Haunted Mansion Stories- Tale of the Broken Crypt

In war or peace, poverty or wealth, no one messes with Leota.

Tale of the Broken Crypt

            The city of New Orleans was spared much of the horror which accompanied the War Between the States. Yankee forces captured it on May 1, 1862 after a week of bombardment on the fortresses downriver.

Maj. General Benjamin Butler took command and quickly imposed harsh restrictions. Yet this didn’t prevent him from visiting the homes of the local society. One of his first stops was the Gracey Estate to pay respects to the long lost daughter of one of Atlanta’s more powerful families.

The Graceys were a political enigma. Gracey Shipping Company was four-square behind the Confederacy. Much of their business was contracted to the Richmond government and large sums were loaned to that institution. The family members were of a different sort. Lilian was 100% Northerner (having rejected everything her father believed), though she kept her views private. Master Gracey had been raised in the city but educated and made his name in New England. The couple contributed to all the right candidates and hosted parties for the powerful of every stripe. The most that could be said of that family was, they knew which backs to scratch and when.

As General Butler waited in the Library, George and Lilian discussed how they should deal with this sudden change in the winds.

Quite unbidden, Madam Leota made her appearance before their guest. Leota cared for war only as much as it provided her with recently departed spirits to enslave. She thought a little offense to the Blue Coat Commander might serve her well. She glided in luxuriously, wearing the most revealing dress imaginable for the day. Butler could not restrain his attentions for Leota was indeed a fine woman. After a short exchange of pleasantries she sprung her trap,

“So Mr. Butler, why is it that the people are calling you ‘Spoons’?”

“I have no idea what you mean Madam.”

“Honestly my dear General. Everyone knows you relieved the LeChances of their silverware last week and poor Bartholomew Highgate is beside himself over his empty strongbox.”

“I say! Such charges are hardly to be bourn!  If you were a man I would settle this as a matter of honor.”

“Be careful Sir…there are still men in this city who will come to a lady’s defense.”

Furious at this assault on his name and authority (and stung by the truth of it), he rose and made to leave.

Then Leota fired her parting shot, “Don’t bother looking here. The dead have a better chance of finding our gold than you.”

            The next day saw General Order #28 issued. It restricted the activities of women in the city and provided that any such who should insult a Union officer would be treated as a “woman of the town plying her avocation.” The uproar this caused in the North, South and Europe was wildly amusing to Leota.

            General Butler did not forget the cryptic remark about the Gracey treasure. He formed a unit of handpicked men and lead them himself to search the Gracey graveyard. Leota had planned this very reaction and was ready. One late June night, the troops attacked the largest mausoleum, dismantling it one stone at a time. They had created quite a hole when Leota unleashed the ghouls. Hellish screams and apparitions of the victims of battle surrounded the soldiers. They threw down their tools and ran into the swamps. .0Leota herself appeared before Butler in the form of his wife, ravaged by all the atrocities of war.

His will broken, the General fled alone back to the city. He issued orders for all units to avoid Gracey Manor and he ruled thereafter with an iron, if jittery, hand.

Leota’s demons inhabit the crypt to this day, ready to defend her from all who threaten.