The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-04-21
THEY THE GHOST

history has it's haunted no, 70 and it,
story of ghostly visitants and eerie. un
canny sounds and sights connected with
some particular locality.
To this rule Florence, Ala, many o.
whose older residences and families date
back to the days of Andrew jackson
forms no exception. Around several OF
the ivy clad mansions Of the old town
hang mysteries which make them objects
of interest to the educated whites and OF
terror to the ignorant and superstitious
negroes.
Humanity in every age has been eager
to listen to the marvellous and to swal
low the Incredible upon very slight guar.
antee. However, it is upon no such slen
der testimony that our story rests.
Early in the history of the town among
the first attracted to the locality by the
picturesque beauty OF its location above
the swift flowing tennessee was a NORTH
Carolinian named Richard Hunter.
Wealth in those days was counted il
the south by the acreage of plantations
and by the number of slaves. male and
female. Of the former Richard Hunter
possessed enough for u barony and of the
latter a small regiment.
Around the great square brick house
with its massive pillars and widet read.
ing porches, could be seen bright and
happy black faces by the score. The
cotton fields resoun.ed to the hoeina
songs of well conditioned and swartly
fieldhands, while in tie quarters" not
far OF plckaninnies and dogs aooun>.ei.
Richard Hunter had but one child, the
sole heiress of his acres and his wealth
and she had just budded under the warm
chances of a southern SUN into woman.
hood, fresh and blooming as a wild rose.
Alice Hunter was in that period OF
life where the present is so bright that
its glow reaches out and dominates the
future. Wealth, doting parents, gratifi.
cation of every wish were hers: but above
all she had won the love of the man of
her choice and was happiestin the knowl.
edge that Philip Marston's dearest hope
and highest aspiratlol centered in herself
Phil Marston, as he was known tc
every one or 'Eial,e Phil, as the negroes
called him. was young. handsome, free
handed. free hearted. gallant and all that
went to make him an ideal lover.
In spite of strong rivalry he had woe
his ladylove, and the day was set fol
their marriage. Alice was only II. and
80 the wedding day was postponed until
the following year.
Suddenly in 1886 the Cherokee wal
broke out. Philip Marston raised a com
pany of rifemen from among the hearty
yeomanry of the section and joined the
command of his friend and neighbor.
General Coffee.
Throughout the sharp and decisive
campaign that followed Marston bore a
conspicuous part for gallantry until the
final battle on the banks of the Coosa.
Hemmed in upona peninsula, bounded.
all but a narrow neck of land, by swol-
len waters of the rivers. the chiefs and
bravest warriors of the Cherokees made
their last and desperate stand. Leading
his rifemen to a charge, Philip Marston
fell, mortally wounded.
Bad news travels quickly. 1t was on
a night of furious wind and rain that a
hunting shirted ri1eman brought the
tidings of Philip Marston's death to the
Hunter mansion.
Suddenly the great bronze knocker on
the door pealed out its summons, and
Alice, thinking that none but a lover
would brave the tempest and darkness.
few to greet him.
In silence and with bowed head the
hardy pioneer pointed to the riderless
steed which he led and extended to her a
scrap of paper on which her dying lover
had traced a few words of farewell.
Pale, calm, fearless. the ghost of her
self. she watched the rude but loving
mourners bear him to a chamber in the
house and lay him as if asleep upon a
couch.
Day by day she faded like a lily that is
denied moisture, and within a few short
weeks her spirit fled to join his in another
world.
Since then the Hunter house has had
many owners and many occupants, but
every year upon the anniversary of that
stormy night in 1887 the stroke of a
horses hoofs are heard without, the old
knocker clangs, footsteps sound upon the
stairs. and the occupants of the south
room-the same in which Philip Mars
tons body lay-receive a ghostly visit
ant.
Ten years ago the house was owned
and occupied by a family named Thuns-
den, among the members of which was q
nephew named William Black. a young
and rising member Of the bar.
Early in the summer of lS12the Thuns-
dens went ON their annual pilgrimage to
one of the Virginia watering places. leav-
ing young Black the sole inmate, as. &C
cording to southern custom, the servants
lived in a separate building.
Several days had gone by without in
cident until the night of June %. Black
had started to go to bed, but was sud-
denly seized with an unaccountable lone
illness and distrust of his solitary condi-
ton, and upon reflection recollected that
this was the anniversary.
Taking his hat and cane. he went in
search of "a fellow barrister of his w
apA and with WHOM he was intimate, one
John T. Jones. who held forth upon the