The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-08
At THE HAUNTED TAVERN.
(InrrodEburE (KNl Demncratl

Readers Of this paper will remember
tnat about year ago we published the
binod-curllnG experience OF the Yocum
Family at the ''hauntcd tavern" on the
Mack Cecil farm, three miles from this
place. The house was built In 1898 and
mas Bloody history. If its walls could
talk they could give n iiendlsh account
or the murder of n traveller for his gold
along about 1915. Here it was In 1920
little slave ran upon the roof to es-
cape the chagtiscment ut the hands of
his young mistress. She went into the
house and returning with a rifle, babe
the little imp to descend. He refused
and she shot him through the head, and
he rolled from the steep roof q corpse
at her feet. II was in this same house
that young DR.. Harry Thomas lived in
1880. using The upper story rs n "doc-
tors shop" and d!ssecting room. and
who died Il horrible death within its
precincts in 1882.
Brt 70 return to the Yocum family.
They moved into the place two years
ago. One day, as heretofore related,
the father and two sons were shocking
corn near the house, and something like
Il large red comfort came through The
wea therhoardng and Tapped in The air
and would then so back through the
r!anlts. This happened several times,
and always in daylight, and on the side
of the house where there was no VIM
dow or even crack in the planks.
While the blood-red object could be
seen by the men ut work in the field
and by the neighhorS, no one at the
house was ever able to see anything
unusual About the same time, but at
night. chairs began to bump or walk
across the floor The upshot of 1t was
| that the Yocums moved out and got
as far away from the place as posi-
| bic, going to the extreme end of the
| r., tt,s,- M -,
street, who lived in the neGhborhood
| bought the log or Kitchen part of the
| old tavern, tore ii down and out of the
| timbers built himself a domicilc, and
| from that day his troubles commenced
One night Uncle Billy left this place
| TO so home. On the way out he met
| 1000 cattle being driven by a ne!ghbor
who had long been dead. He halloaad
| to hm. but no attention was paid 20
the call, except that the ghostly herd
er rode within three feet of him, stared
! into his face, and passed on. Uncle
| L2tily" says this did not scare him
much, but udmits that he did keep a
| sharp lookout 10 prevent being sur
| rounded by the cat;ic. For two months
after this the old man always managed
| to get into the house before shutdown
/ But one night he was again delayed
| in town, and reached his gate ut Q
O'clock, and was raising the latch.
when something grippcd him on the
| shoulders from behind. For four solid
| hours he vas walked about the farm
| by this invisible force that held him
in death grip. al first he was dlspos-
ed to hold hack, but soon learned bet
| ter, for each time he rchened he was
| 80 vigorously showed forward that his
| head nearly jerked from his shoulders.
| Whenever fence was reached he was
Fitted over It and gently set on his feet
on the opposite side. After being
walked" all over the country the old
man was showed into sink hole. and
there lay till daylight lie then crawl
ed out made his way to neighbours,
and told his narrowing experience. In
relating this story to the Democrat
he said he was so years old and his
long walk "fatigucd him very much.
and was very wearing on his cons,itu.
ton He drew n line on the floor
with the blade OF his Barlow knife and
added: I'm Christian and am going
to heaven certain; hate liar as much
| as anybody. but what have told Won
! Is true as you see that mark on the
! fioor," and his looks and actions I'M
i pressed one with the tru,hfuness o:
| his tory.