The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-09-13
LARRY GANTT'S WEEKLY LETTER
By T. larry CAN'T

spot. / remember when a boy hear
ing several Of these stories connected
with ncighbor;ng places both in the
lower and up-coua;ry.
In the early 40's near Rockvale, the
home Of Judge Richard CAN'T, in
Greenville cou2gy, was large two
story wooden residence, sitting back
a short distance from the public road,
known as the ''Markley Place" 1t is
said that this old house was haunted
and the story was implicitly be.iev-
ed. The story runs that more than
one murder had been committed IN
the house. A traveller was murdered
in an upstairs room, and cruel step
mother kicked q little girl down the
steps and death ensued. A highly re-
spected lady, who lived at this old
home when a BRIDE, told ME that the
house was unquestionably haunted,
for she has heard and seen manifes-
tations that could not be attributed to
natural causes. She said often in the
broad daylight, when sitting down.
stairs, she could plainly hear the
steps Of a small child cc"4in& down
the stairs and they wou.>! hen as
cend and repeat the walking up and
down. There was bend in the
stairs and she often moved her chair
so as to see half way up the stars,
when the steps would step at the bend
and then ascend. When she moved
her chair so as to see the entire flight
of stairs, the pattering ceased alto
gether, until she moved when it was
resumed This lady also said that
she would make up a feather bed IN
an upstairs room and smooth it very
neatly. She would then, both night
and in daytime, hear apparently some
one pouring a sack OF pears on the
floor from near the ceiling, or other
strange sounds. On ascending to the
room nothing could be seen out OF
order, except that in the middle OF the
bed the imprint of man was seen
she said that she would smooth the
bed and soon the aoise would be re-
peated, and the shape appear on the
bed. Other weird stories were told
in connection with this old haunted
house.
Near Lowndesville, in Ahbevllle
county, S. c., were two haunted hous,
es and also spot in the road where it
is said a traveller was murdered, and
a large black dog with him also killed
This spot was said to be haunted, and
that between sundown and dark a
large black dog was seen to run across
the read with it's head cut off. Negroes
avoided this spot after dark, and
MANY whites believed the story. There
lived nearby a family, among. whom
was a beautiful young girl, just bud
ding into Womanhood One day the
GIRL went TO visit a ne:ghbor, and her
valE carried her by the haunted spot,
Just befo.e sundown he. brother re-
marked that his sister had not return
ed. and as she would have to pass the
haunted SPOT about dusk, he would
ioo and meet her, lest she be afraid
SO lie started, but did not notice that
a large Newfoundland dog, belonging
to him. had trotted on ahead. JUS
before reaching the haunted spot nc
heard his sister give heart-rendin2
shrek, and on rushing to her assis'
tance found he girl lying IN the roac
| IN convu! .0ns. It seems that his dog
unnoticed by him, had gore on aheac
and lust as the girl reached thc
haunted spot, her mind doubtless on
the story of the headless dog, the
animal CHANGED to cross the read jast
before her. She undoubtedly mis-
took the animal for the ghcst dos and
with shrek dropped in the road.
She was tenderly carried home and
every effort made to restore her but
without avail. An eminent physician
of Lowndesville, DR.. Alexander Ar
mold, was sent for, and in spite OF
every effort she continued in convul-
sions. The girl was finally sent to an
asylum for the insane, and after
years she died without regaining her
ncDta? faculties.
But with the aboli.ic1 of slavery
ETECVTC T-TyE NDTRT