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| True Mississippi Ghost Stories
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Cold Spring Plantation
Pickneyville, Mississippi
Dr John Carmichael was an Army surgeon and very eccentric man who came to Wilkinson County in the late 1700s, and settled Cold Spring plantation. Over the next couple of years he erected one of the finest mansions in the area. He used only the finest lumber and stone and surrounded it with iron and wooden fences. Carmichael’s favourite part of the house and where he spent most of his time was the wine cellar. He collected wines from around the world which he and his friends would drink daily. Dr. Carmichael loved his collection so much that he moved a rocking chair into the cellar so he could sit and rock and stare at his collection. The Army surgeon took the love for his wine collection one step further by leaving specific instructions in his will about what to do with his body following his death. He wrote that he wanted to be buried by his friends on the property but first they were to place a casket in the wine cellar with his body in it and drink every ounce of wine. For two days his friends drank themselves silly and when they began to sober up they couldn’t remember where they buried their good friend the Doctor. Days went by and they finally remembered the location of the body. The casket was dug up and brought to Woodville for proper burial. On the way to Woodville the casket fell from the wagon at least a half dozen times. Eventually Dr. John Carmichael was buried again but it is believed that he does not rest in peace. To this day people claim to hear the sound of the old Doctor’s rocking chair creaking in the wine cellar.
King's Tavern
Natchez, Mississippi
King’s Tavern was originally built as a block house for Fort Panmure during the British occupation of Natchez. Built in 1769 with beams from a ship, it is the oldest building in Natchez. It served as a resting point on the Natchez Trace and was also the first mail stop in the Natchez District. In 1789 the house was bought by Richard King. He moved his family in, changed the building into an Inn and Tavern and named it King’s Tavern. The Inn catered to boatmen, travelers and even outlaws. One of the outlaws to stay at the inn was Micajah "Big" Harpe, of the infamous Harpe Brothers. The Harpe brothers murdered at least forty women, children and men in the late 1700s. While staying at the Inn, Micajah Harpe walked into another guest’s room, drunk and irate and snatched a crying infant from its mother. He swung the baby by its ankles and smashed it against a wall. The child died instantly and he returned to the bar to have another drink. Another murder that took place at the Inn was that of the King families maid, Madeline. Richard King took a liking to Madeline and began an affair with her. When his wife found out she had the young maid killed and her body was bricked in behind the chimney wall. In the 1930s the home was being renovated and the remains of Madeline’s body and two unknown men were found along with a jeweled dagger. Madeline is believed to be the root of all the paranormal activity in the building. Her full-bodied apparition has been seen on numerous occasions by employees and patrons. She is believed to be responsible for leaving footprints in freshly mopped floors. They appear on the floor seemingly out of thin air. Madeline has also been known to open doors and slam them shut. Water and lights turn on and off on their own, dishes are thrown from shelves and chairs move and shake when no one is near them. Madeline isn’t the only ghost reported in the building. Many people have heard the sounds of a baby crying in rooms that are known to be empty. The apparition of a man in period clothing has also been reported lurking around the building. He has also been captured in pictures. Many people complain of tightness in the chest and shoulders while in the building.
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