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namedFORT BOONE,of the time in best in-in honor of the Governor of the State. The dwelling thusbecame the citadel and deserves a passing notice. It is about twenty feet square, one and a half stories high, and built of large poplar logs, hewed and notched in such a manner as to bring the faces of the logs in contact with one another. Tho chimney is of rock and of massy dimension covering nearly one entire end. This old house is yet standing in a good state of preservation, perhaps the only relic of its kiud in our county. It is situated ten miles South-west of Abbeville C. II., a little off the main road leading to Vienna. About fifty years ago, it passed into the hands of Mr. James Taggart, and is now known as “Taggart's old place.” Within the palisade was erected a school house which served the purpose of a “meeting house” whenever a stray missionary would come their way, but it was no’t until the Spring of 1771 that they had anything like an organized church. At that time two ministers visited them, ordaiued elders and administered the Sacrament Lord’s Supper for the first this settlement. From the formation I can obtain, William Cal-houu, William Hutton and Patrick Calhoun were the elders ordained at this time. In November, 1772, the Rev. John Harris, the father of the late Dr. Nathaniel Harris, of Wil-lington, became the “stated supply” of Fort Boone, Bull Town, (Rocky River) and (upper) Long Cane. In 1775, the Rev. William .Tcnncnt preached at Fort Boone and speaks of it in his journal, as “one of Mr. Harris’preaching sheds.” Mr. Harris was a strong and earnest Whig, and it is said of him that he did double service when lie ascended the pulpit with his Bible in one hand and his rifle in the other, that lie “preached by example and precept.” He was wont to boast that every man in his congregations was a Whig. At the close of the war, when the country began to assume the habits of peace, the congregation to relieve the family at Fort Boone of the inconvenience*to which it had been subjected, determined to erect another house for worship. The place selected was near the site now occupied by Hopewell church, a temporary log house was built and the name cuaug-eU toLOWER LONG CANE.About this time the congregation united with Rocky River in a call for the Rev. Robert Meek 1 in to become their pastor. On the 29th of July, 17S-5, the Presbytery of South Carolina held its third meeting in a grove near Davis’ bridge on Little River, and ordained and installed Mr. Mecklin as pastor of these churches. This meeting was long remembered by those who were present, and spoken of as impressive and appropriate. At the close of a long and bloody war, the church emerges from the wilderness, and putting on the beautiful garments proclaimed “peace on earth good will towardmen.” During Mr. Mecklin’s pastorate, in the year 17S8, the present church building was erected, and the name changed toHOPEWELL.candidate in opposition to jur. oiuuu-berlain, if lie shall receive the Republican nomination. This is put on the broad ground that Mr. Chamberlain lias earned tho gratitude and deservesthe confidence of the whole people. The next step is, to make such Democratic nominations for Slate oilicea, from Lieutenant-Governor down, as may bo rendered necessary by the character of the Republican nominees —the opposition and nomination in every case to be based upon the dishonesty or incapacity of tiie republican candidate. Tbe next step is to elect the largest possible number of members of the Legislature and County officers. The white Counties will send solid Democratic delegations to the Legislature, but they cannot elect members enough to do any real good, if the colored Counties elect none but their Elliots, Whippera and Leslies.The object then must be to strive to elect such Democrats and Republicans, in the colored Counties, as, with the up-country members, will form a Legislature the majority of whose members shall be capable and upright men. Tn 60 working the Democrats will command the aid of the Reform Republicans everywhere ; they will command the sympathy and moral support of the whole country; they will secure, without a revolution, a government in every way satisfactory, and have solved, without bloodsed or violence of any kiud, a momentous social problem.”The policy proposed is a compromise policy /which has in view a division of the State offices, and also of the county offices iu counties where there are Republican majorities. It goes upon the principal tnat the half of a loaf is better than- none, and that in seeking to grasp all we may lose all. We have however tried compromises again and again, and the history of the past furnishes no argument in their favor. With the example of Mississippi aud other Southern States who have redeemed themselves from Radical rule, the people of the Shite are tempted to try n “straight out fight,” and we are disposed to endorse what we think will be the probable action of the next State Convention.Beaufort Tragedy.I have before me the original plan of the house, with a list of the subscribers and the amount contributed by1 MU__nnlnn.f n-l.inliThe following is the account of a terrible tragedy which resulted in the death of a wife of one of the naval officers of the Port Royal fleet:Capt. Smith and his wife anil child occupied two rooms in the Sea Island Hotel at Beaufort. Mrs. Smith was a very pretty woman, and apparently lived in perfect harmony with her husband. “ On Saturday morning Capt. Smifh intercepted letters to his wife from a brother officer in the fieet, wiiich terribly compromised Mrs. Smith. Outraged and indignant, Capt. Smith confronted his wife, showed her the letters, and charged her with infidelity. He would take their child, while she could return to her parents in Boston. In the meantime lie would have bis effects removed from the apartments they then occupied to another portion of the hotel. Mrs. Smith protested against this action, and informed her husband that if lie exposed her in that way she would kill herself. Capt. Smith replied that she did not have the courage to take her own life. He thou left her, went to the proprietor of the i.ntol nnfi fold him that after that dayUCCUULi iv 1 til jjijju-auiuiiiiigand since the late unpleasantnes,”The club above referred to as stated and situated were, if my recollection holds good, debating something about women ; two Imd delivered themselves and this writer was just in the act of unloading, when oue of the club remarked with great energy and emphasis: “Lord have mercy upon us, look yonder!” and his position whei^ he had spoken was that of an umbrella inverted by a strong and sudden gust of wind, leaving none iu doubt which way to look. At what? aye! there wasa run. Justin the front of the Lomax nee McMorries battery were to be seen two horses moving eastward in a slow walk iu single file, the tail of one being about ten feet in advance of the head' of the other; both their heads were enclosed with blind bridles; each boro upon his or her back a man’s saddle; both showed the wear of traces and collars, as well as evidence of hard work and poor pay. Sat thereon what? aye! there was the rub of rubs. The sitters were not men according to men’s mode of judging; they were not from the lower regions for they had no horns; they couldn’t be taken for angels forthe absence of wiugs aud general uncouthness qf appearance. They looked more like females of this earth and earthy, except their plain, clean but not very white coverings, all of a size and extending from the shoulders to the saddles—their position excluded other of them from our view. Above and over each rose a dome with flanges extending over and covering the shoulders, constructed to appearances of timber covered with black cotton velvet. They sat out at a left half face with faces to the front as motionless as monuments. Soon they were “lost to sight but dear to” the excited curiosity of who or what they were.The club adjourned at once without ceremony, with the covenant that each member would apply himself at once to obtain all and the most definite information possible of these mysterious persons or apparitions, and if any* thing satisfactory could be learned, to call at once a meeting and report. The point sought by them, as soon after learned, was Beulah, where a protracted meeting was In progress, and the information was of such a general character as to obviate a special meeting. T/icne arrived there just after the minister for the hour had taken his text and laid down his premises under a large aud well-filled arbor, where the horses took the nearest position attainable to the pulpit or stand, with appurtences unmoved and remained like statues during the service, causing the minister to forget his text, diverge from his premises and hasten to his conclusion. The effect upon the congregation, too, not less startling and stunning, ring the Intermission, the horses, disappeared, but returned when evening service began and tookwasDu-c.,thethesamr positions, shortening and confusing again the service, and disappeared finally when thojminister was giving out the closing hymn, much to bis relief, as a prayer was still due, as well as to the brother usually thauked for the tune. Who they were, what they were, and what was tho matter with them, are yet, so far as I kuow, mysteries unsolved only in ono particular, aud tho public for that are indebted to Dr. Isaac Branch for identifying them as the “Givven9 girls,” tlie daughters of a quiet old man and
Newspaper Details
Abbeville Press and Banner
Abbeville, South Carolina, US
Wed, Jun 14, 1876
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Marleta C.
NA, 26 Oct 2024
Other Publications Near Abbeville, South Carolina
The Abbeville Press
The Abbeville Messenger
The Abbeville Bulletin
The Abbeville Banner
The Independent Press
