The two stories are about money that is supposedly buried in the remains of a community, and the ghost of Lady Vanderbilt, who haunted a cabin in the woods.
Supposedly a Native American legend, this story was published by Zebulon Baird Vance in 1852. It tells the story of a Native American warrior who journeyed east to acquire a gun, in order to kill a great serpent, which had been terrorizing the tribe.
Learning part of a song when he was a boy, the author strove to find the full song when he finished high school. As the tale goes, Johnny Sands and Patty Haig married after happening upon a pot of buried treasure. Wanting the gold for herself, Patty Haig attempted to kill Johnny, but ended up dying herself.
The tale was perpetuated by Paul Jennewein, who helped to preserve Wilmington’s cultural and spiritual traditions through his column “Along the Cape Fear.” First published in StarNews in 1950, the tall tale contains an element common to legend: a possible foundation of truth. The capture of flounder could have happened during the Great Depression for families not able to afford the customary Christmas turkey or ham.