The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-10-24
An Old Carolina Church.
atlanta Journal.

atlanta Journal.
PENDLEToN, S. c., October H. Three
miles from this quiet little village, In the
midst of thick body of woods, is an old
stone church, which has been standing
there for more than hundred years.
The church la square, with the appear
ance of an old Jail, and has history as
strange as 1t ia true.
II is gloomy place at night, especially
when the moonlight sifls through the
leaves upon the mounds and monuments
beneath, and the owls are forever giving
out their death.like cry. Very few will
venture there after the sun goes down.
It was here that the great Calhoun was
wont to weud his way on Sabbath morn
jnes to hear the word of God as it came
nom the lips of come rural divine. One
night in the ante bellum days man took
refuge in this church from binding
storm, and had a very novel though, un-
pleasant adventure. The man, jenkins,
was the overseer for large planter several
miles below the church, while his home
was farther up the country, and IN going
from one place to the other he had to pass
BY the church.
It was his custom to go home Saturday
nights and return early on Monday.
Jenkins was brave man, and cared very
little for all the idle stories about the 8 host
in the churchyard, and as he passed it 80
often he never gave them thought.
Early one morning be was returning to
his work when very suddenly a terrific
thunderstorm came up. The lightning
split the trees almost over his head, and
the rain came down in torrents. he was
not far from the church and be FASTENED
on, intending to stop there and walt until
the storm was over. The door was open,
80 he entered and led his horse close to the
door and held him by the reins. The
storm continued to roar, and during
iect in the rear of the church. The next
flash showed that the object was coming
closer though very slowly. He pulled his
horse near the door and was ready to
spring on at any moment. Another flash
showed the person, for such it appeared
to be, right at his back.
Quick as fash be sprang on his horse
and the person in white eprang on behind.
Such yelling before was never heard.
The horse seemed to be as wild as his mas
ter, and on he plunged, while at every step
q demoniacial scream escaped the riders
lips.
death.lik grasp, never speaking WORD:
The horse was nearly run TO death and
Jenkins was trying to jump down when
the "ghost" said very calmly: jenkins;
don't be q fool" "And who in the hell
are you," asked jenkins now beginning to
gain some self.posseesion.
II am Margaret White" and then che
loosened her hold and slipped down cff
the horse.
She was half witted woman who roam
ed around the country, and like Jenkins
had taken refuge In the church from the
storm. Jenkins could never be persuaded
to enter that church again after dark. and
when he passed 1t on bis usual journey 1t
was not without q sGudder as he thought
of bis adventure on that stormy night,
Two large pine trees in the centre OF the
graveyard have their own peculiar tale to
tell. They stand at the head and foot of
humans grave. A great many years ago
e1 Governor Perry. and General Bynnm,
a great politician in the Palmetto State,
fought a duel, 10 which the latter was kill
ed. His remains were brought here for
burial, but according to the law of that
day man who was Killed in duel could
not be buried in any graveyard. His
friends, however, dug bis grave. just outside
the fence and at the head and foot of the
grave drove pine stakes to mark his last
resting place until suitable stone could
be erected. But those stakes grew and are
now more than hundred feet high. Later
the old fence was torn down and the grave
ward enlarged, and now Bynum's grave is
within the enclosure, where the two pines
stand like two giant sentipels, keeping
their everlasting watch over q. duelilsCs
grave.
But the saddest story. which is remem
bered by only few, is yet to tell. An
old farmer whose head Is bent low with
thesnows of eighty winters and who has
lived near this church all his life told 1t to
me in substance as follows:
During the late war there were two
families living near this church, named
Edwards and Hall. John Edwards, though
quite young, had enlisted in the Con feder-
ate army and was one Of the many brave
soldiers who fought for what they believed
to be right. Since childhood he bad been
in love with Mamie Hall. She was true
girl and gave the young soldier her whole
heart, though she knew that her father
would never allow the marriage 70 be
contaminated. Hall and Edwards were
not very friendly, and Mamie's father had
very little respect for her lover. he often
told her so, and said he wanted that fool
ishness" between them to cease.
In '63 John returned home on furlough
and II haQ D66n arranged OeLWeeu nlu duu
Mamie that they would get married. She
finally consented to this, and the wedding
was to take place at the stone church on
the following Monday. The arrangements
were all made, and on the appointed day
both were at the church ready to be made
man and vile. After they had been duly
married, they returned towards home,
when they met Hall coming on his horse
with his gun on his shoulder. He asked
lift was true that they had been married,
and, receiving an affirmative reply, he
raised bis gun and without word shot
John Edwards dead.
With cry that rent the whole air Mamie
fell PROSTATE across the dead body Of the
newly made husband Shouldering his
gun the murderer quietly rode away. An
hour later some neighbors passing along
the came road found both the lovers cold
in death. The next day two new graves
were dug at this old church and the loving
though murdered couple we're laid to rest,
side by side, forever. The murderer tried
to escape. but was captured, tried and con-
victed. But before the day set for his
death he died in prison by his own hand
Ifall the silent graves in this still more
silent graveyard could tell their tale many
stories OF laughter and tears would be
brought before the public gaze, but we
would rather leave them In peace.
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