The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1896-10-09
SCRANTON MISSISSIPPI FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1896

ghost was haunting the mill and lake.
or course, the company officials
scorned such an idea, but for all its
absurdity there was Il serious side to
the matter. II the place ever gained
the reputation OF being haunted no
negro would work there and the mill
would have to be torn down, as negro
labor is the only kind available or
possible to be procured. The com.
pany determined to lay the ghost at
once and forever, and to that end sent
'dowtSsa party well equipped with all
proper material for exorcism. The
party was composed Of Tom Smith
and Henry McTush, white men of
known bravery and coolness; also two
negroes, whom the presence Of the
whites might induce to stand firm in
the presence OF danger. All were
armed and carried Il supply OF food
and whisky.
They reached the mill at David's
lake in the afternoon, taking posses
sion of the shanty next to and almost
adjoining the one formerly occupied
by John James. After supper, when
darkness came, they lit lantern and
all sat out on the little gallery of the
quarters. There they gossipped, told
tales and drank whisky until they
were in a proper mood to defy the
natural or the supernatural. After
the supply Of tales had run out they
took To shooting craps down on the
floor.
1t must have been near midnight.
One OF the negroes was praying en-.
ergetically to all the powers contr0ll-
ing fortune that he might throw a
nine spot, and thereby win the means
to buy his gal new shoes. when sud
denly the door OF John James slanty
opened and shut violently. The play.
ers looked up at once. A piece OF
moon over in the for west gave dim
light. Ono OF the negroes exclaimed:
Liam o God, looky yondah"
From out Of the shadow in front OF
the James shanty came the form Of
man, walking as though lame and
carrying a long pole. Both the ne
groes at once broke for the woods.
Smith ana McTush stood their ground
like the nervy men they were. The
shade neither looked to right nor left,
but hobblcd straight on across an
open space and toward the lake, where
several skiffS were mOOred. AS though
with one impulse aud movement,
Smith and McTush fred at the thing,
but with no more apparent result
than If they had shot at the stars.
There was only the plunge of their
bullets heard ont in the lake.
"Spook or no spook, I'm going to
run that feller down." said Smith, and
as he started McTosh followed him.
They saw the ghost loosen one OF
the skiffs and paddle out into the
lake. Its motion had seemed to be a
slow walk, and yet, running hard as
they could, they did not catch up with
it. They, in turn, jumped into a skiff
and padded swiftly after. About
where John James body was found
the first boat stopped, and its mys-
terious occupant began to shove the
long pole down into the water. The
pursuers drew nearer and nearer, un-
til there was barely boat length be-
tween them and their object. All at
once they heard a terrible, awesome
cry, shrll and piercing. Stimuli.
taneously each man felt shock as
though from an electric battery-a
shock so severe and overpowering that
they collapsed and fell unconscious in
the bottom OF the skiff.
1t was daylight when they revived.
They had floated at least two miles
below the mill. They were so weak
and nervous, so numbcd and dazed,
that they had barely strength TO pad.
die to shore, nor has either one fully
recovered to this day.
Now, for anyone who dOubs these
things, or who is curious about them,
here are the lake and the mill, and
the Seab0ard Co. anxious to assist in.
vestigation. Also, the position OF
watclman Is open. Who wants II?