Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-05-30


eanny SQUADS and sights connected wrsth
sonae particular lossllly,
To this r,.ie Flea snee. Ala. many Of
whose older rsssdsness and fanailses date
back 10 the days q Andrew Jsrksnn.
forms no exception. AROUND several It
Tia ivy clad mansions n the old town
hang mysteries " hich make them objects
OF interest 10 the educated whites and 81
terror 10 she isnorsns and suprEstltaous
re~rts~.
Humanity ia every sese has been eager
a. listen - the marvellous and 10 s~ai-
low the incredible upun very slight guar
antae. However. 10 II upon no such slen-
der testimony that our story r-sfs
Early ia the history If the town among
the first attracted TO the locality by the
picturesque besuty u IL location above
IA. swift no~ins Tennessee MAS North
Caroiinian named Richard Hunter.
Wealth in those days was counted In
the south by the acreage IL plantations
sad b. the number Of slaves, male and
female. Of the former Richard Hunter
po-ssSsssl enough for q baropy and Of the
latter small regiment.
Around the great square brick house.
with its massive pillars and wide spread
ing porches. could DO seen bright and
happy black faces by the score. The
cotton fields r-sounded 10 the hoeing
songs of we'll conditioned and swarthy
feldh.Ands. while in tho quarters" not
far of pickaninnies and dogs abounded.
Richard Hunter bad but one child. the
sple heir-~s Of his acres and his wealth.
and she had inst bndded under the warm
ylanoes II southern sun into woman
hood. fresh and blooming a. Wild rose.
Alice Hunter was In that period ct
life where the present II - bright that
it, 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 " the man Of
her choice and was hsppiest in the knowl-
eige that Philip Marstons dearest hope
and highest aspiration conferred in herself.
Phil Marston. ~ he was known Ia
every one. or Marie Phil. a. the negroes
called him. was young. handsome. free
handel. free hearted. gallant and all that
went - mako him IN ideal lover.
In spite Of strong rivalry he had won
his ladylove, and the day wss set for
their marriage. Alice was only II, and
- the wedding day was postponed until
the following year.
Suddenly in 1885 the Cherokee war
broke ont. Philip Msrston raised q COM
pany of rifieinen from among the hearty
yeomanry OF the section and joined the
command II his friend and neighbor,
General Coffee.
Throughout the sharp and decisive
campaign that followed Marston bore q
conspicuous part for gallantry until the
final battle on the banks Of the Coosa.
Hemmed in upon a peninsula. bounded.
all but narrow neck Of land. by swol-
len waters Of the rivers. the chiefs and
brsvest warriors Of the Cherokees made
their last and desperate stand Leading
his rihemcn to charge, Philip Marstcn
fell. mortally wounded
Bad news travels quickly. Il was on
q night Of furious wind and rain that a
hunting shirted rifielnan brought the
tidings Of Philip Marston's death to the
Hunter mansion.
Suddenly the great bronze knocker on
the door pealed ont its summons, and
Alice. thinking that none but 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 be led and extended 10 her a
scrap Of paper on which her dying lover
had traced few words Of farewell.
Pale. calm. fearless. the ghost Of her
self. she watched the rude but loving
mourners bear him To q chamber in the
house aud lay HIM rs il asleep upon .
couch
Day by day she faded like lily that is
denied moisture. and within few short
weeks her spirit fed 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
horses hoofs are heard without. the old
kuocker clangs. footsteps sound upon tho
stairs, and the occupants Of the south
room-the same in which Philip Mars
tons body lay-receive a ghostly visit
ant .tr
Ten years ago the house was owned
and occupied by family named Thuns-
den. among the members Of which was
nephew named William Black. a young
and rising member Of the bar.
Early in the summer II 1914 the Thuns
dens went on their annual pilgrimage 10
one u the Virginia watering places. leav-
ing young Black the sole inmate. as. ac-
cors,ins % southern custom. the servants
lived in separate building.
Several days had gone by without in
cident until the night u June %. Black
hal started 20 e. Ia bed. bat was sud
denly seized with an unsccountsble lone
lines and distrust II his solitary condi
ton. and upon reflection recollected that
this was the anniversary.
Taking his hat and cane. he went in
search - fellow bsrrister Of his own
age an.i with whom he was intimate. ole
John +. Jones. who held forth upon tho
courthouse sauare and kept bachelors
ball over bis Office.
IL wa about II :3oocloek. and ~ bean
tifully calm and clear a moonlight night
~ heart could wish when they entered
the house. aud after licking the hall door
vent 70 Blacks room. the south chamber.
Young men make short work Of toilets.
~ they were quickly In bed. and neither
being sleepy Black started to tell Jones
the story Il the hsunsed room.
tie hal ;uss finished when the old