The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-09-13
STORIES OF our SOUTHLAND
Superstitiohs Among Ante-3eI.um
Southerners

A short time since l started on a
trip with friend. Ny companion
was large and successful farmer ard
a man Of education and unusual IN
telligence. We had gone only a short
distance from his home when he sop
ped his horse, asked ne to hold the
lines, and getting out made a cross
mark in the road, spit in it and then
turning his Vehicle around drove back
to hs house. ! asked what he meant
by all of that riganaYole. He stated
that he had forgotten to leave his
barn keys, and to p.,yent any mishap
or Ill luck on retracing his steps he
always made a cross mark and spat
in it. On conversing with my friend,
/ found him full Of superstition as
an egg is full Of meat. He told me
that he had frequently noticed that if
YOU did not pursue this practice some
i'll fortune was certain to overtake
you before your return. He also
believed in spiritual manifestations
and spoke of q haunted spot IN the
road near his home, where during the
Revolutionary war, several Torres
were killed ii skirmish with Colo
NAL troops. He said at certain times
in passing this spot, he heard tramp
ing of horses and the rafting and
clashing of swords. On my express
ing doubts about the truth of his sto
nv. he introduced me to several high
ly respected and intelligent men anc
women of the settlement, all of whom
found strong believers in thai
haunted road.
There is streak Of superstition
in all Southern whites raised during
slavery times, and which they imbibet
from the negroes. Remove from ou'
blacks the restraining hand of th<
white man and the influences of Chris
tianity, and in few generations they
would relapse into barbarism and be
come converts to voudcuism, witch
craft and other superstirions charac
teristic of their African ancestry, a:
instance in st. Domingo and oth2i
West Indian Isles, when the black:
are in control and an overpowerlne
majority.
Even John C. Calhoun, the great
South Carolina statesman, had
broad vein of superstition running
through him, and believed in spirtua
manifestations. Mr.. Calhoun wa:
often a visitor at the home of my
great-grandfather, Judge CAN'T, Of
Greenville county, S. C. Ny fathe'
told me he has often heard Mr.. Cal
houn narrate ghost stories and ne
told Of his own experiences. He salt
while member of the U. S. senate
before the days of railroads and wher
travellers made long journeys G!
horseback, he was en- route to Wash
ington and spent the night with
large planter and intimate friend i
Virginia. On reti1cg at night, Mr.
Calhoun was consigned to r2oaal ans
bed with another gentleman who wa
also a guest for the night. On con
ducting them to their chamber, tn
host remarked that # they heard anN
commotion during the night not t.
be disturbed. lie had had information
that his elder son had landed from ;
vessel, having attended Oxford col
lege in England, and he expected hin
at any hour, having sent horse. tc
Washington for him to ride home on
After being asleep for some time
Mr.. Calhoun says he awoke by being
shaken by his bed-fellow who re,
marked:
Great God, Mr.. Calhoun! Just
look in the window, for there stands
young Blank (son Of their hcsD, WITH
his throat cut from ear to ear and his
blood is dripping ali over the window
slip
Mr.. Calhoun said he looked at the
window uut could see nothing save
the stars shining in the sky, but ms
companion insisted that he plainly saw
the bleeding young man.
Mr.. Calhoun said at that hour 2
clock struck and he knew the exact
time that the apparition appeared.
His bed-fellow was very much eXclt-
ed, but Mr.. Calhoun told him that
what he saw was purely imaginary
and cautioned him not to say anything
slooo br4 h;e con,nonic1 was so eX-