Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-21
IT WAS A "HANT,o
A Ventriloquist Creates Great Excitement
Among Negroes Georgia Plantation.

Among Negroes on Georgia Plant n. ion.
A Drayton. Ga, special to the Atlanta Con-
stitatton says: During the past week the ne
groes or the place of Mr.. W. G.. Reddinp. near
this place have been violently excited over
the exploits Of what they took to be a .'hant'
in neighboring swamp.
There are several negro tenants living on
Mr.. ReddiAg's place, and among them one
named Jack, steady, valuable tenant For
the past week Jack had been hearing nyste-
rions and ghostly voices calling him from the
swamp. which lay along Il neighboring branch
The voice began calling: Jack, come and
take this log OF of me-" The negro thinking
that some in distress, ran to the
swamp. but on getting to the place from which
the sognd came he heard il OH in another d.
rection. He rushed OFF in that way, but was
again deceived. and still heard the same voice
calling him off further.
The negro. thoroughly frightened. went to
Mr.. Eedding with his tale and the next night
they sat up for the liant" A little after dusk
they heard it again and Immediately went in
pursuit armed with Winchesters. But the
will-o -the-wisp again led them on a wild goose
chase. and they could find no sign OF the source
of the cries.
The negro. Jack. and his family we're by this
time so badly frightened that they began max
ing preparations 10 leave the neighborhood.
Mr.. Residing. suspecting that it was the ma
hcious work of some one who had q grudge
against Hmm and desired to run his negroes
away, had Jack and his family go into cabin
near his home. and. taking his rife. prepared
to hunt down the intra der himself.
For the PAST week two agents of Il crop Guilt
vator had been stopping with Mr.. Redding
! and one of them volunteered to 60 with him.
About dusk the sounds began. calling the ne
gro by name and pleading with him to come to
the rescue. The negro family was almost
thrown into commissions of fear. but Mr.. Red
ding locating the sound in a tree standing out
IN the swamp, began to empty his repeater into
it in rapid succession. Presently the same
voice was again heard, calling from another di-
rsction: Jack. III get you before morning"
and. Il want your house.
"Gawd knows. you kin have it; don't want
1t any more, shouted the negro. All efforts to
locate the sound again proved unayailing, al
though the cultivator man was very Jealous in
| his efforts to find it,
day or two afterward the cultivator agents
left, snst, during the day. while Mr.. Reddiug
| was telling his strange story Mt the village. a
| gentleman with whom the men had stopped q
| day or two before mad sn equally strange story
ono OF the horses of the cuitivator men telling
him not to be so stingy with his corn anu fod-
der, but to give him thirty ears and four
bundles. The gentleman, being present HIM
self and seeing that the man was a ventrilo-
qulst enjoyed very much the excitcment OF
the negro, who was about to vacate the neigh
boraood, not believing much in having q mod
ern Baaams ass around him. The eultivator
man. after being detec ted told of the fun he
had been having at Mr.. Reddings place.
| The reality and explanation came like o
shadow over Mr.. Redding. bat il did not seem
10 awfni funny TO him - 1t did TO the rest Of te
! crowd.