The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-01-02
The Ghost Chat He Saw
BY JOHN SWINTON.

ghost stories, | cannot say whether any
experience like that of which l an
about to tell has ever fallen TO the lot
OF any other mortal.
Shortly before the American Civil
War broke out, forty yea 8 ago, was
living III the South, ut the picturesque
capital of the "Palmetto State" What
kind Of place the city cf Columbia
may now be | cannot say, for the old
city of the name that | once knew was
burned during the period Of hostilities.
But, when / lived there, the CarOlin-
ians always cXtollcd their capital and
were proud of its fame as the most
beautiful city in The South.
| | boarded at the Mansion House, q
large and rather stately domicIlc near
The head OF Main street, not far from
the broad avenue on which stood the
residences of the plantation aristo-
cracy, who were the owners of herds
of negro slaves. 1t was typical
Southern domicllc of the kiud that
used to be raised by the planters a
hundred years ago. In front of it, and
on both of its sides, grew stately old
trees, which cmbowcrcu and shaded il;
the pillars at its entrance were fcst0on-
ed with cycrSrccns; the balcony was
like flower garden. From my win
dow | saw the palmettos and ragnolas
which grew in the court; | saw also a
fig tree, the ripe green fruit of which
was dainty that l sometimes plucked
at sunrise, ere yet George, a watchful
young slave Of the house, had got out
OF his cabin, and while yet his owner
was dreaming.
The master of the Mansion House
was grim old Colonel of Irish
birth, who had formerly served in the
foreign wars of the British army, and
member only as cholcric veteran at
once iron handed toward the slaves of
the establishment and indu'gcnt to-
ward the members of his family.
There was a social commotlon in the
Coloncl's household one autumn day.
Word had been unexpectedly received
that some friends of the family were
coming up from their plantation on
one of the Sea Islands, where the long
staple cotton grows, to spend week
with the Colonel's people at Columbia; !;
and the thought had suddenly entered
the head of the Colonel's wife that
there was not room to spare for all of
them at that time in the Mansion
House.
There was something like domestic
panic, and it came suddenly, without
warning; for the visitors from the
coast were TO arrive by the evening
train. They had to be made welcome
whatever happened. No apology for
lack of accommodations was TO be
thought Of. For "Southcrn hospita-
lity" in the antc-bcllum days was al
ways ready for any emergency; II sur
mounted every circumstance.
One of the Coloncl's daughters, who
seemed to be in much distress, sent
word to me that there was something
Of an unpleasant kind which |, as a
friend of the family ought to know.
" We arc in state OF perpleXity," she
said. She then told me of the situa-
ton in which the household was placed,
and how the embarrassment had arisen.
Her Iathcr had talked of going quietly
to hotel for week, but the visitors
would surely hear of it, and be uneasy.
He had also spoken of staying for some
nights in an old haunted house, long
deserted, which stood beyond clump
Of woods within sight; but he, tho an
old soldier, was very nervous, and got
so alarmed lest he might see the white
ghost always there at midnight that he
yielded TO the remOnstrances of his
wife. All the other notions that came
into his head had to be abandoned for
one reason or another. The visitors
must not know that the Colonels faml-
ly had been put to any trouble on their
account.
As | had previously heard of the
haunted house, tho l had never seen
it, | told the Colonel's daughter that l
myself would like to offer relief by
staying there for a few nights, as l was
not afraid of ghosts, and did not be-
lieve III them.
My offer was promptly and gladly
accepted by the Colonel, and my
quarters in his mansion were made
ready for the visitors in time for their
reception that evening. The perplexi-
ty was ended.
In the afternoon Of the day of per-
plcxity the Colonel told Black George
TO carry II cot, q small table, chair,
and a candle to the haunted house, for
my use. AS the ghost was never seen
there in daylight, the slave was not
afraid.
About ten O'Clock that night ] left
the mansion and set off in the dircc-
ton which George pointed out, saying
"Right up thar Massa," as he gigglcd
in the manner of his wooly-hcadcd
race.
| | took with me lantern, n pistol
and a novel. So, with stout heart, a
firm tread, and disdainful air, | made
my way along time-worn path
through the clump Of woods, beyonc
which / now saw lighted candle il
tho abandoned house, which was sale
to be haunted.
1t was rickcty old two story woodcr
rookcry which, as had learned, wa'
once the home of o slavc-trader, bu
which had not been occupied for near
ly II hundred years, or since the TIM
i