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SAID BERKELEY WAS PARODIBE.A Promoter Who Told Fafrey Stories • of Mythical Town;The Charleston Post says the wilds .of Berkeley county have never been 'said to be the llue and glorious country, as one D. L. Rlsley, president of the Berkeley Railroad Company, has represented the place to be, In his efforts to induce settlers to buy property aud settle In the alleged nourishing colonies of Chlcora and Berkeley.A few days ago Attorney Julllan Mitchell, Jr., representing William StolTofd, Instituted proceedings in the United States circuit coqrt for a receiver of the Berkeley vallroad and tolt; seoure possesion of certain stock. The numerous allldavits which Mr. Mitchell took In the preparation of the papers to show that Rlsley Is not the proper party to manage the property, cast some interesting light on Rlsley’s character, and furnishes at the same time some amusing reading. Never before was Berkeley county represent ed as a “paradise,” which Rlsley claimed for It, aud It .will he news to the public to learn that a regular weekly railroad service is operated between Berkeley aud Chicago. The Berkeley railroad is a small affair, running from Monck’a Corner to Chlcora, a distance of ten miles, and according to one Garrit Dcwlnkel, a Hollander who sold out all his property In.Minnesota and came South to I settle in Berkeley, upon Uisley's representations. the road Is In such a condition that after getting the free puss over the road which was given as a further inducement for his settlement in South Carolina, he was afraid to use it, and walked the distance of the road rather..than risk his life and limbs on the cars..The followiug affidavit of Dewinkel is similar to those tiled with the court which now has the matter under advisement, and it will he interesting and amusing reading to those especially, who are acquainted with the primitive conditions of life and business pursuits In the county which is pictured In such glowing terms by thepromoter:State of South Carolina, Charleston county - Personally appeared Garrit Dcwickel, who being duly sworn, says he has been living at Springfield, Minnesota. That he is a native or Holland, and not well acquainted with the language and the country. That he was induced by Mr. D. L. Rlsley to ccmedowu to Chlcora, being induced thereby by letters from Mr. I). L Itisley to himself, setting forth the nourishing colonies of Chlcora and Berkeley. That Berkeley was a new colony and that from the letters from Mr. 1). L. Ilisley and also from Mr. .!. L. Kisley he came to the conclusion that the country from its description must be a paradise, and determined to come clown and buy a farm. He was also informed that they had a delightful house, barn, chicken house aud outbuildings which he could rent very reasonable on the farm, and that they also enclosed to him a complimentary pass over the Berkeley Railroad Company. That efforts were made to get him to pay down some money before leaving his home, which he declined to do. That upOo arriving at Chlcora he found 110 settlement at all at Berkeley, aud none of the facts stated in the letters to him to be true, and that everything had been misrepresented to him. That the house they showed him was back out in the woods—there were no barn, chicken house and outbuildings 011 the farm and one could see through the roof of the hou.se at almost every point. That the railroad was in such a condition that he was afraid to use his complimentary pass and walked back. That the whole thing as described 10 him was a fraud, and that lie, a poor man, has been put to the great expense of using his savings to come down for nothing. That lie intends to return to Minnesota. That he sold out everything he owned in the world at auction Lu come down and buy this farm.That he was also Informed to bring his machine and other appurtenances of his trade as tailor—that lie could get a number of customers and do a lucrative business as tailor in tins new settlement. That on his trip up to Chlcora he never saw a single man who' had ever had a suit of clothes matie or would ever have one made to order.
Newspaper Details
Marlboro Democrat
Bennettsville, South Carolina, US
Fri, Jun 10, 1904
Page 7
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 09 Dec 2022
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