Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-10-24
PHANTOM RACE TO DEATH.
Horrible Tragedy OF Y,ars Ago Re.
pented tightly hy Ghostly Figures

Horrible Tragedy o. sars Ago Re-
peated n ghtjy by Ghostly Figures.
In Harnett County, % niles north Of
Fayetteville, n. u, stands the ruins Of
once fine residence in the midst of a
plantation oyergrown by briars and old
deld pines. The fences have all rotterr
away, and the old house has for yeax
been the abode of bats and owls. 1t is
known as the" Haunted Morrison place,
and there is not negro III all that see-
ton and but few while PEOPLE who
could be induced to go near the old
house after shutdown.
Every night the measured hoof-beats
of horses are heard coming down the
graye.ed driveway which led up to the
door of the old mansion. Coming ont
from under the shadows of the cedar
and magnolia trees in the lawn milk
white steed, bearing two ghostly riders,
a man and woman, turns to the cit
into the long park lane. For little
distance the hoof- beats are heard slow
and regular, then another ghostly steed
"a black one-with a single rider,
comes down the gravoled walk aid
turns into the lane in the same dmec-
ton. Then faint, weird scream Of
terror is heard, shout from the rider
OF the black steed, and then the phan-
tom horses and riders begin race to
death.
Faster and faster fall the hoof beats
down the long, dark lane, the black
steed with its single rider all the time
gaining on the white one with It's
double burden. Where the lane mar
rows into the wagon road at the edge
of the forest stands a giant oak tree.
There the white steed falls to the
ground. There is moan of agony, the
black steed and rider reach the same
spot in a moment, then they, too, dis.
-sss s3.5ss5. f.sp.s ali is still. The rasce is
ended. There is no applause for the
winner, no shouts Of victory-it was
race to death
Years ago, it appears, Carroll Morri-
son, the richest man in all that section,
lived in the mansion, and his hundreds
of slaves cultivated the rich plantations.
which yielded him princely income.
When near go years old, Morrison
married Rebecca Thomas, the pretty
daughter of well-to-do planter. 1t
was not iove-match. True, Morrison
was pleased by the girls beauty, but
she hated him. Her parents forced her
to marry him because of his great
wealth. Their married life was torture
to the beautiful young girl. Morrison
soon became madly jealous OF her, and
his cruelty eliminated in his claiming
her in vacant room in the house.
Before her marriage Mrs Morrison
loved young man in the neighborhood
and had promised to marry hiIi One
day, while in chains. she managed. al.
great risk to herself and the messenger,
to send :;im note telling him her con-
ditlon and begging him to rescue her
The note was delivered by faithful
slave, who brought back an answer
from the faithful lover that he would
attempt her rescue that night He
came, entered the house by stealth,
broke the chains, and carried his loved
one out 81 the house in his arms. His
horse was conceeled in the lawn, and,
placing Mrs. Morrison in front of him,
he mounted and rode to the long lane
as quietly as possible
The jealous husband, however, had
been aroused and their flight was dis
covered. Quickly mounting his favorite
race horse, Morrison started in pursuit.
He caught sight Of the lovers as they
turned into the long lane, and then be-
gan mad race for life and liberty.
Where the road made a bend at tile
end OF the lane stood large oak. As
the horse the lovers rode attempted to
make the turn there, his feet gave way
and the two riders were thrown with
terrible force against the oak and in.
stantly killed. The horse fell and be-
fore he could rise the horse ridden by
Morrison was upon him. Horse and
rider went down. Morrison was
thrown twenty feet BY the fall of hi,
horse, and his neck war broken. Only
the horses escaped instant death, and
hey were crippled.