Duppy Stories

Treasure Beach Forum: Dem Good ole Days : Duppy Stories
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Raymond on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 - 08:12 pm: Edit Post

I wonder if present day Treasure Beach residents tell, or hear duppy stories anymore.As children of the forties and fifties, we endured some of the scariest duppy stories that the older men and women related regularly, especially at night time when they congregated in neighbours' homes to socialize. Fishermen on their way to the seaside very early in the mornings could tell some of the most bizzare stories about the things that they saw along the way, and also at the seashore.
Many people discredit these stories as products of great imaginations, but I personally believe that they saw these unusual sightings. They were not known to fabricate stories, so why would they make up these tales?
My own father who I trust implicitly could tell about seeing huge dogs laying in the wash at Calabash Bay, of seeing a coffin laying across the pathway while returning home from visiting a young sweetheart who lived some miles away.
Men of the Sandy Bank district often times sat around a tank in your yard and regaled us with some scary stories, and when our bedtime arrived we were even too afraid to enter the house.
One of the favourite sujects of sightings were
'Rolling Calves' and they were frequently seen along the lane passing the old Meeting House. We were awakened one night by the neighbour across the road yelling loudly " Alfred, Alfred, Oh my God, look outside your house the lane is full of rolling calves dragging chains behind them". We all llooked outside through the window panes, but we could see nothing. That does not mean that he saw nothing. We certainly did not like to be in the lane after dark for many years afterwards.
As a seventeen year old, I accompanied my older sister to the old post near Cross Roads to retrieve a mailed package one night. The mail van arrived around nine PM every night in those days and there were no street lights to chase duppies away.
As we reached the gateway of old Josiah Reynolds' house a beautifully manicured white poodle trotted out to sniff us, and it walked a short distance between us, before darting aside and under the wire fence where he shook his body violently and came out of that shake, a two legged white bird.
In amazement, I was relating to my sister what I was seeing, but she could see nothing.
However, when I told her the dog was now a bird, she threw the package away and took off at a run that Usain Bolt could not keep up with. I tried to follow her but couldn't catch up. When I made it home my parents were trying to revive her with smelling salts. She vowed that she would never again accompany me after dark.
This is a true story, I swear to God.
The advent of electrifying Treasure Beach with light, chased the duppies away, it seems.

.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By From Yard on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 10:28 pm: Edit Post

People say they are still there...but I think the funeral home is doing something to keep them from wandering...lol.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Len on Friday, June 21, 2013 - 11:58 am: Edit Post

Hi Raymond, are you Franky's brother?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Raymond James on Friday, June 21, 2013 - 07:26 pm: Edit Post

No! I am not Franky's brother, His name is Ryman


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ebanks on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - 07:15 pm: Edit Post

I think Raymond James is Maas Alfred (Keith) James and Miss Emmy's son.They grew up at Sandy Bank opposite Miss Una, Miss Evie and Conley. I hope I am right. He seems to be a great story teller. I grew up being afraid in my younger years until I grew out of it. I heard so many of those duppy stories and actually seen them more than once. I guess with so many lights and activities they are now afraid themselves.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Archie on Friday, August 16, 2013 - 08:43 am: Edit Post

The dog disturbed the white bird near the pond as he darted into the darkness, cuz, no duppy there! LOL
How do you feel as a sojourner in a foreign land? Could you give us a piece on this?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Raymond on Monday, September 09, 2013 - 10:07 pm: Edit Post

Hello Archie,
Would you believe that after 58 years residency in Canada, I feel very much at home here. Most of my formative adult years I spent here, I feel foreign when I visit Jamaica. I used to know everyone in Pedro, but very few now remain. I have no idea who you are. Wish I did.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Archie on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 - 12:00 pm: Edit Post

Hello Raymond,
I am your first cousin 'B's second to youngest brother. I at times feel like an alien in Jamaica which has become so coarse, but TB is one of the places which still feels like home, and I intend to make it my home again. I wish you would come home, maybe you would have fun connecting the present residents to those you knew. Maybe we could make some bammies!
I hope you and family are in good health.