
ever, she was seen walking in the church
yard.
A young man Of this city whose word
Is beyond question stated to represent
tativc of The Dispatch that not long ago
he was returning to the city Oh foot
along the meeting street road. When
Paync's bridge was reached he .'distinct-
lv'' saw six little ghosts sitting down
iobbing, nobbng and bobbin$ to each
other. They were dressed all i'll white
and icsticulatcd like clowns i'll pantom-
inc. lie held his breath to pass them,
but had not gone lar before he felt that
they were following him. Looking back
he saw that ali six were in pursuit. lie
could not stan,l it any LONGER and star