Carters Valley Road

In Kingsport Daily News article from 07/04/1982 entitled “Does Bill Hankins’ Hand Still Haunt Carters Valley”, Pete Dykes explores the legend of a ghost hand in the Caney Valley Community. It was said to have been cut from a farmer who refused to reveal the location of his money to rebel soldiers. After they murdered the man, his hand sought revenge.

Bill Hankins was one of the wealthier residents of Caney Valley. During the Civil War, four Confederate soldiers broke into his home one evening and overpowered him. They tied him to a chair and interrogated him for hours. They wanted to know where he stashed his money, but no amount of persuasion would get him to talk. They beat him, degraded him and pinched his flesh with red-hot fireplace pincers. Since he had raised such an alarm, the soldiers decided to make a hasty retreat. They set fire to the house and left Bill to burn to death inside. On their way into the mountains, they tossed the hand into the ditch. They had no idea the dead man’s threat was a curse.

On the banks of the Holston River in the Phipps Bend area, their leader began complaining of a choking sensation. He told his comrades that it felt like someone had their hand around his neck. He went off to lie down in the early dawn. No more than an hour later one of the soldiers found him dead. He had choked on a piece of dried beef. Another man died soon after. They were crossing the river when suddenly he was dragged under. His two companions tried to save him, but it was almost like someone was holding him under. When the last bubbles came up, his body floated free. The other soldiers fled. The next day, a third man was found choked to death, dark bruises lining his throat. The survivor decided to get as far away from the town as possible and rejoin his troop. A few days later, he was founded dead. He had choked to death on a chicken bone.

The phantom hand did not disappear after retribution. To this day, some people in Caney Valley believe it is still wonders the community, tapping on peoples shoulders when they are out at night.