Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-04-06
Straps uf gofat Aistoru.
"REMINISCENCES OF YORK.
Valuable Bits Of Local History Pre-

Valuable Bits Of Local History Pre-.
served by Septuagenarian.
DR.. Maurice Moore in The Enquirer of 1870.
There still stands on the cross street
in Yorkville, opposite the residence Of
the late Colonel Witherspoon, and at
present occupied by Mr.. Whit, a house
built by John Mcknight, carpenter,
and known in my day as "the red
house."
Mcknight sold the house in a few
years and moved to Florida. It passed
from one hand to another-frequently
changing hands. It bore an i'll name.
Strange and unaccountable noises had
been heard in it. 1t was said to be a
ten without a tenant.
A man named Abernathy, from
Charleston, a sailor previously, moved
up to Yorkville, bringing with him
some trunks of dry goods on specula-
ton. He rented the "red house." and
in one of the lower rooms laid the
goods out on long table, in default Of
counter, ready for inspection and
sale. Himself, his wife and his mother,
occupied apartments upstairs. They
soon told of being awakened at night
by the sound Of a crush, like goods fall
ing off the table. AS soon as they
could get candle lighted they hurried
down stairs. No one could be found.
The table, though, was overturned, and
the goods all lying on the floor. On
examining them not a piece was gone,
and nothing else they could discover.
appeared to have been disturbed.
Looking to bolts and bars with redou-
bled vigilance, they set the tables up
as they were before. Hardly retired to
their beds until they heard the same
sounds Of a crush. On going down,
it was repetition Of the first disturb
ance Table overturned-goods on the
f1oor-but not the wrapping Of finger
to be missed. This, Abernathy, his
wife and mother, all solemnly affirmed,
happened night after night. They also
heard, they said, strange rappings in
different parts Of the house, for which
they could find no cause, nor in any
way explain. The reputation Of the
house-confirmed in his mind by those
mysterious occurrences - determined
Abernathy to move his family, as
soon as he could get another house to
go in, firmly believing this one to be
a haunted house.
For long time "the red house" was
without an occupant, and had conse-
quently fallen much out Of repair. 1t
had got into DR.. Crenshaw's hands, I
think, when an opportunity Of renting
it, if in a better state, induced him to
have it fixed up. Abernathy had mov-
ed into the country; but, being lack
of all trades" DR.. Crenshaw got him
to take the job of glazing 1t, the win
dows being nearly guiltless of glass,
there being scarcely pane to the sash.
Abernathy came to town and went to
work quite readily, for in daytime he
did not mind being in the haunted
house. One evening, having been
drinking a good deal during the day,
he laid down before the fire he usually
kept up in one of the fireplaces when
he was at work ,and fell asleep. He
did not awaken until next morning,
and then was proud beyond measure at
the accident, boasting that he had
stayed all night, alone, in the haunted
house.
Abernathy, in his elation, began to
banter me for a bet that he would
spend a night alone in the haunted
house. I, of course, caring nothing
about the matter, declined. For
day or two, every time we cam! In con-
tact, he would again propose and insist
on it. At length, becoming annoyed by
his pertinacity, I determined on some
fun at his expense, and agreed to make
the bet with him on certain conditions.
He was so eager for the wager, he sub
scribed to anything to get 1t up. The
stake, by his own choice, was fine
hat, and a condition of the bet was
that after he once laid down that night
he was not to rise. If he did so on any
account he lost.
After supper, armed with his tools
and a bottle of whisky, he went into
the haunted house." He worked until
late, taking frequent pulls at his bottle
to fortify his courage. He locked and
barred the doors, and over each lower
window sash drove nail to prevent
them from being hoisted. At length
tired and sleepy, he laid down on his
pallet before the fire.
Outside, watching our chance, were
beside myself, William McCaw, Ran
dolph Erwin, and one or two others.
We were tired Of waiting, FOR
Abernathy had worked later than
we had anticipated. AS soon as
we saw through the windows that he
had laid down, we began operations.
His head could hardly have touched
the pillow till he slept, and so sound
was his slumber, he was not easily dis
turbed. We were provided with one
of old Mrs. McCalrs cats, a bladder
containing shot to tie to its tall,
and William McCaw had a syringe
which held nearly a quart, filled with
water ready for use.
Abernathy had fastened the window
so securely, it was great deal OF
trouble to get one open. With the help
of a crowbar, we at length succeeded IN
doing so. We threw in the cat as we
raised the sash, for she was getting OBJ
streperous, and using her claws vigor-
ously, and then let the sash fall or It's
own weight. This noise aroused .Aoer-