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Pirates & Ghosts
The Grand Strand has a storybook history. Indeed, dozens of books have bee written about long-lost Indian tribes, colorful pirates, and roaming ghosts. But for the most part, these stories have been shared orally – told and retold over hundreds of years, generation after generation. Not surprisingly, the stories change over time, as different storytellers add their own embellishments. As a result, there are many different versions of the same story. This hasn't diminished the importance of these tales to our local culture, or the enjoyment of hearing, reading, or re-telling them.
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The area's first inhabitants are the subject of the oldest and perhaps most elusive stories. While much has been written about Native Americans, documented facts about local tribes are scarce. Physical evidence of their existence and way of life has been more forthcoming, as arrowheads, pottery, and other artifacts continue to turn up.
A new chapter in the area's history and lore was introduced after English colonists settled in the area. Suddenly, goods and supplies needed to be imported and exported across the ocean. By the 1700s, scores of pirates had taken to the high seas to intercept cargo vessels and make off with the goods. The South Carolina coastal waters were especially productive for pirates, and the coves and inlets along the Grand Strand provided great hiding places for these marauders. Pirates who became local legends include Edward Teach, called Blackbeard because of his coal-black beard, and Drunken Jack, who was left behind on an island with a huge stash of stolen rum (and died with a smile on his face).
Of all the tales told over time, the ones most dear to our hearts are ghost stories. We love our ghosts – especially the good ones, which most of them are. The most enduring ghost stories are of Alice Flagg, ghost of the Hermitage, and the Gray Man. Alice roams beside the waters of Murrells Inlet, searching for a ring she received from a young man her family did not approve of. As she lay in bed ill with a fever, her brother discovered the ring on a ribbon around her neck, became enraged, and flung it into the inlet. The story of the Gray Man also involves a tragic love story, as a soldier returns home to marry his sweetheart. Riding on horseback, he has an accident and is killed. His spirit, however, lives on, and he is able to warn his lover of an approaching hurricane and save her life. Since that time, many people have reported seeing the Gray Man before a hurricane and heeded his ghostly warning to seek safety.
To learn more about these and many other local legends, visit an area bookstore, where you’ll find a wide selection of regional books. Local tours guides and cruise operators also highlight the area's folklore.
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