He wasn't expecting to see another person on the trail at Rivers Bridge State Historical Site, so when Tally Johnson of Great Falls saw a flash of blue before his eyes, he did a double take.

"The blue moved out from behind a tree and I realized with a start that it was a dark-haired, bearded man in what appeared to be a blue wool jacket," he wrote. "He was carrying an old-fashioned rifle. ... I thought about shouting a warning about swimming being prohibited, or even about snakes, but the shock of seeing him hit me like a shot. In amazement, I watched the figure, ignoring the steady buzz of feasting mosquitoes."

It was August 2006, and Johnson was taking a break from his travels in the region. He walked for several minutes before stopping at a bend in the trail to watch for wildlife.

What Johnson saw next is the stuff of lore.

"When he thrust his arms out and fell backward into the murky water without a splash, the spell of the moment was broken." The man never came up for air, Johnson said.

"That was just dumb luck," he said of the sighting. To Johnson's knowledge, no lore is connected to that site.

The Rivers Bridge incident is just one of the many encounters Johnson had with the "paranormal" as he researched subjects for his second book, "Ghosts of the South Carolina Midlands" (History Press, $17.99), a book that explores local legends passed through the ages. In it, Johnson assesses each tale, visits each site and lets readers know what he did -- or didn't -- see.

"I've seen probably more than my share," Johnson said. "I've visited all the sites at least once.

"The one cool thing about my book is I do call bogus on some of them (stories)."

Sources for "Ghosts" ran the gamut -- from personal experience to old documents, newspaper clippings, the Internet, other ghost story books and interviews. Stories come from Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Edgefield, Greenwood, Hampton, Lexington, McCormick, Orangeburg, Richland and Saluda counties.

Johnson, who works as branch manager of Chester County Library's Great Falls Branch, was in the fifth grade at Lyman Elementary School in Lyman when he first heard Nancy Roberts, a celebrated writer, storyteller and actress who has written several books on South Carolina ghosts, talk about collecting ghost stories and her experiences. He said from there, he was hooked.

"The older I got, I kept the interest," he said. Johnson said he would go ghost hunting with his college buddies when they would hear about a creepy spot. After he married, Johnson said he would purchase ghost books and then complain to his wife, Rachel, about their content.

"She said, 'Why don't you write one?'" he said. "Well, I did, and I published it."

His first book, "Ghosts of the South Carolina Upcountry," was published in October 2005. Johnson said his next project will include documenting ghosts in the Pee Dee region of the state. He has plans to stay away from the Lowcountry and Charleston, as those stories have been done so many times before, Johnson said. He said he may, however, look into tales of South Carolina's Sea Islands.

Johnson said there are many experiences that stand out in his travels across the state, including tales told to him by Claflin University President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale.

According to Johnson, Tisdale shared several stories about unusual sights, sounds and experiences in campus buildings. His accounts are documented in the book's Orangeburg County chapter.

"I was just amazed," Johnson said of the university president taking out time to chat with him during an orientation weekend visit. "That one stands out because of the way I got hold of it."

Johnson said that without a doubt, ghosts are real, but they most likely won't be found in their final resting place -- graveyards.

"My experience is, if someone does something every day for 60, 70 years ... after that person dies, you can see, hear them," he said, comparing the spirits' "imprint" on the world to a film being played again and again. "The more it plays, the worse quality it gets."

And, because Johnson said they are just "doing their thing," people should not fear ghosts. He said the best way to observe a ghost is to be quiet and still and, above all, pay attention.

"If you go somewhere this time of year (when it's warm), and you get goose bumps on your arms, there's probably something going on," Johnson said. He said ghost hunters should be aware of strange lights, weird smells, the sound of foots.jpg or seeing a door close by itself. Additionally, those seeking a visit from beyond the grave should be respectful of private property.

"Remember, if you find something (a ghost), it's probably not aware you're there," Johnson said. "It's just like watching their movie."

T&D Features Editor Wendy Jeffcoat Crider can be reached by e-mail at wjeffcoat@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5546. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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