The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-03-09
A GHOST HUNT In GEORGIA
One ofthe Wierd SpoOk Tales from That
Land of Ha'nts and Hangings.
Pack of Blooded Hounds That Trailed Furi-
Gus Spirit Into the Canebrake and then
Turned Tail and Struck for Home.
r,r,,,xor,r ~ Atlanta constifu,ion.

EDWARD Young in AtieDta Cohsulu"Vn'
During the good old DAYS before the war.
there was no fairer belt OF country In all
the sunny South" than the grass-sodded
meadows. the graIn-studded bottoms and
the cotton covered and wooded uplands of
middle Georgia. 1t is a part of the history
OF ante-beIIum days-the comfort. indie
pendence, and free, happy life amounting
often To luxuryl in which the middle
Georgia planters lived. and therefore it is
not necessary TO repeat. in this sketch,
familiar facts so closely interviewer with
our country's past
q 10 was IN the early wInter-I was about
seventeen years old at the time-the incl
dent occurred which made such a lasting
impression on my mind, aud which has
caused me ever since TO listen with some
degree of sanction to wild and blood-chill-
ing stories by superstitious darkIes about
ghosts. Dhantoms and "ha'nts."
IL had been a perfect October day-that
crisp. clear and bracing weather which fol-
lows when the sun appears after day or
two of hanging and haze mists. 1t was
bracing without being bitter or freez-
ing. and just such day as
makes gunners and dogs wish that
that day knew it would be great night Tor
'possum or coon. i ordered Jake. the negro
boy who was my constant companion on
all hunts. TO feed the dogs well ana have
plenty of lightwood for torches. and we'd
try our luck when night came out.
As had foretold, tho night was match
less one for q hunt. Clear and clondless
with the stars twlnkline in the skies. but
not so bright as to run q 'possum with his
shadow"
Jake. with the dogs yelping about him, a
blazing torch in one hand and a small bag
of lightwood over his shoulder, was ready
by . o'clock. and. full of expectations. we
left home. Before leaving We decided to
strike for the "blg woods" stretch of tim
Der covering several acres about half q mile
from home, which abounded In 'possums
We had four of the keenest-nosed dogs in
our pack. led by Rover" backed by three
of the swiftest young hounds / ever saw.
They were In fine trim. eager for hunt and
trembling for the chase they knew was In
store. Jake and i were equally anxious
and it required but a short time to reach
the creek bottom skirting the woods, and q
few minutes later we were in their depths.
The dogs had bounded away some time be-
fore and We could hear them yelping down
the bottom. We had scarcely entered the
woods before we heard one OF the dogs give
q long. keen bark which WAS followed by
the sharp. rapid yelD of the hound when he
10 on q warm trail
"Dar, Mars JIM" cried Jake. "Rover's
struck. an he's close on 'em. too. Listen
how he moufs, Well have dat possum in
ten minutes. OAR" he continued, as the
other dogs Joined the chase and made the
woods aud the hillsides ring with the wild
music. "Dey's powerful close on dat ami
NAL. You don't hear dem young dogs talk
in for nothin'w
TRAILING THE SCENT.
We halted to note the direction the dogs
were trailing. As we stood there the yelp-
In fai nfa nd lad ha a
had passed the branch and were making
across an open field on the other side. But
there was no installing that they were on
. fresh trail. and we were moving to follow
them when Jake, holding the torch high
above his head. with his whole form quIv-
ering with excitement. cried:
Its q mOnst'ous cat, Mars Jim. He's
maxim fer de woods. Don't you hear i'm
mashin' down dc canes down yonderi"
And did hear. plainly enough.
Not more than two hundred yards from
the edge of the woods W as big cane-brake,
and as Jake spoke i could hear the crack
ling of the canes. as If some large body
were rushing through them at terrific speed.
The dogs were trailing back now. and
their yeips conld be heard every moment
growing louder and clearer. They were
coming down the hillside, and in a moment
more were among the canes.
It was growing exciting.
With q sight ace it could not be moro
than o few minutes before the dogs would
push the GATOR cat felt certain it was
and We would have a splendid fight. for
those dogs. though young. were game to
the backbone. and strong and active as
leopards.
My blood tim led at the expectant sport
and my enthusiasm rose as | heard the dogs
strike the woods. every one mouthing till
the whole country rang
He'll make back TO de creekW cried
Jake, in his excitsment whirling the torch
about his head and yelling like q mailman
20 the rushing hounds.
Suddenly the eager yelps of the dogs
changed to an uhearthly whine. and a mo-
ment more the whole pack rushed among
rs, their tails down and their bodies fairly
sbivering with fear.
"Oh, Lord. Mars JIM" screamed the
negro. his excitement giving way in a mo-
ment To the most abiect fright. Oats a
ha'nt. Dem dogs done too queer. Dat amt
no hbe animal. Let's 60 homer
shut up, you fool These dogs are young
and the cat gave them more than they
wanted. Come on. we'll strike again"
MARS jim. don't you do 10. Don't fool
By the light of the torch 1 saw he was
nearly wild with fear; his eyes seemed
starting from his head. aud his skin had
that ashy. drawn look common to negroes
who have been sick long time. The dogs
were In an equally bad state and had hud-
died together behind Jake, Bringing and
whining. their eyes glaring. painting from
the rapid race. but utterly devoid of any
shut M, you idiot" | said to Jake.
There's no such thing as 'ha'nts' If there
u, / will kill one tonight. Come on,
Rover" / continued. whistling to the lead
dog. Come. Guy; come. Minnie. After
him, Sllckw
started in the direction from whence
the dogs had como. but. instead of follow
ing me. they turned and with increasing
yealps ran towards home. In vain / called
them. They were soon lost to sight. and in
. few minutes heard them loudly barking
In the yard at home.
THE SNORING HA'NT.
had taken but few steps when heard
the animal the dogs had been chasing
crushing through the woods to the right,
and the noise made was as if 1t were huge
OK rather than O Wild cat. could plainly
hAar LIZ nanfinn and annrfinn LIE a unnnn