Newspaper Clipping of the Day

Via Newspapers.com

This odd little story--I suppose you could call it “poltergeist lite”--appeared in the “Pickens Sentinel,” May 14, 1891:

Bennettsville, S.C., May 1--There was a mysterious occurrence in Bennettsville a few nights ago, which has puzzled the most philosophical minds.  Many theories have been advanced, yet the mystery remains unsolved.  Doors and windows are barred at night; nocturnal pedestrians ambulate the streets with lighted lanterns; the cracking of a twig or the rustle of the wind causes a sudden halt and rapid pulsations of the heart.

For two months Mr. P.C. Emanuel has been living in Mr. St. P. Covington’s house in East Bennettsville.  This is comparatively a newly settled place, splendid building, surrounded with sweet and luxuriant flowers, situated in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in town.

On the night in question, Mr. Emanuel and wife had just retired, but had not gone to sleep.  The moon was shining brightly, everything being quiet and serene.  About 11 o’clock, the report of what seemed a gun was heard at the bed chamber window.  The shot was plainly heard falling in the room.  Mr. Emanuel is not a timid man by any methods.  He has plenty of nerve and scarcely can be frightened by ordinary means.  He at once concluded that some one had accidentally shot into his room, but directly a second report, at the same place, was repeated.

Mrs. Emanuel was terribly frightened.  Her husband lowered the lamp, rushed to the window, threw open the blinds, and discharged his pistol in the direction of the ground.  For a minute or two all was quiet, when suddenly, in his room, near his trunk, in rapid succession, two reports of what seemed to be pistol shots, were heard.  After a short interval there were two reports under the house, directly under the bedroom, and just at that moment the house shook and crockery were rattled, and a noise was heard as if glass were being ground in a mill, and simultaneously every rooster in the neighborhood commenced crowing.

Mr. Emanuel says he was sure that judgment day had arrived, and that he had no other thought but that in a short time he would be facing the Immaculate Judge.  Mr. Emanuel vacated the house at once, and the place is now unoccupied, where “goblin damns” can hold high carnival.  Mr. Emanuel is an honest, truthful, and intelligent citizen, and the above facts were recited to The State correspondent by him in a special interview.