The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-13
For The Herald and News.
The Legend OF Stony Batter. Newberry
County, s. C.

Whoever heard of Stony Batter!
Few, I dare say, thought for that mat
ter
It shares alike with thousand others
Whose name and fame oblivion smoth'
ers.
And so, to wrest it from its fate,
I'm free this Iegned to relate:
A graveyard, full of wooden crosses
And ancient oak-trees, hung with
moses, <
Our Stony Batter was of olden,
With superstitious awe beholden
By all the German Pslatines
Who dwelt about its dread confines.
For ghosts inllong white cloaks attired
And by most savage traits inspired
Twas said-were stalking here and
roaming,
E'en from the early hour OF cleaning
Till late at night, SO that from fear
None of the neighbors ventured near.
Among these plain and peaceful people
Paul Sutter dWelt, straight asa steeple,
Strong as bear, bold asa lion
And like him was his every scion
OF whom in all he numbered six,
Each fond of boyish pranks and tricks.
For twas these youngsters who en-
acted
The part Of spectres that distracted
Their neighbors' minds and set them
frantic
By many masquerade and antie;
Twas wrong, no doubt; still anyway
Boys-Win be boys till judgement day.
One eve in Seventeen Hundred Eighty
When British power pressed hard and
weight5
AS anywhere, SO on these regions
And Tories roamed the land in legions,
Paul Suffers aunt, tears in her eye,
Came TO his homestead with this cry:
Just now a Tory.hsnd of hundred
Came to my house which they: have
plundered
OF every food, cen to 3 platter
I had prepared Of homemade batter.'
Asked Paul: "Where are theYsp She
replied;
They camp close to the graye-yard's
side.u
"Here, boysw said he-s.is an occasion
To ply your ghostly avocations!
Don quick your masks, your sheets,
your caskets,
Fill to the brim with stones your
baskets,
Bring every tin-pan, plate and pail;
Then follow promptly on my trail y
All dressed in white, masks on their
faces
Approached the camp With stealthy
PAGES
Across the graveyard at whose border
They formed their line in battle-order.
Here lying down, close TO the foe,
They could observe each move below.
Mid ravine, enclosed py lodges
And running long the graveyard's
edges,
A fire was seen with figures sitting
Around its glare and others fitting
About the camp.groVe until all
Were summoned there by Whistles
cali. s5
This was the time by Paul awaited;
For while around their meal belated
They gathered and with jestfnI chatter
Discussed that sayory dish Of batter
Then with unearthly noises round
Arrow Of ghosts sprang from the ground.
a
And from their midst a giant towering
'Boye all called out with tone DER
power;ag:
Now, boys, now give them Stony Bat.
terpD
And downward came q patter-clatter
OF massive stones by wen-aimed throw
Upon the Tories heads below.
"What does this mean?" these asked
astounded
When from their midst voice re-
sounded:
"Why! See you not the graveysrd's
spectres s,g.
With skulls and shronds? A thousand
Hectors
Avail here not, nor sword nor gun!
Flee for your lives! Run, comrads,
4 runv' :
Up to their feet the Tories darted
And leaving everything departed
With utmost hurry, heiterskelter
To seek the distant forests shelter.
On their return next morn they found
Their victuals gone, all else left sound.
But on a ledge with charcoal written
They read this notice: s'Serfs Of Britain!
Depart from here and leave this region,
Or dread the spectres' wrathful legionp'
The Fories, overcome with fear,
Were wise enough to disappear.
But when abroad the fight was bruited
And Suffers feat became reputed,
So to perpetuate the matter,
The place was baptized "Stony Batter;
And to this day it bears that name,
Though few, but few know, whence it
came
T. MUENcH.
Charleston, S. c., Sept. 4, 1893.