Peter Dromgoole

Of the many tales of ghosts and ghouls in North Carolina, few can match the heartbreaking story of Peter Dromgoole and the haunting of Gimgoul Castle. In 1833 a young man named Peter Dromgoole was on top of the world having just arrived from Virginia to study at UNC. His live only got better when, in a few short months he met and fell in love with a beautiful young lady named Fanny.

As the couple grew closer they found a secret meeting place all their own in a flat rock on a cliff over looking a wonderful wooded area. On the afternoons when Fanny would reach the area before Peter, she would sit on the rock and feel the breeze in her hair while waiting for him. Soon, he would appear walking along the winding path toward her. Everything seemed perfect for the two lovers, and soon their lives would be destroyed.

It wasn't long before Peter noticed a close friend of his also had an interest in Fanny. What had once been just an annoyance to Peter soon grew into something that the very thought of would send him into a rage. While Peter took every step needed to avoid his so-called friend their paths were bound to cross.

And so it happened one afternoon. The pair came face to face on a narrow path on the UNC campus. As they past, they bumped shoulders with such force that Peter's hat fell to the ground. Heated words were exchanged and before either knew what was happening, a duel challenge had been thrown down and excepted. The spot chosen was the lovers spot beside the cliff. The hour was picked to be midnight and all the plans were kept utmost secret.

At the duel both men backed off the agreed ten paces in the fog they took on the misty shapes of ghosts. Suddenly, they turned and fired. The shots cut through the eerie silence. The seconds rushed to their men, but it was too late. Peter Dromgoole breathed his last.

Terrified at what had just happened, Peters rival and the two seconds quickly dragged the body to a large flat rock and hastily dug a shallow grave, dumping the body in it for covering it back up.

Peters family then received a letter stating he was afraid he might bring shame upon them so they probably would never hear from him again. An uncle was sent to the school to find Peter, but never found a clue as to what had happened to him.

This story of Peter's death was a deathbed confession by a former student 60 years later. There are other stories though. One has Peter running away to join the army, although there were never records to prove this.

And what about Fanny? She spent many afternoons crying on the rock where they would sit together. Although she wondered how it came to have the reddish brown stains on it. It it said that both she and others have witnessed a shadowy figure walking along the path to the rock.

Is it Peter Dromgoole trying to get to his love?