Haunted Hoofprints of Bath
The story of the mysterious hoof prints in Bath, N.C. goes beyond a ghost story or a haunted place. At first glance this is a morality tale about the evils of betting on the sabbath, drinking to much and disrespecting your wife. What makes this story different than most morality tales is that there is physical evidence that the following took place.
Jesse Elliot was a hard livin', hard drinkin' man who loved to race horses. He was also an obnoxious drunk who, being a large man, was intimidating as well. As it so happened on Sunday, October 13, 1813 a rider know one had seen before challenged Jesse to a race that day. Upon agreeing to a $100 wager, Jesse went home to get his horse 'fury' and head to the track.
When he got home his wife warned him of betting on the sabbath, rather than ignore her, he gave her a slap and began preparing his horse. As he rode off to the race, his wife yell at him "Jesse Elliot, I hope you go to Hell this very day!"
Jesse arrived at the track where a few of his friends had gathered to watch the race between Jesse and the dark stranger. Several of Jesse's friends thought there way something odd about the stranger. He seemed too calm to be about to race. Whatever bothered them about the stranger seemed to disappear as the race was about to start.
The race began with a jolt as both riders shot out from the starting line. It wasn't long before Jesse found himself in the lead with the stranger falling behind. With his usual overconfidence flowing, he uttered his last words. "Take me in a winner or take me to Hell". At that moment, as he went around a curve in the track, His horse reared up and dug it's hooves into the ground sending Jesse flying head first into a pine tree, killing him instantly. The dark rider rode past the dead man and disappeared, never to be seen again.
Some folks say that it was the Devil who was atop the other horse. As that was almost 200 years ago and I wasn't there I'll leave that to you to decide. What is known is that there was hair from Jesse Elliot's head buried in the tree for months after. The tree it's self turned brown and decayed on the side where Jesse made contact.
But to this day the hoof prints made in the soil by the horse can still be seen. Much like the Devils Tramping Ground, it is said that whatever debris is placed in the prints, will be removed in a short time. Locals even say that if you sprinkle food in the area, wildlife will eat every morsel except that which fell into the hoof prints.
What do you think?
Comments
I have been researching this topic for a long time and learned many different stories. I have heard of people that go and watch a stick or something disappear into the ground over night. Some people think I'm insane for believing in things like this and human spirits that cant get to heaven because they have unfinished business on earth. No matter what they tell me i will believe that u and people like u r not insane. I also heard about people that can see/hear the paranormal and speak to them.
My husband has been interested in the paranormal only watching from the side lines. After reading this story he has a quest to investigate, only because we camp in the fall not far from the hoofprints site. My point being, if indeed there are prints I'd like to see a video clip on utube. I understand the hoofprints are on private property. Will the owners allow taping? We shall see.
I was in Bath, North Carolina two weeks ago looking for the devils hoofprints. First I stop at the visitor center and ask where the the site is, and she was kind to show me on the map where to go find them.And she show me a piture of them,the piture was taken in 1960.As I was ieaving she said a lot of people have look for them and never reported they found them.I look for them never found them. The place has been log out and has overgrown with underbrush.I first read the story in a book worte in 1949 call The devils tramping ground and North Carolina mystery Stories,wrote by John Harden.What he wrote was Jesse Elliott was not racing on Sunday, but was giving the horse a wookout on Christmas Eve in 1813 and was thrown from the horse Striking a large pine tree killing Jesse.This was told by the Elliott family slave uncle Washington.I heard they are 50 feet off the Camp Leech Rd.Near Ward Rd.There is a Goose Creek state park in the area,are the tracks near the park? Gene Bryant.
In 2004 I visited the site with a decendant of the original owner and I can attest to the fact that the hoofprint were there at that time.
sorry about the partial post - computer-i-tis!
In 2004 I visited the site with a decendant of the original owner of the property. I can attest to the fact that the hoofprints were still visible at that time.
The poster above is correct about the recent logging, etc. If you do not already know where the prints are it is unlikely that you would be able to find them.
Some of the young decendants of the original farm owner, dug holes, years ago, to try to fool outsiders who would come seeking to see the hoofprints - further disguising the location.
Those same children, now adults, recounted stories of hog feed in the hoofprints being ignored by the hogs, and sticks, etc., not staying in the the prints. They even took shovels to the prints to try to "dig them out" but the prints always returned.
I could see that the prints were not as distinct an outline as I was told they once were; apparently due to the sandy composition of the soil in the area. If you are looking for a horse shoe- print you will be disappointed. The prints were more like an indistinct outline of a whole hoof; mere depressions in the sandy soil unless you know where to look.
However, skeptic that I am, I can still say that I personally saw the hoofprints at Bath and heard first-hand accounts of the mysterious qualities they displayed. I thought it interesting that the decendants of the original owner did not attempt to ascribe meaning to the prints and simply state the facts that they observed.
The "legend" as passed down within the family is similar to the accounts published in various books - which, I've seen, actually differ in some details - but the family holds that their telling of the legend is the correct one. They have told their story but I guess it is a little like when Yankees move into the area - outsiders often think they know things better than those who have been here for generations.
Peace.
thats just too creepy
I rode up and down camp leach road and I don't have the foggiest idea where they are located. I didn't stop and ask anybody because i felt foolish. All i've seen were homes and it was a curvy road so i had to concentrate..Does anybody know the exact spot?
I don't know the exact spot, but the last I'd heard the owners of the property were less than welcoming to people wanting to see the prints. So if you do find the property, do expect them to roll out the red carpet.
-Jason
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