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TRUE STORIES
of the
SAVANNAH
PRICE $1.00
H. T. CANNON, Publisher CALHOUN FALLS, S. C
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II T. CAXXOX. Calhoun Falls, S. O.

PREFACE.

There are many incidents of historical interest connected with the Savannah River, the dividing line between Georgia and South Carolina, the first heing the visit of the Span iards under DeSoto in 1540. About one hundred and ninetysix years passed from that time until the coming of the English settlers under General Oglethorpe to Savannah. Then after forty-two years of peace and quiet, grim war interfered with the peaceful pursuits of man, and the Savannah became one of the many scenes of conflict and blood-shed. Every student of history is familiar with the story of the seige and assault upon the British garrison at Savannah, Ga. in 1779, and of how the world famous Count Pulaski, of Poland, lost his life along with many soldiers of South Carolina, among whom was the noble patriot, Sergeant Jasper. The writer has visited the monument in Battery Park at Charleston that was erected to his mem ory in 1876.
In making mention of what took place on the Tugaloo River seems like a departure from my subject, but the Tuga loo is the main and largest of the mountain streams that flow together and form the Savannah. In visiting a brother-inlaw at Madison, S. C. in 1911, the writer made it a special point to visit the site of the old Revolutionary fort and stood over the tomb of Col. Ben Cleveland who commanded one-fourth of the American army at the battle of Kings Mountain, N. C., Oct. T, 1780. Nothing took place during the Civil war along the Savannah but the passing of Sherman's army, therefore little mention is made of it in my story. The stories of Indian days and of their raids upon the early settlers in this region are of interest to both old and young. The pathetic story of the drowning on the lower Savannah is taken from a sermon by the late Rev. Sam P. Jones. Like the sudden and tragic ending of a beautiful love affair reads the story of young Lester Waters and his bride, when he, with his bride and nine companions, were hurled without warning into the turbid waters of the

Savannah at Harper's Ferry on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1920. Only one young man lived to tell the story. The victims were found at different places and at different times, covering a period of from three days to six weeks. One body has never been found.
The writer of this story helped to search for the bodies of the victims, and strolled the river bank in the bright moonlight where nature seemed to contradict itself. On one hand was the beautiful green leaves and white flowers, and the sweet songs of the birds, on the other was the pall of gloom and sadness caused by the tragedy that destroyed one entire family and brought sorrow into five more. The writer has talked with three young men at Calhoun Falls that were boyhood friends and schoolmates of Lester Waters and they all speak of him as "a good boy" "a fine fellow," etc. It seems that he did not have a single enemy in the world.
As I stood and gazed at his swollen and disfigured body at Millwood on that beautiful May morning, four weeks to the day from the time he met his tragic death, I thought of what Socrates said just before he drank the fatal cup: "No harm can befall a good man whether he be alive or dead."
The writer talked with both of the men who found his body and the story herein related is absolutely true.
It will be noticed that some of the stories contain more or less humor, but the writer has been careful to put humor where it properly belongs. I have also attempted to write of the great men of the Savannah valley who have gone to their eternal reward.
It is well to keep the names and deeds of those good men fresh in the minds of the people of our land. Mr. E. L. Fant has given me permission to use his poem, also Mr. D. H. Magill very kindly allows me the use of his poem.
To each and every one who has helped me in this under taking I say, thank you!
Xow may this little book be the means of doing much good for all time to come.
H. T. CAXXOX.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

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Introduction ............................................................................ 9

"^ The Passing of the Spaniards................................................ 11

^ The English Settlement at Savannah 1733 .................... 13

^ --- Stories of Indian Days--Massacre on Long Cane ........ 14

Seige and Assault upon Savannah 1779 .......................... 15

The Patriotic Mountaineers on the Tugaloo .................. 17

Augusta in the Revolution .................................................. 19

Sherman's March to the Sea .............................................. 19

Millwood and the Island Pleasure Resorts ...................... 20

Calhoun Falls--The Shoals and the Town ...................... 23

How to go to the Pleasure Resorts .................................... 26

A Hearty laugh in the Face of Death ................................ 27

The Writer and His Bateau ................................................ 28

My Friend from Augusta .................................................... 31

Gen. James Edward.Oglethorpe ........................................ 32

Sergt. William Jasper ........................................................ 32

Gen. Nathanael Green .......................................................... 34

Gen- Anthony Wayne .......................................................... 35

Rev. John Wesley .................................................................. 35

Count DeEstaing .................................................................... 36

Other Great Men at Savannah ............................................ 37

N John C. Calhoun .................................................................. 38

Benjamin Ryan Tillman .................................................... 42

Ashbury Churchwell Latimer .............................................. 43

My Grandfather and Father ................................................ 39

James Chalmers .................................................................... 41

The Aftermath of Kings Mountain .................................. 41

Slavery Days .......................................................................... 42

The Boundary Line ............................................................ 44

Agnosticism ............................................................................ 45

Prohibition .............................................................................. 45

The Tricksters ...................................................................... 46

The Ugliest Man .................................................................... 47

A Georgian's Viewpoint .................................................... 47

The Islands of Millwood .................................................... 48

Elbert County, Ga. .............................................................. 49

Abbeville County, S. C. ...................................................... 50

9276SJ

An Abbeville County Mystery ............................................ 51 Sad Stories of Drowning in the Savannah .................... 52 The Drowning in "Hominy Pot" ...................................... 52 A Man and His Two Little Girls Drowned ...................... 53 Two Young Men Drown at Millwood ................................ 54 Ten Persons Drown at Harper's Ferry April 4,1920...... 55 Drowning of Mr. Conwell at Gregg Shoals .......'............... 60 The Writer Visits Harper's Ferry .................................... 61 A Letter from Mr. J. W. Waters, (Lester's Father) ...... 63 Lester Waters and His Bride ................................................ 64 The Last Enemy .................................................................... 67 The Harpers Ferry Tragedy as Compared with the
Massacre on Long Cane .................................................... 67 Where is the Body of Charley Meschine .......................... 69 A Story of the Saluda .......................................................... 69 A Word of Sympathy to the Bereaved .............................. 70
SELECTIONS Death by Drowning by B. S. Trasy, M. D. ...................... 71 The Easter Drowning in Savannah (Poem) by
E. L. Fant ................................:......................................... 73 Somber Sighs the Savannah (Poem) by D. H. MagilL... 75 A Tribute from a Friend of Boyhood Days, by
G. G. Grant ........................................................................ 77
Why did the Bodies Not rise and Float in Less time? .... 7.8

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
INTRODUCTION
Although I have herein recorded many other interesting stories about the Savannah River and the country adjoin ing, my main object is to give the public a full account of the Harpers Ferry tragedy, in which many thousands of people are interested, but did not get the full particulars.
The sudden taking away of those young people was a calamity that will be remembered for all time. Especially sad was the case of Lester Waters and his young wife. In May 1918 he bid her good-bye and went forth to war, (they were lovers then). He passed thru all of the dangers of the war safely, and came back hearty, hale and happy, and very soon married the young lady that he had loved so long.
After two months of wedded bliss their happy young lives were blotted out by the waters of the River that they had known and loved from childhood.
They now sleep side by side in the Presbyterian cemetery at Lowndesville, S. C. Like Sergt. Jasper, Count Pulaski and the hundreds of other noble souls who have taken flight from the Savannah into Eternity, Lester was a soldier and died in the service of mankind. With the long list of Savannah heroes we now place the name of William Lester Waters.
H. T. CAXXOX.
L

WILLIAM LESTER WATERS.

Ferryman in charjre of the flat at the time

of the "accident that cost the lives of 10 young

people, at Harper's Ferrv near Lowndesville,

S l'.. April 4, 1920. His body was found on a

small River.

island in the middle of the Savannah Mav 1, 1920, after having drifted twelve

Miles.

P. S. He was called Lester.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVAXXAH 11

THE PASSING OF THE SPANIARDS.

Looking over the map of Georgia and South Carolina

we see a number of small rivers flowing down from the

mountains, the Chatoo<<--r- a.* Tolulah, Tug*_~aloo and Cliauvs. a. In the north-west corner of Anderson County, S. C.? the

Tugaloo and Seneca converge and from thereon one majes-

tic stream wends its wa*v. to the ocean. This is called the Savannah,' so named for a tribe of Indians bv. that name. In April 1540 there appeared an army of Spaniards under

the command of Ferdinand DeSoto upon the banks of the

Savannah. These were the first white men to see the mighty

river that now marks the boundarv. line between Geor*g-- ia and South Carolina.

But they were searching for gold, and their only con

cern was how to get across and press on in quest of the pre

cious metal. They marched up thru what is now Aiken.

Edgefield, McCormick. Abbeville. Anderson and Oconee

Counties on the east bank of the Savannah. It was nearly

two hundred years after the passing of the Spaniards until

another "paleface,7' as the Indians called the white people,

was seen along the Savannah.

Xot much can be said about the first appearance of white

men along the Savannah, as they only crossed (at a point

just below the present site of Augusta) and pressed on in

search of gold, literally walking over millions of dollars of

it in what is now McCormick County. S. C. They found

Indians here also, and were received kindlv bv them, but in

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return for their friendshipj. they^ were brutally- robbed and

mistreated, and a number of them, including a chief's pretty

daughter were taken along by the Spaniards as burden

bearers. Xow, dear reader, you have heard it said that an

Indian never forgets an injury, so you see that after two

hundred and twenty years of time, in which each succeed

ing generation of Indians were told of how the paleface

treated them, the Cherokees pounced upon the Scotch-Irish settlers on the Long Cane Creek, two and one-half miles

12 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH from the present site of Troy, S. C., and killed twenty of their number, as I shall write about later on in this work. DeSoto and his men went on into Xorth Carolina, turned in a west course and marched for a long distance and went down to what is now Mobile, Ala. Here they killed a large
MRS. LESTER WATERS.
number of Indians, destroyed their town and marched west once more and came upon the bank of the Mississippi. Here DeSoto was taken sick and died. By his own request his body was taken out into the water, weighted down and buried out of sight. The survivors of the expedition made their wav to Mexico.

I
TRUE STORIES OF THE SATANNAH 13
THE ENGLISH SETTLEMENT AT SAVANNAH 1733.
In the year 1732 there was a period of "hard times" in England something similar to what we are having in our country at the present time, only at that time if a man. no matter how honest and upright in every way. if he was unable to pay his debts he was taken from his wife and little children and thrust into jail. Many poor men were in jails in England for no other reason than that they were in debt and could not pay out. It so happened that there was a great and good man in England named James Oglethorpe and he went to the King and made a proposition to get those people out of jail and take them and their families to Amer ica. The King was pleased with the plan and made arrange ments for a settlement between Carolina and the Spanish territory,- of Florida.
Oglethorpe at once proceeded to get the men and their families together, bought a ship and with about two hun dred souls on board set sail for America. After a long and tedious voyage they came in sight of their future home. They entered the mouth of a large river and sailed up about twenty miles, coming to a high bluff where they landed and built their homes out of pine logs. Thus was founded the Colony of Georgia (named for King George II) and the Citv of Savannah.
a
The Spaniards of Florida claimed the land on which the English had settled and in the war that followed a number of the new settlers were killed, but they defeated the Span iards, drove them back, and lived at peace for a long time.
From that little band of English settlers has sprung the mighty State of Georgia in one hundred and eighty-seven years of time. Its population is now well on the way to the three million mark. Savannah is one of the largest sea port cities in the South and ranks second in size and popu lation in the State. Augusta was founded by Gen. Ogle thorpe as a military out-post in 1735. It is now a large city and ranks fifth in size and population in Georgia. Gen. Oglethorpe went back to England and stayed for the

14 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
rest of his life, and in time became the Commander-inChief of all the armies of England. It is said that he de clined the chief command during the war of the Revolution saying that the Americans would never be subdued by force, but that obedience would be secured by doing them justice. He lived to see Georgia an independent state and died at the age of 97 years. A great writer said of him: "The Sa vannah repeats to the Atlantic the story of his virtues and valor; the Atlantic publishes to the mountains the greatness of his fame, for all Georgia is his living, speaking monu ment."
STORIES OF INDIAN DAYS--THE MASSACRE ON
LONG CANE CREEK.
In the year 1756 a band of Scoth-Irish people settled in Abbeville County not far from Calhoun Falls on the Sa vannah, where they lived in peace for four years. In 1760 they heard that the Indians were preparing to attack them, they began a hasty retreat from their homes and made their way toward Augusta for safety. They were overtaken while crossing Long Cane Creek and twenty of the party were killed by the merciless savages. Among the slain was the aged and feeble grandmother of our great statesman, John C. Calhoun.
This incident, so far, is the worst calamity in the history of Abbeville County. It was several years from this time before it was safe for white people to live in this section of the country but the Indians were finally driven back from their hunting grounds, and at the present day may be seen many beautiful little towns along the Savannah valley and many thousands of white and colored people living in peace, and enjoying prosperity where the savage Indians once roamed. At Anderson Shoals, on Rocky River, just about a mile above the Seaboard trestle, any one can see where they once made arrowheads, tomahawks, pottery, etc., and this writer has collected some interesting relics of In dian days from Anderson Shoals.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 15
WHY DID THE INDIANS .MASSACRE THE
SCOTCH-IRISH? v
The Scotch-Irish people came into this country singing and praying and reading their bibles, eating, their own bread, and troubling no one. Why did the Indians wish to kill them? About 95 per cent of the people of today will answer me: "It was their own war-like, blood-thirsty na ture." Well now my dear Mr. Reader lets step back into the dim past a little bit and see if we can't find a motive for all this.
One calm day in April 1540 an army of Spaniards came upon a body of Indians on this side of the Savannah. The poor savages were helpless before that formidable array of glittering steel, and stretched out the arm of friendship to the intruders. The haughty Spaniards spurned the of fer, and did very much as their own vile natures dictated to them.
The poor savages saw their corn taken from them, that their squaws had labored so hard to make. They saw their pretty young daughters dragged away from their wig wams into slavery by the ruthless invaders. That was enough to instill in their savage hearts and minds an in veterate hatred for the pale face, and each generation told the next all about this brutal treatment, and no doubt was the very cause, (after a period of two hundred and twenty years of time) of the massacre on Long Cane Creek, and incidentally of the Indians being driven away into north west Georgia.
SEIGE AND ASSAULT UPON SAVANNAH, GA. 1779
During the Revolutionary war the city of Savannah was captured by the British; in 1779 an American army was sent there to retake it; they were joined by a French army com manded by Count DeEstaing (pronounced Destang). The American army was commanded by General Lincoln and with it were many famous soldiers from South Carolina: Laurens, Horry (Oree), Jasper and others. Count Pulaski,

16 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
of Poland, was among the men present at this battle for American liberty.
When everything was ready for the battle, DeEstaing sent a messenger to the British and demanded their surrender. They replied by asking for a certain length of time to think over the matter. DeEstaing very generously granted them the time, which they employed in building fortifications. Some of the American officers took notice to this and went to the Count to tell him what the British were doing instead of thinking. Col. Laurens could speak French, so he said to the Count: "Monsier le Counte, we think you are allowing the British too long a time to think." The Count only laughed and said: "The British think only of their appetite, and if they do not surrender my French soldiers will eat them up like frogs."
As soon as the time for thinking was ended the British commander informed Count DeEstaing that they had decided to defend the place. The American and French armies at once besieged them, and after several days they de cided to storm the British defenses, but the assault ended very disastrously for the allied army for they were forced to retreat leaving three hundred dead Americans and several hundred French soldiers upon the field. The great and noble Count Pulaski, whose name and deeds are well known .to every American of the present day, was among the slain, and Sergeant William Jasper, of Fort Moultrie fame, re ceived a bullet thru his breast and died a few days later. Col. Horry was with him when he died and heard his last words: "Tell father and mother that their son died in hope of a better life."
In Battery Park at Charleston a monument is erected to memory of this great patriot; a life size figure in bronze of Sergt. Jasper, with the flag of Fort Moultrie in his hand. He had planted his flag on the British ramparts at Savan nah and when the retreat was sounded he rushed up to get it and was shot. Jasper County, S. C., on the Savannah River, is named for this great hero.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 17
PATRIOTIC MOUNTAINEERS ON THE TUGALOO.
Time sped along and more people came from different parts of Europe and founded settlements along the Savan nah ; the town of Hamburg became famous as a commercial center; farmers came thru with loads of cotton for many miles around and bought things that they needed at home. That was before the advent of railroads. On the bank of the Tugaloo Kiver one may see the remains of an old fort called Fort Madison. During the Revolutionary war British agents went among the Indians and incited them to Massa cre the white settlers in this region. The people became alarmed and built this fort and lived there for safety. It was from this point that about one-fourth of the American army went to defeat the British at Kings Mountain, Xorth Carolina. There today in the lonely woods can be seen the solitary grave in which lies the mortal remains of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland, the leader of the band of soldiers from Fort Madison that fought at Kings Mountain. In 1906, one hundred years from the date of his death, his de scendants met together at Madison, S. C., and marked the spot by putting granite blocks around the grave, and by erecting an imposing monument on the public square of the town.
A stockade fort was built by a trench being dug about four feet deep and just wide enough for the men to stand up in to do the digging. Large logs were then cut and erected on end in this ditch close together with holes at intervals for the muzzles of rifles and cannons to go thru. The forts were always built on a hill or knoll and a well dug in it to assure a water supply in case of a siege. With plenty of food and ammunition, five hundred men could stand a long siege, or could repulse four times their number in case of an attack, for in that day there were no explosives and solid shot had very little effect upon the heavy logs. Fort Madison was built in this way, and so was Fort Ninety-Six, which got its name from a messenger being sent from one fort to the other, the distance being ninety-six miles.

18 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH

Xow, just let me talk for a little while about this inter

esting spot, for I lived within seven miles of the place for

over six years. I visited the place one lovelv autumn dav,

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leaned my bicycle against a tree, mounted the old rampart

and wondered why it was that the British army under Col.
Cruger walked in and took possession of it so easily. There were five hundred men there when it was built in 1775. What had become of them? Well, just a few months before the American army had been utterly defeated in the attempt to retake Savannah, and many of its bravest men were under the sod, the City of Charleston had been captured and Gen. Lincoln and his army taken prisoners; the army of Gen. Gates was utterly routed at Camden, S. C., on August 16, 1780. Dear reader, is it any wonder that the few remaining patriots were down hearted? And then this part of our country was a house much divided against itself; the Eng lish and German settlers were, for the most part, for the British cause and the French and Scotch-Irish were for in dependence. Xow, when the British became firmly estab lished at Xinety-six they sent out foraging parties in every direction and took the people's cattle, hogs, poultry and any thing else that they wanted. Some that were for the British cause now became its bitterest enemies. The men came to gether in a common cause and the battles of Kings Moun tain and Cowpens are fair examples of their vented wrath upon the invaders of their fair land and country.

I once read a funny little story in connection with the British invasion of South Carolina: "A young American sol dier went to a rich old tory and told him that Col. Tarleton, of the British army, had sent him to get a good horse to chase the "rebels" with. The old man went to the stables and got out his best horse and gave it to the young man and told him to tell Col. Tarleton that he had some pretty daughters also, and would like for him (Col. Tarleton) to become his son-in-law. But Col. Tarleton did not get the horse or the message and the old man's daughters did not become Mrs. Tarleton."

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVAXNAH 19
AUGUSTA IN THE REVOLUTION.
In the latter part of December, 1778, the British landed an army and captured the city of Savannah, and from there sent an army of one thousand men and captured Augusta without a struggle and Col. Brown, a noted Tory comman der, was placed in command. Col. Brown was living in Augusta at the beginning of the war and had been tarred and feathered by the Patriots and carried thru the city in a cart. He was now in a position to avenge himself, which he did by seizing the property of the Patriots and banishing them from the State.
In May, 1781, Col. Henry Lee, the father of our famous Confederate leader, came and was joined by General Pickens of South Carolina and Col. Clarke of Georgia. They made an attack upon Augusta and captured it. So great was the people's hatred for Col. Brown that the American soldiers had hard work in protecting him from the mob that was try ing to kill him. Augusta was again in the hands of the Patriots and remained so until the end of the Revolution with Major James Jackson in command.
SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA.
In the latter part of 1864 and the early part of '65. an army of "Yankees" under command of General W. T. Sherman, having defeated the Confederate army and taken Atlanta, marched Southward and captured the city of Sa vannah, crossed the Savannah River and marched up thru South Carolina, There were about sixty thousand of them and they marched over a wide area, taking any thing they wanted from the helpless people.
Some of the people along the route resorted to clever tricks to keep from being robbed by the "Yankees". One family dug a grave in the garden and buried their flour, meal and meat and put a stone at the head of the grave with the words: "Faithful Lydia" carved on it. They told the "Yankees" that the old negro was such a good and faithful

20 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
servant that they buried her in the garden so that her grave could be properly cared for.
The "Yankees" were much interested by the story of Aunt Lydia and said that they would like to see her, so they dug into the grave, took what they found and went their way leaving the people to "make out" as best they could.
The city of Columbia, S. C., "The Cradle of the Rebellion" was almost destroyed by the order of the man who said: "War is Hell."
MILLWOOD AND THE ISLAND PLEASURE RESORTS.
Millwood, about three and one-half or four miles from the town of Calhoun Falls, is a resort for pleasure seekers, and people come there and to the big island to fish and hunt. The island is about five hundred acres in extent and is crossed by the S. A. L. railroad. Anyone can see cotton and corn growing on it and herds of cattle graze on it. Xo fence is needed for the river has washed thru and divid ed the island into several parts. There is a real mountain on the lower part of the island where cattle are kept and one can see well built houses, but no one is living in them at present. The scenery from the top of this mountain is grand and there is plenty of wild game on it. There is no other way to cross the Savannah except on ferries in this section of the country. A ferry boat is made large enough to take two and sometimes three loaded wagons, mules and all. Sometimes as much as two automobiles are carried across at one time. A wire rope or cable is stretched across the river and drawn very tight and fastened to heavy post on each side. The flat, or boat, is fastened to the cable with ropes and pulleys and arranged so that the boat will go across the river without being pushed by poles.
I am told that in 1908 a man named Pat Brock lived on the island with his family and some farm hands. On Au gust 27 Mr. Brock started to Calhoun Falls to vote. When he got to the crossing on this (the S. C.) side of the island the water was too high to use the flat, which is a small one

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 21

without a cable. He tied his mule to a tree and crossed

in a bateau, walked to town voted and came back onlv to

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find that the water had risen about eight feet above the

level of the ground. The poor mule had drowned, and in

addition to that when he did manage to cross and get to his

home he found that a stream larger than Rocky River had

been formed by the great flood between the mountain

and the rest of the island, thus making it impossible for

wagons and buggies to pass from the landing to the house.

In addition to this, it is said that he lost about six hundred

dollars worth of cattle. His island home had no further

attraction for him and he moved away shortly after.

Xow this new river bed between the mountain and the rest of the island raises a question in the mind of the writer: Why was it that it took place at a time so late in the world's history; or was the flood of August 27, 1908 the worst in this part of the country since the creation of the world ? Xow I accept nothing but the plain Bible account of the creation and firmly believe that the Savannah has been wending its majestic course from the mountains, to the sea as long as the Tigris, the Euphrates, or the Nile. The place where the new river bed now is was for many centuries past a low rich spot grown over with trees, and almost every kind of shrub, brier, bush, herb or grass that grows in the Xorth Temperate zone. The roots of these held the soil firmly, and the floods of the centuries, some of which might have been much worse than the one of 1908. took away nothing but loose leaves.

Finally the woodman and his ax found their way to the spot, the trees were cut down, the brush were cleared away, the many small trees and grass roots were plowed up and the land planted in corn. Now the roots of annual plants such as corn and cotton do not hold the soil together, and when the great flood of 1908 came it carried corn, topsoil, clay, gravel and everything away by the hundreds of tons. Yes, dear reader, the tiny drops of water make the mighty Savannah, the small grains of sand form the .land thru which it flows and the tiny grass roots keep

22 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH

them both in their proper bonds when not interfered with by man.

Now just a few words of timely advice to fishermen and

pleasure-seekers in general: If you are coming from a dis

tance to Savannah river to fish with a long pole, one small

hook and a can of bait, or earth worms, I would suggest that

you just stay at home and fill an old wash pot or molasses barrel with water and fish in it all day. When night came

you would have just as many fish as you would have by go ing to Savannah River, and beside, you would still have your gasoline. But there are fine fish in the Savannah,

but the best way to get them is to use a trot line with a set hook about every four feet and stretch this across the river and bait with small minnows or mullet cut up in small

pieces. There are certain times of the year, in May, June and October that blue cats, as they are called, are easy .caught

and will bite almost any kind of bait, and the writer caught two splendid blue cats with nothing but large beetles

found in old rotten logs. Of course in fishing with a trot line it takes at least two men and a bateau; and if you can't

get a bateau just cut short poles and set your hooks along the bank. I have found by experience that large catfish bite

best after midnight.

Now, my dear Mr. Pleasure-seeker, while sojourning along

the Savannah and feasting your eyes on the wonderful scenery, and filling your lungs with the bracing air, don't

forget that the spectre of death lurks ever near among the

beauties of nature, and that more than one human being just like yourself has walked down to the waters edge with a heart brim full of hope and happiness only to be borne

away some time later in a coffin. Yes, dear friend, the

writer has witnessed that verv/ scene on one occasion. And

above all don't abuse voiir privilege when vou eet here. I

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have just warned you of the danger but would like to say

that it would be better to die and leave a good name as Lester Waters did than to live with a bad name. Remember that it's very kind in the owner and manager of the Calhoun

estate to allow you to go there and fish and have a good time.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 23



So don't shoot the colored people's chickens and turkeys as

some people have done, and when you use a bateau please

put it back where the owner can find it. Yfcs, be fair and

square with your fellow man and when you come to die it

won't

take, 7

sav %/

not

more

than

six

men

to

hold

vou
,

on

the

bed.

The pleasure resorts of Calhoun Falls like salvation are

"free to all" and if every one who goes there would keep

within the bounds of propriety, we have every reason to

believe that they will always be free.

CALHOUN FALLS, THE SHOALS AND THE TOWN.

Many people wonder why this town was called by that name, this is the reason: As I have stated before in 1756, a band of Scotch-Irish people settled in this section of the country, who were led by a man named Patrick Calhoun.
After the massacre by the Indians on Long Cane Creek in which the mother of Patrick Calhoun was killed, the set tlers returned to their homes near the Savannah. There is a great shoal on the river just below the big island, and this was named Calhoun Falls.
Many years ago there lived at Millwood on the shoals a man named James Edward Calhoun, a descendant of Patrick Calhoun, and during his life time he acquired a great deal of land on both sides of the river which is known at the present time as the Calhoun Estate; it is now owned by Mr. John Calhoun. of Port Royal, S. C., and is managed by Mr. Howell of Calhoun Falls. It might be well to state that the greatest statesman that the South ever produced was a son of Patrick Calhoun and was born and reared in this section of the country.
The great John Caldwell Calhoun, Congressman, Senator
and* Vice-president, served his state at Washington for forty years; his body now rests in Magnolia Cemetery at Charleston, S. C.
About forty years ago a railroad was built along the
Savannah valley to connect Anderson, S. C., with Augusta, Ga. Very naturally a number of small towns sprang up along the route, among them Calhoun Falls, named after

24 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
the falls on the river. In 1892 the Georgia-Carolina and Northern railroad (now S. A. L.) was built from Monroe, X. C., to Atlanta, running through this place. About 1908 a large cotton mill was built here, and at the present time it is a town of considerable size and population. Let us take a walk over town; leaving the S. A. I/, depot the first place we come to is the Seaboard Cafe, operated by Mr. B. O. Berry, you can get a good meal there at any time of the day; he also carries a complete line of fancy groceries, cold drinks, etc. Xext door is the garage where autoists can get their cars fixed on short notice. We cross the street and enter the general merchandise store of Mr. T. J. Mar tin ; his clerk, Mr. Gasaway Grant will tell us that he was a boy-hood friend of Lester Waters, they left together to go to the army, they were separated at Camp Jackson, and never saw each other again.
The next place of business is the meat market, in a small tin building conducted by Mr. J. D. Daniel. We next come to a double store building, built of brick, and a nice paved side-walk in front; this is the general merchandise business of Sherard Brothers. The city pressing club, conducted by a young colored man is in the same building, next to the grocery store of Mr. Cox. We now come to another twostory brick building in which is the general merchandise business of Mr. X. D. Sanders and the millinery store of Mrs. Sarah Weinraub. We cross a street and enter the Calhoun Falls Drug Store conducted by Dr. Farrow, there is a small wooden building just back of the drug store, this is the office of Dr. J. Y. Tate. As we go up the main street we pass a nice store building that is unoccupied, this is the property of Dr. Farrow.
At the end of the main street is a beautiful three story building, situated on the top of the hill, and can be seen for miles around, this is the hotel, and is conducted by Mrs. J. J. George. Travelers can find lodging there at any
hour of the night or day. We now turn to the left and visit the store of Mr. Sump Hall. Just a few steps farther down and we come to the general merchandise store of Mr.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 25

Ed Kiser (kee-ser) who came here from Germany when a

very young man; he came to this country a poor immigrant,

and is now a very wealthy man. We cross the Savannah

valley (C. & W. C.) railroad track and visit the big store of Mr. Black where you can find almost any thing from a bed

stead to a joint of stove pipe. The next place of business is a restaurant conducted by

a colord lady, for colord people only. This is just in main street and visit the Calhoun Falls branch of the Bank of Mt. Carmel, of which Mr. H. W. Lawson is cashier. The next building is a store owned by Mr. Phillips. We go down the street for some distance and enter the store of Mr. W. E. Anderson, who has a radiant smile for every body.

We cross the street and come to the store of Mr. O. B. Tucker who was a school-mate and close friend of Lester Waters and speakes of him in the most affectionate terms. Some distance down the main street and we enter the Postoffice of which Mr. B. H. Tucker is Post Master; he is also

undertaker, and furnished the coffins in which Miss Lucy

Bradshaw and Lester Waters were buried. Just below the Postoffice is a barber shop conducted by
a colored man named Reynolds. There is a street connect ing the two depots on which is built the City Hall in which the Mayor holds his court, then is another room in the

City Hall in which is a very nice cage, but it is not used for

lions or tig^^ers either.

Of

late

vears
,

several

manufacturers

of "hooteh" have seen how it looked on the inside, and some

that partook too freely of the luscious beverage have found

lodging there also. Mr. R. L. Grant is our chief of police

and Mr. Clyde Wilson is Mayor at present.

The Calhoun Manufacturing Co. operates a general mer chandise business and meat market, they also make ice. There is a first class barber shop at the cotton mill conducted by Mr. John Cobb. Mr. Williams runs the shoe shop just between the mill and the town. There are two cotton gins here also. There are three churches: Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian, and a nice church building at the mill that

26 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
is for the use of all denominations. There are many beauti ful residences here of which the new bungalow of Dr. Far row, just facing the S. A. I*, railroad is the prettiest.
We have good school facilities here also; the school at the mill is conducted at present by Mrs. Hinds as principal, assisted by Miss Fagg, they teach as far as the ninth grade. Mr. E. M. Lander, formerly of Williamston, is general manager of the cotton mill and store, and Mr. W. T. Story is superintendent of the mill. Mr. R. B. Davis is overseer of spinning. Mr. L. P. Jones overseer of carding and Mr. A. Y. Hughes is overseer of the weaving department of which there are six hundred draper looms on fine ]/rint goods.
The drinking water at this place is of the best quality and we have an overflowing well at the mill, the water 'jf which is a sure cure for chronic indigestion. Many persons have regained their health from drinking it. There are mineral springs about two miles east of Calhoun Falls also. This is called Glowing Springs. The land is very fertile, and beautiful farms and gardens can be seen on all sides. Three cheers for Calhoun Falls!
HOW TO GO TO THE PLEASURE RESORTS.
TO AXDERSOX SHOALS AXD THE ISLAXD.
Start out from the postoffice at Calhoun Falls and go up the main street to the hotel; take the road to the right and go by the C. &. W. C. depot; cross the S. A. K railroad on a high bridge and come to a blacksmith shop, and here the road divides; turn to the left, go for a mile and one-half and the road divides again just beyond a farm house on a high hill. The right hand road goes to Anderson Shoals, and the left hand road to the S. A. L. trestle over the big island.
TO GO TO MILLWOOD.
Start out from the postoffice and go up the main street to the hotel and turn to the left and go down by the hotel; follow the C. &. W. C. railroad track for a mile and a half;

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 27
just in front of the home of Mr. Lawson, which is a stately old time dwelling with a grove of large cedar trees in front, you will see a road to the right; follow for about a mile and come to another road to the right that leads to a pasture gate. Open this gate and proceed for some distance thru the pasture and go out at another gate. Follow the road that is most traveled. It can be distinguished from the other roads by the automobile tracks. Directly you arrive at Millwood where you will find a well of almost ice cold water and a house for shelter from the weather. No charge but good behavior; and I would suggest as an excellent way to keep from drowning: Stay out of the river.
A HEARTY LAUGH IN THE FACE OF DEATH
On Thursday, May 26, I was in the Calhoun mill store and was telling some men about my bateau being carried off by someone. Mr. TV. M. Blanchett spoke up and said that somebody took his bateau also. He said that they broke the lock that he put there to hold it, and took it down nearly to Millwood. He said: "You just can't keep any thing over there." I told him that I had an idea of making one about seven and one-half bv, two feet and I knew that no one would take it. Xow it so happens that the writer of this sketch, like Zacheus of old, is of diminitive weight as well as statue; so much so that he tips the scales at just about one hundred and five pounds at best. Mr. Blanchett and the others took a good laugh at the idea. On Saturday evening I carried the idea into effect. Monday morning I stepped up to Mr. Jeff Martin's store and there I met our "Chief," Mr. Grant. Xow it happens that Mr. Grant is very much unlike Zacheus of old and weighs something like two hundred and fifty pounds--and still growing. It also happens that about ten months ago Mr. Grant was ordered by the deputy sheriff at Abbeville to go over on the island and destroy a "hootch" plant. He got the "plant" and the "hootch" but the operators were not at home at the time of his visit. They had taken leg bail or

28 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
bateau bail or both very likely. Now while I was in Mr. Martin's store talking with the "Chief" I chanced to tell about my bateau, and he said: "I expect that I had better not try to use it in going down there, had I?" I said: "No sir, Mr. Grant, when you go down there after "hootch" makers 3rou had better stay out of my boat if you don't want to get a ducking; the big flat would suit you better anyway." He laughed very heartily at what I said. At 12:45 I met Mr. Blanchett at the store door. I told him of my conversation with the "Chief" and he also took a hearty laugh, spoke a few pleasant words and went into the store. That evening about 8 o'clock he was talking to Mr. Warren Thomas and was suddenly stricken with heart failure and died in a few minutes.
Mr. Blanchett is gone, his smiling face will be seen never again "about the yard" and he is missed by even the hum blest black man that came in contact with him in the daily walk of life. The Savannah valley has produced many great and good men on both sides of the river, from the immortal John C. Calhoun down, but none with a better heart than W. M. Blanchett; a kind, pleasant gentleman at all times. If he had a fault or an enemv, this writer did not find it out in twenty-one years of intimate acquain tance. His body is sleeping the last long sleep of death in Melrose cemetery- at Abbeville,. but his memory/ will lingt~jer with us for manyx y/ ears to come.
THE WRITER AND HIS BATEAU.
This little bateau knoweth no laws, Neither hath it any teeth of claws, But it hath power to put you in the sod. So if you contemplate riding, prepare to meet God.
A friend asked me what I was looking so thin about? I told him that I was falling off on purpose so that I could safely navigate the Savannah in my new bateau. He said: "You're not going in the shoals in that thing, are you?" I told him I would not go in the shoals with a battleship muchless a bateau of any kind. No, my dear Mr. Eeader, this

I

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 29

venerable scribe hasn't lost a single thing out there in the

big shoals.

I got my education in boating at Rapley Shoals on Long Cane in the "study water" just above Mr. Dave Millers

grist mill, and I will have to take a special course in bateauology before venturing out in Calhoun Falls on the Savan

nah.

And then I have a little shepherd-fice dog that, like

Mary's little lamb, insists on following its owner every

where, even out in the middle of the Savannah. Someone

asked me: "What if the bateau turns over with vou ?" Well,

*f

9

Mr. Kind Sir, there is nothing I enjoy these hot days like a

plunge in the old Savannah. Why, just Saturday evening

I waded out until my very finger tips disappeared in seven

feet of water. I then kicked the hard sand bottom and

came to the top and swam out. Well, what about the dog?

Well, the dog, like its owner, is a very good swimmer, but she generally perches herself on the back of "yours truly"

and lets him do the swimming for both. The only differ ence in our swimming qualities is that the dog already had

sense enough to know how to swim, and its owner had to

learn. Xo, the writer of this sketch has no cause to fear but

one kind of water--firewater, and he has not taken a "bath"

in it for some time.

I was walking about on the island some time ago with a friend and we were discussing the possibility of running

across a still, and he said: "Well for the sake of friendship

I don't believe I would tell on him (the operator). You

know the Bible says "Blessed is the peace maker."

Says I: "Yes, but the Bible does not say blessed is the

"hootch" maker, and for that reason I think it would be right to turn him up to the officers of the law.

You may suggest that I write nothing that will cause

any ill feeling among the people along the Savannah. Sure,

indeed; the writer of this sketch is proud of the fact that-the Carolina and Georgia people living on the border line are

at perfect peace with each other; and indeed they have good reason, for the Savannah is so wide and noisy that they

can't even "cuss" each other from one side to the other much

30 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
less fight. Even if war was declared, they could only use air ships and drop bombs on each other.
There is nothing like peace and harmony among people of different states, and one thing is sure, there is too much "hominy" in evidence among the people on both sides of the Savannah just now. You may ask how that could be possible. Because the "hominy" is ground up fine, put thru a distilling process and made into "hootch" and that causes trouble along border lines, and anywhere else so far as that is concerned.
Well, I must get in my seven and one-half by two bateau and get back on the Carolina side. Good-day, sir.
THE SEQUEL.
I went down to the river yesterday (June 26) and saw that some fiend in human form had torn the end out of my little bateau and had let it drift. I suppose that he did this because he could not use it. Xow, my dear Mr. Plun der-lover, who ever you are and where ever you live, do you not know that there is a day of judgment on the way for you and that it will be impossible for you to get a lawyer to de fend you on that day ? All lawyers and judges in creation will be on their knees just like your own dear self, and "yours truty" will be there too, although he may be hard to see in a big crowd like that will be.
Just close your eyes for a short spell and let the spook of the benighted Cherokee that stalks among the canebrakes on the Savannah, shame 37ou for such a cowardly deed. If he could live again what would he think of such a "pale face" as you are anyway ?
I have been feeling very bad all day about my bateau, but then I work within a few feet of the "See-bode" and every once in a while I can see a train load of "Gawgy" watermelons pass by on the way north, following hard on the heels of the poor man's money. The rich man must be served first and then, ah! us poor folks and "niggers" will come in for a slice of good old "Gawgy" melon, and will help us to forget all about losing our bateau and our other troubles as well.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 31
MY FRIEND FROM AUGUSTA.
In August 1919 the writer of this sketch was living about two miles below Greenwood, S. C. Now, it so happened that a Mr. Davis who formerly lived in Augusta, Ga., owned a cottage and some land just below my home. He and I became very warm friends and delighted in "getting jokes" on each other. I was running a little store and cold drink stand and Mr. Davis came by one night and told me to send him up two bushels of meal Saturday as he had two stills in operation and did not want to run short of "mash." Now I did not know whether he was joking or not, as he spoke very serious, and so I said: "Mr. Davis, I am willing to sell you anything that I have on any terms, but if that is what you want with the meal I would like for you to buy somewhere else." He laughed very heartily over the matter and told almost every one that he saw that he got a joke on me "right."
Now, some one took the matter a little more serious than either he or I and reported the matter to the sheriff who. sent his deputy and two other officers down with full au thority to search the premises.
After searching all over the house and under it, and mashing down about three acres of weeds and bushes, and finding nothing that looked like a "hootch" plant, the officers went back to the city.
Now, you see the "joke" had turned the other way, and the writer of this sketch called early the next Sunday morning and slapped him on the back and said: "Bring out your little jug, old man, I know you have one hid around some where." He had always greeted me with a pleasant smile, but this time he had only a sickly grin for me. He did not joke about the "hootch" business much more after that, and very soon sold his place and moved back to the city on the Savannah.
He told me a great deal about the sights in Augusta, and said that there was an old Jew there that kept a stick in the rear of his store to beat himself with at certain times. I asked when and why he beat himself. He said that if a cus-

32 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH

tomer paid him his first price for a piece of goods that he was sure to beat himself for not asking more.

GEN. JAMES EDWARD OGLETHORPE.

If I should ask who is the greatest Englishman of all

time, some would sav: Alfred the Great, Richard the Lion-

y

/

J

hearted or Sir. Phillip Sidney. Indeed, dear reader, these

men were truly great. We read of them making noble sa

crifices for the good of their fellowmen, but there is one man

in more modern times that did more for mankind in general

than they. Just think of this rich, handsome member of

the British Parliament going into dirty prisons and gazing

upon the sad faces of those poor unfortunates, when his

great heart was touched with pity as he thought of their

poor broken hearted wives and children at home.

He paid their debts, went to America with them and faced

in person all of the dangers and hardships incident to such

proceedings. When the Spaniards rose to destroy them,

he headed his little arni37 in person and gave his men the

full benefit of his military training. He returned home

onlv.

after

thev *

were

firmlv

established

in

their

new

homes.

In time he became Commander-in-Chief of all the armies of

England, but declined the command at the time of the Amer

ican revolution because his great heart and mind were fully

convinced that the government was in fault and that the

Colonists had a just cause. There is no doubt in my mind,

dear reader, that he now occupies a much higher place in

the Kingdom of Heaven than he ever filled in the Kingdom

of England. Well may the great State of Georgia be proud

of her founder, Gen. James Edward Oglethorpe.

SERGT. WILLIAM JASPER.
On May 15, 1905 the writer was strolling the Battery Park at Charleston and came suddenly face to face with a magnificent monument with the lifesize figure of a stal wart young man on it. In one hand he held the Palmetto flag of South Carolina. The other arm was streched full length and the forefinger was pointing over the waves

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 33
the sea. So real, so life-like that I almost said: "Good even ing, sir! Why aU this?"
On June 28.1776 the British fleet lay just inside of Char leston harbor and fired ten thousand cannon balls at Fort Moultrie. While the firing was at its height the Palmetto flag was shot down and lay prostrate in the sand on the beach. Now, the average man would be tempted under the circumstances to crouch behind the stout Palmetto logs, and see about the flag later on in the day, but not so with Sergt. Jasper; he mounted the parapet, jumped outside with the agility of a school boy, picked up the flag and put it back in its place. The next day, after the British were gone the Gov ernor and some other gentlemen, and ladies came over from the city, the Governor took his own sword and presented it to Jasper, and Mrs. Elliot gave him a new flag. In Sept. 1779 we hear of him planting this very flag upon the British ramparts at Savannah, Ga. When ordered to retreat, he rushed up to get the flag and was shot in the breast.
His friend and fellow soldier, Col. Peter Horry went to see him and stayed until the end came. He described the scene something like this: Every few minutes he (Jasper) would raise himself up on his elbow and spit out a mouth full of blood; he gave his sword to a friend and said: "give this to my father and tell him that I have worn it with honor; tell Mrs. Elliot that I gave up my life to save the flag that she gave me. Tell father and mother that their son died in hope of a better life." As he spoke these words his spirit passed into Eternity. Such a pity that so noble a patri ot could not have lived to see his beloved country free. Don't forget, dear reader, that the life blood of this brave young man was a part of the price of the freedom that you now enjoy. His body so stalwart and handsome, has long ago gone back into dust, but his name will live all the way along the abyss of time even into Eternity and his memory will ever be cherish by all who love life and freedom. In all of the great armies of the earth, there has never been shown a more noble example of soldiery than that of William Jasper of South Carolina, two great states rise to

34 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
perpetuate his memory by naming a county after him and each has erected a beautiful monument.
Lawton B. Evans said of him: "He died for the freedom of Georgia."
GEN. NATHANAEL GREENE.
"It affords me the most agreeable sensations to contem plate the happy change in the affairs of this country; and it is among the first of my wishes that you may long, long en joy the blessings of freedom and independence."--Gen. Nat. Greene.
This great soldier was a native of Rhode Island. He joined the Continental Army at the beginning of the ReA'olution and showed great skill in directing armies. Indeed he was almost as great a military genius as the great Napoleon of France.
In 1781 he was sent South by Congress to wrest South Carolina and Georgia from British control. He struck the British armies several hard blows, being repulsed each time, but it is said that his defeat had the effect of victory*< .
He besieged the British at Ninety-Six and came near starving them, but withdrew when he heard that Lord Rowdon was advancing to the relief of the garrison.
There, today. one can see a hole on the hillside that resembles a fox den. it is the mouth of a tunnel that was dug by order of Gen. Greene with the intention of blowing up the fort, but the British found it out in time to save themselves.
After the war he was given a plantation on the Savannah River by the State of Georgia and spent the balance of his life there. He was working on his farm on a hot day, and became overheated and died. This occurred in 1786.
His body was placed on a barge and carried down to Savannah and buried with military- honors in the presence of an immense throng.
The State of Georgia has honored him by naming a county for him. with Greenesborough as the county seat.
At the battle of Brandywine, Gen. Green was riding in company with some more American officers, when one of

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 35
them had his queue shot from his head by a British bullet. Just dismount and get your queue said Gen, Greene in joky mood, just then another bullet cut a beautiful curl of hair from his own head. Xow Gen. Greene you dismount and get your curl said the other officer, but Gen. Greene pre ferred letting the curl go.
GEN. ANTHONY WAYNE.
"The duty we have done in Georgia was more difficult than that imposed upon the Children of Israel. They had only to make brick without straw, but we have had provis ions, forage and almost every other apparatus of war to procure without money; boats, bridges, etc. We had to build without materials except these taken from the stump; and what was more difficult than all, to make Whigs out of Tories."
This great soldier and patriot was born in Pennsylvania in 1746, he entered the Continental army in 1775 and served with distinction in manv battles in the Xorth. He was sent
,
South in Jan. 1782 to command the Patriot army in Georgia, and became a citizen of that state after the war. He was given a plantation near Savannah, and spent nearly ten years there: he went back Xorth in 1792 and became Commander-in-Chief of the armies af the U. S. He was sent by President Washington to wage war on the Indians in Ohio, where he defeated them in a battle on the Maumee River. He made peace with them and told them that if they gave any more trouble, he would come and fight them again, and if dead, he would rise from the grave to fight them. He died in Dec. 1796, and was buried in Chester Countv/ .' Penn.
REV. JOHN WESLET.
For nearly- a thousand y. ears, the Roman Catholic Church was the established religion of England. When King Henry the eighth was refused a divorce from his wife. Catherine of Aragon, by the Pope of Rome, he set himself up as head of the Church of England.
From that date, the Church gradually changed its forms;

36 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
making confessions to priests, adoring images and other Romish practices were left off. Now about the time of the settlement of Georgia, a very pious young minister of the Church of England saw the need of further reforms, and his many followers were called "Methodist." Now it so hap pened that this young preacher and his brothers, Chas. Wesley and Rev. George Whitfield came to America with Gen. Oglethorpe, and stayed for some length of time at Savannah, and the well established Methodist organization thruout the country today is largely the results of their sojourn there. They all went back to England and spent the remainder of their lives, but the Methodist Church, of which the writer is a member, is an everlasting monument to the memorv* of Rev. John Weslev*/ .
COUNT DeESTAING.
It is the opinion of most historians and deep thinking men in general, that if the American and French armies had made the assault upon the British garrison at Savannah. Ga. without warning them, or allowing them time to prepare, that they could have been easily overcome. Savannah might have been retaken without much loss, and Charleston might not have been captured and the South overrun by the British. When Col. Laurens went to the IVench Com mander and protested against letting the British " think" so long, he only laughed and said: "HaJ Ha! Monsieur le Col. ze French a--maus will eat em up zest like one leetle grenoville" (frog).
But ween the attack was made he headed the French army, and fought bravely and was carried from the field badly wounded. As a result of his folly and conceit, one thousand of the bravest and best men on earth lay cold in death after the assault upon Savannah.
OTHER GREAT MEN AT SAVANNAH.
When the writer of these stories was a bare-foot school boy, he read a book, "Life of Gen. Francis Marion" written by Col. Peter Horry, in which many pathetic and deeply interesting stories of the Revolution were inscribed.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 37
Xow, Marion, Horry and Laurens were all three the offspring of French Huguenot stock, honest, conscientious, Christian people. In their veins flowed the heroic blood of the ancient Greek and Roman soldier; they were the very cream of the Latin race. When the Americans made the charge at Savannah, Col. Laurens' men fell thick about the feet of this Commander,- but he was not touched b*v the hail of lead. When ordered to retreat he threw his sword to the ground and retired raving like a mad man; when he reached his tent he looked back towards the field of carnage and said: "Oh! how I do wish that I was at rest on yonder field with my poor men."
Marion, Horry and Laurens counties are their monuments for all time. Dear reader, don't forget the noble Count Pulaski, who left fame and fortune in the old world and gave up his life at Savannah in order that you and I may live in a free country. His bones are lying on the bottom of the Atlantic but the thought of his noble sacrifice rests in our hearts.
Col. Peter Horry said in his book that he and Gen. Marion stood on the wharf at Charleston and watched the British ships until the mast head of every vessel went out of sight. He spoke of his great joy at that time, as he realized that the "red coats" were gone from his beloved country never to return. The writer of this sketch has reverence for the heroes of the Revolution almost akin to worship; has seen with his own eyes, the cannon balls that were fired at Ft. Moultrie, he has seen the likeness of Sergt. Jasper in bronze, he has stood and gazed at the aquiline features of Gen. Dan Morgan at Spartanburg, so real and life-like, he he stood with bowed head over the dust of Col. Ben. Cleveland, who led the hardy mountaineers up the steep side of Kings Mt. and struck a mighty blow for freedom, and has visited the historic Xinety-Six.
Yes, the "red coats" are gone from our shores but let us not forget the fact that their progeny are much alive across

38 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
the water, and are watching for a chance to accomplish by sugar coated tricks what their ancestors failed to do with lead and steel. So let us watch our step lest we yet become sycophant slaves at the London shrine, and the blood of the heroic Jasper and the thousands of other brave men who were sacrificed on the sands of the Savannah will have been shed in vain.
JOHN C. CALHOUN.
One of the first white boys to see the light of day in the vicinity of the present site of Calhoun Falls was the greatest Southern Statesman of all time, John C. Calhoun. After finishing his studies he settled down to the practice of law at Abbeville in 1807. In just four years time his fame as an orator had carried him all the way to the halls of Congress at Washington, \vhere he remained until called into Presi dent Monroe's Cabinet as Secretarv/ of War for ei<g--*ht v, ears. He then served two term as Vice President of the United States and spent the rest of his life in the United States Senate. On one occasion, he stood up in the Senate and made a very famous speech in which he said: "How is it proposed to preserve the Union? By force! Does any man in his senses believe that this beautiful structure, this har monious aggregate of states, produced by the consent of all, can be preserved by force ? Its very introduction will be cer tain destruction to this Federal Union. Xo! Xo! 3Tou cannot keep the states united in their constitutional and federal bonds by force." Xow dear reader that is a very eloquent speech indeed, but after Mr. Calhoun had lain in his grave in Magnolia cemetery for fifteen long years what do we see? The best of our young manhood lying in graves in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Tennessee and some few in other states.
We see the ragged starving remnants at Appomattox, w< see the South lying prostrate and bleeding at the feet of the Xorth. Xow, dear reader, if you don't call that force, yoi had better consult v. our ol d "Webster" for a moment and see what force means.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 39
Why, we only have to look hack four years to see men of brains and character thrown ruthlessly into prison for nothing more than telling the dear people that the two thousand years old feud in the Old World between the Latin and Teuton races was none of our business, and that by aiding or abetting either side, we would only bring trouble upon ourselves, which any one that has eyes can now very plainly see.
!Now, dear reader. Mr. Calhoun was a good and wise man, indeed he was almost everything that the word man implies, but we are forced to the conclusion that he was a better speaker than a prophet, and more and more to believe what the Bible says:
"The wisdom of this world is foolish with God."
MY GRANDFATHER AND FATHER.
The writer feels that it would not be out of place to speak a word about his grandfather for whom he is named, for he was a public man--a school teacher, and many people went from his presence in the school room to face the battles of life. He was born near Pomaria in Xewberry County, S. C. in 1809, his mother was a little German woman named Elizabeth Ruff, his father a young Scotch-Irishman named William Cannon. His father died before he was six years old, and the family moved up on Long Cane Creek five miles from Abbeville, he was educated at Cokesbury and taught school at many places in Abbeville County for the rest of his life. I was at Pelzer. S. C. once and saw an old white bearded gentleman, who looked at me very hard and said: "What is your name bud ?" I said. "Henry Cannon." He said, "I used to go to school to a man by that name down in Abbevile County." I told him that was my grandfather. A grand-daughter of that very same old gentleman who 1 saw at Pelzer is now the wife of the young Clerk of Court of Anderson Coimtv*- ,j S. C.
A verv- old and feeble man at Honea Path.j S. C. once told me that he went to school to grandpa and that on one oc casion, he turned loose a bottle of yellow jackets in the school

40 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
room, just for a joke on the other scholars. He went on to explain that when grandpa got through with him that he was fully convinced that such jokes as that were bad busi ness, at least as far as he was concerned. Grandpa read the Bible along with his other books, and taught his children to fear God and respect the Sabbath. In May 1875 he took his bed never to rise. Grandma went to him and bent over to talk to him; he said that he had just been plowing up in the loft of the house, and gave her some directions about "Old Gray" (the horse). He was delirious and remained that way until he died. Just before he died he threw up his hands like an infant springing into the arms of its mother. His body rests almost within the shadow of Gilgal church near Due West, S. C. For some reason or other, no marker has ever been put to his grave, but he left an everlasting mon ument in the minds and hearts of hundreds of people in Abbeville and adjoining counties. Old gray haired men and women of the present day rise up and call him blessed.
The writer of this sketch does not remember much about his father, as he was not quite six years old at the time of his death. There is one thing that I well remember, but do not cherish; the manner in which he plied the "hickory" to my back. He died at the age of thirty-four. One of his sisters picked me up in her arms to take.a last look at him. I have a picture still in my mind of that fair young face and brown wavvv hair.
We kept his mule until he died. One sultry day in July 1899, I was passing the lot where he stayed with an arm full of peanut vines, and he wanted them. "Old Pete" had never learned to speak English but I understood him just the same. I stopped and gave him the vines, and the next morning we found him dead. "Old Pete" was gone and we realized that we had lost a true friend. He had only one fault, and that was common to his kind--laziness; in fact lie was very reluctant to go at any thing but corn and fodder. But he was Pa's old mule and we loved him for that if noth ing else.

I

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 41

JAMES GHALMERS.

In writing of the prominent men of Abbeville County

who have gone to their Eternal reward, I must say a few

words for former County Treasurer. Mr. James Chalmers. I

was at Abbeville with my uncle one day in Aug. 1892; my

uncle left the wagon and mules with me and went to attend

to some business. While he was gone a shower of rain came

up, and I saw a handsome, well dressed young man coming

to me with an umbrella over him, he insisted on me getting

out and going with him to the store. I told him that I could

not leave the mules, and he gave me the umbrella and walked

back to the store in the rain. This act of kindness I will

always remember, and shall cherish the memory of that ex

cellent gentleman to my dying day. A man of wealth and

always neatly attired, but he had a place in his heart for

the humblest little country or factory boy that came his way.

He was one man that did not forget that he was made of the

dust

of

the

earth, 7

and

would

eventuallv

return

to

it.

He died at Tate Springs, Tenn., while taking a vacation

for his health; his body sleeps in Long Cane Cemetery. He

was known and loved from the Savannah to the Saluda.

THE AFTERMATH OF KINGS MOUNTAIN.
Not every one of those brave Mountaineers who kissed their wives and sweethearts good-bye and marched away from the Tugaloo with Col. Ben Cleveland returned. Some of those brave hearts were stilled by death ere they reached the summit of the mountain. But you may say that they were given Sepulture by their comrades, but such was indeed not the case. The victors knew full well that the main British army was some where near the scene, and they re tired hastily enough, leaving something less than two hun dred dead men of both armies to the mercies of the deni zens of nature. It is said that for a long time, no one would go there at all, and that the ground was literally covered with the bones of the dead soldiers. In 1810, thirty years after the battle, a squad of men went there and dug a large grave and collected all of the bones and buried

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
them in a heap, so that foe and friend alike are sleeping the last long sleep of death together, and one large monu ment stands over them all.
SLAVERY DAYS.
As one travels along the "Seaboard," especially on the East side of the Savannah, he or she can not help but observe a great many rugged, red hills. All of this calls back to the mind the days when the black people were slaves, as the most of the land was cleared for cultivation by them. Xow some of the slave owners were kind to their negroes, while others were very inhuman in their treatment of them. The writer of this sketch was hunting rabbits in a swamp once, and saw a mound of earth in a ditch, that mutely told the story of a brutal crime that has never been avenged, and will be only when the perpetrator appears before the Judgment Bar of God. A poor ignorant black girl--a mere child, was beaten to death by a cruel master. It would not be proper to state the circumstances that prompted the deed, only to say that it was his fault.
My mother's father owned thirty negroes, and one beau tiful day in April 1865 he sent for them all to come to the "big house" and told them that they would have to look out for themselves, as he no longer had any control over them. They wrung their hands and wept bitterly when they saw that they no longer had "Marse Sam" to depend on. I some times meet an old colored person who says to me: "I knew your Grandpa mighty well." He was kind to his slaves, and is very pleasantly remembered by the few of them that still survive.
BENJAMIN RYAN TILLMAN.
This noted man was born at Trenton, Edgefield County, S. C. He was just a common every day farmer until he took the lead in the farmers movement in 1890 and made the race for Governor. He was elected for two terms and made an excellent Executive. After serving out his last term, he was elected to the United States Senate, where he sained much

I
TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 43
notoriety. He called the Phillipine acquisition by the United States, "a great steal." During the debating in the Senate he had a fist fight with Senator McLaurin, also of South Carolina. Some time afterward, he made a speech in Atlanta, Ga., in which he said: "All of the long nosed Yankees in H--, or out of H--, can't keep the white man of the South from ruling the South. He was an ardent advo cate of white supremacy, and he and President Roosevelt were bitter enemies. He was an ardent supporter of the Wilson Administration and denounced in very harsh terms all who were opposed to the United States going to war with Germany. He was stricken with paralysis, and died at Wash in*g-.?ton July/ 3./ 1918. It was verv unfortunate that he did not live to see the results of the war.
But his life and character was that of a gentleman, and the majority of the people loved him as a father, and he kept his place in the Senate for twenty-four years.
In the list of great South Carolina Statesmen we are wil ling to give him second place to John C. Calhoim, although, like Mr. Calhoun, he was only a mortal man, and knew no more about what the future held, than you or I. dear reader. But he was a great and forceful speaker, and "swayed the crowd his way" as I heard a man say once.
His body rests at his old home at Trenton, S. C.
ASBURY CHURCHWELL LATTMER.
Among the great men of South Carolina whose boyhood eyes stretched out in wonder over the beautiful Savannah valley, I must not forget to mention A. C. Latimec. In the early 90's, as the saying is, he left the plow handles where his father had placed him at the age of twelve, and ran for Congress. He was elected and served with distinction. He gave up his seat in 1902. and made the race for the United States Senate. In this race he was opposed by one ef the ablest lawyers of South Carolina who did everything in his power to defeat him. but Mr. Latimer's record in Congress, together with his own personality and unblemished charac-

44 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
ter, easily carried him into the highest office in the gift of the people of the State.
He died from the effects of an operation, in the city of Washington in 1908. A delegation of famous Statesmen came with the body to Belton, S. C. and saw it laid in the tomb. A simple headstone with his full name with the date of his birth and death--and nothing more, marks his grave. But his many noble deeds had already been carved on the hearts of his people, and it was useless to carve them on stone.
He was born and reared at Lowndesville, S. C.
THE BOUNDARY LINE.
It has been said that for a long time that neither South Carolina or Georgia claimed the big island in the Savan nah. It is said that in those days almost every species of crime, even to dueling, was practiced on it. Of late years Georgia has laid claim to all of the islands in the Savannah. Now? so far as concerns the industry of "hootch", it does not differ, for our dear Uncle Sam is looking after that matter. But on account of hydro-electric interests the matter of the boundary has just been sifted out in the U. S. Court, and decided that each State should control to the middle of the river.
It is easy to tell where the boundary is anywhere else, for at the place where it is proposed to build the new bridge, the river is three hundred yards wide.
On the east side of Abbeville County it is not so easy to tell where the county line is, and on one occasion I saw part of the Greenwood County chain gang filling up a bad rut in the road on my mother's farm, about four hundred yards this side of the county line. We wanted the place fixed, and all that, but none of us had the courage to tackle the job. I started to tell them that they were out of their beat, but something told me to stay my generosity for a few min utes, at least, so I hid in the bushes and watched them fill up the old rut in great style and then march back into their own territory.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 45
AGNOSTICISM.
Just a short time ago I made the acquaintance of a gen tleman and his wife from Georgia. The lady was the daugher of a Georgia farmer, and had a pretty face and polished manners; a true Georgian in every sense of the word. The gentleman said that he was an Englishman by birth, but had lived in the TJ. S. since he was seven v^ ears old. He was a well educated man, and I liked to be in his company and hear him talk; but he finally told me that he was an Agnostic--that he did not know whether there was a God or not. He further told me that I ought to read "Mytholo gy" instead of the Bible. I told him that I did not wish to read anything that differed from the word of God, and that my mind told me that this great world would never have come into existence, much less stand in its present state without a supreme being to govern it.
Why, dear man! even the surly savage that once sat among the soap-stones of the Savannah and silently smoked his pipe as he serenely surveyed the beautiful scenery, worshiped the "Great Spirit" and had a conception of things Eternal much the same as we civilized "pale faces" of today. Yes he died firm in the belief that he would live again in the happy hunting grounds with his beloved squaw and papooses and would have no more foes to combat.
Xo, dear friend, I have never read Mythology or anythings of that sort but a book written by Bob Ingersoll, and it only made stronger my belief in the great God that made all things, and is at this very moment holding the entire universe in the hollow of his hand.
PRO.uuBJ.TiON.
The writer of this sketch, as a twelve year old boy, strolled the streets of Abbeville, S. C., and counted eight bar-rooms in a town of just a little over fifteen hundred souls. The most of those places were gambling dens also. In 1893 the Dispensary took the place of the bar-rooms, and the dear people said that it would be much better. Well, there was

46 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH

some improvement we will admit, in that none but men

could buy whiskey, but just think of it, dear friend. While

the dispensary was at Abbeville, three of the most promi

nent men in Abbeville County went to untimely graves? all

on account of whiskey; one sheriff, a deputy marshal, and

a magistrate, not to mention others who went the same road.

On one occasion I went with my brother and uncle to

Abbeville to get a load of "rations,"' on the way back we all

three took on a "load" of something contained in glass in

stead of sacks, and not quite so wholesome. Indeed my

"load'' became so heavy that I had to be put to bed when I

got home. Everything went gloriously with me until I

waked up the next morning, and wondered where I had been

all the while. About all I remember was hearing mv mother

C3

,

say: "What in the world did you mean by making that

child drunk."

But

now

YOU
-

see

nothing D

but

a

beautiful, /

clean

citv *

with

no whiskey dens, when you go to "town", and you will see

men around the courthouse ready to take the trail for a

"moonshiner" still at a moment's notice, and woe unto him that maketh and selleth "hootch" within the bounds of old Abbeville county.

THE TRICKSTER.

About a week ago a young colored man that lives on the Calhoim estate, "Ober yonder on the udder side ob de falls." as they call our town, came to me and said: "Cap., I got some mighty nice mush melons and I want to sell you some." I told him to bring some around and we might trade. Saturday morning he brought me one and said: "Cap., a fellow jes now offered me forty cents for dis mush melon, but I told him dat I done promised it to you and would jes have to let you have it." I told him that if he could get forty cents for it to sell it, and I would not get mad at him one bit. He said: "Cap., what will you gimme for it ?" I said: "Twenty-five cents." He said: "Cap., gimme thirty cents for it." I said no, and he left me, and found

I
TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 47
a man that wanted it just a little bit worse than I did, and got thirty cents for his mush melon.
Xow it does seem to me that after God has given us our hands to work with, and brain to direct our arms with, and good legs to walk to our work with, and best of all, a good opportunity to work, that we might live out our one dear, sweet, little life on earth without lying to, and cheating each other, but some "jes" can't see it that way.
"THE UGLIEST MAN."
As I went up town one evening this week I saw Mr. Jeff Martin sitting beside Mr. Daniel at the latter's meat market just above Mr. Martin's store. I paused long enough to express deep regret that I did not have a kodak with me, and they both laughed at the joke. I went into Mr. Mar tin's store and as Mr. Grant opened a Chero Cola for me I told him that only one thing was lacking to make the pic ture out there complete, and that was for this eminent story writer to stand between them with a hand on each gentle man's shoulder. He laughed heartily.
Just then a little colored boy came in to get Mr. Martin to pay him for some work around Mr. Martin's house. Mr. Grant told him to go out on the street, and the very ugliest man he saw to call him Mr. Martin. The boy stopped and gave them both the "once-over," but for his very life he could not decide as to which one of the gentlemen had been the least favored by the Goddess of Beauty. We all laughed at his embarrassment, but he failed to see where the fun en tered the game, and was glad to get away from such a rough crowd.
A GEORGIAN'S VIEWPOINT.
The writer of these sketches has a profound respect for the good people of Georgia, and the only reason that he has written more about his own state is that he does not know as much about Georgia as he does about the east side of the Savannah.

48 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH

Sure he has good reasons for respecting the Georgia peo ple, as friend wife is a native of Georgia, having been raised

in Franklin County. So you see that he first looks for an

open door before saying anything against the Georgia peo

ple.

In relating this story, I will first clear myself, by saying

that a Georgia man told it. Mr. W. H. Maynard said that he went to the courthouse at Elberton once to pay his taxes;

he asked some one to show him the tax collector, and was

*r

-

told to go into a certain room, and the ugliest man he

saw to pay the tax money to him. He said that the room

was full of men that had been miserably neglected by the Goddess of Beauty, and he remarked as he entered: "I never saw as many tax collectors in all my life."

THE ISLANDS OF MILLWOOD.
As the sightseer stands and gazes out over the wide stretch of water at Millwood, he sees several small green is lands, some of which are in the middle of the mighty cur rent. Now, to the close observer it is very evident that the present outline of the big island is very much the same as it was when the Lord of the Creation said, "Let the dry land appear." But the small islands were, to begin with, nothing but patches of jagged rocks, on which dead leaves, small sticks and earth were left after high-water, and in a short time grass and herbage began to grow. The roots of these small plants penetrated the thin sheeth of earth, and took a firm hold on the rocks beneath. This process was repeated year after year, each time on a larger scale, until we behold the beautiful little green island of Millwood, on which we see trees of considerable size, and on one we observe a large dead stock pine which must have been there in all of its glory when the English settlers first came to Savannah.
These islands are there to stay, for many floods have swept over them from time to time, but just clear the vege tation off of one of them and break the top soil and in a short time the jagged rocks will be all that is left, and the process of formation will all be to go over again.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
ELBERT COUNTY, 6A.
The writer of this sketch can walk up to the end of the street on which he lives and see the beautiful green treetops in Elbert County, Ga.
This is a large county, with many thousands of people and beautiful farms. The mountain in the Savannah River is in cluded in its territory. Why the name ?
Many years before the Revolutionary war, a poor orphan

Scene at the lower end of the island, where all three streams converge. Elbert County Ga., in the distance. This is where the Great Falls begin.
Photo by H. T. Cannon.

bov.' crossed the Savannah from his home in S. C.,3 and

walked

into

the

city /

of

Svannah

in

search

of

work.

He en-

tered the Patriot army at the beginning of the war, and

fought with great gallantry. He was taken prisoner in a

battle with the British, and nearly all of his men were either

7

/

killed, captured, or drowned trying to swim across the

river to escape the British bayonets. He rose to the rank

of Major-General before the close of the war. The city of

Elberton and the county of Elbert are the lasting monu

ments to the memor*y. of this brave man whose name was Samuel Elbert. He was born in 1740, and died in Savan

nah, Ga., in 1788.

50 TRIJE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
AEBEVJLLE COUNTY, S. C.
The writer has special interest in Abbeville County, for it is his native home, his present place of residence, and deep down in the bosom of old Abbeville County lie the re mains of his ancestors of many generations. The present population of Abbeville are the descendants of Scotch-Irish, who came in from the North and East, and a large colony of French, who came in from Charleston and a few other set tlers of English and German extraction.
The French settlers came from Abbeville, France, and the city and county are named for their old home in France. They were good, Christian people, and came here for the purpose of worshiping God in the right way without being persecuted. Many of the best people in Abbeville county today are their descendants. But, my dear reader, there is one thing about their coming here, that the close observer cannot help but take notice to; they sailed out from France in sight of England, settled in English territory and were given land by the British government, and that at a time when England and France were at each other's throats in the bitterest struggle of modern times.
We must admit that it was somewhat strange that they were allowed to come at that time, but it is all a thing of the past now.
Abbeville has been a court house town for well over a century, and at the present day, one can see in every di rection, old moss covered mile stones showing the direction and distance to A. C. H.
In 1897 the county was cut nearly in half and Greenwood County was formed out of the eastern or Saluda side of the county. The people over on that side had complained for a long time about having to come so far to attend court, pay taxes, etc. But many of them continued to make pilgrimeges to dear old Abbeville, at least, so long as the dispen sary stayed open.
The population of Abbeville city in 1890 was one thoussand five hundred and forty-seven, in 1892 the S. A. L. railroad came through in 1896 a large cotton mill was

I
TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 51
built and in 1900 the population was nearly four thousand. A few years ago another large tract of Abbeville was taken up by McCormick County. So you see that Abbevile County has dwindled from the banner county of S. C., with five representatives in the legislature, to a very small county with just two members, but it is our dear old home county and we with one voice say: All hail, dear old Abbeville.
AN ABBEVILLE COUNTY MYSTERY.
Govan Zeigler was a distinguished Confederate soldier, and at the end of the Civil war, he was a major. The people of Abbeville County had a reverence for him that was akin to worship. He had been Clerk of Court of the County for about 20 years, and every one knew that it was useless for any one to run against him for his office.
One day in 1888 he went down to the depot and took the train as if going out to Hodges, the train stopped to get fuel for the engine after running about a mile and a half. Maj. Zeigler got up and went out on the platform of the car, but no one paid any attention to his movements until after the train started off. Some one saw his body lying on the track and his head was crushed into many pieces. As to why he should have done such a rash act no one has ever been able to find out. He had the love and respect of al most every one that knew him, an honorable position with a princely salary and a nice family and a lovely home.
Many thousands of hearts were made sad by his untime ly death. His body sleeps in Long Cane Cemetery, and a magnificent monument marks his grave.

52 TltUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
SAD STORIES OF DROWNING ON THE SAVANNAHi
The Savannah River is very swift and dangerous even at low water, and many people have lost their lives in its tur bulent waters. I shall relate some pathetic stories before closing. Almost everyone for hundreds of miles around is familiar with the sad story of Harper's Ferry, near Lowndesville, S. C., where Lester Waters, a young soldier, just returned from France was crossing the. river in com pany with his young wife and nine other young people, when the post on one side of the river gave way plunging them into about 20 feet of muddy water. Only one young man of the party lived to tell the story, and it is said that he swam to land a half mile below the scene of the tragedy. As for the others, they were picked up one by one at dif ferent times, for many miles down the river. Some with their faces horribly torn by wild creatures. The writer was present when the body of Lester Waters was taken from its watery tomb and shall ever remember the terrible sight, from which some of the party stood back, unable to look upon his mutilated features.
But I shall first relate another sad story, that like the story of young Waters and his bride, may aptly be called the sudden and tragic ending of a beautiful love affair.
THE DROWNING IN "HOMINY POT/'
A gentleman at Lowndesville, S. C.. told me that-many years ago he saw the body of a colored man, that had been bound and gagged and about a hundred pounds of rocks tied to him taken from the Savannah after he had been missing about 9 days. He said that some one saw a vulture fying around over the spot and upon investigating closely saw a man's foot sticking up out of the water; he had ac tually risen and floated for some distance, with all that weight tied to him.
He said that some parties were involved in a law suit, and that the man had turned State's evidence against his "pals"

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 53
and it was supposed that some of them had used this means to seal his lips for all time.
The spot where the drowning took place is a deep and dangerous whirlpool known as the Hominy Pot near Mt. Carmel, S. C.
A MAN AND HIS TWO LITTLE GIRLS DROWNED.
A good many years ago a lot of people were gathered at a church on the lower Savannah and were telling their re ligious experiences and relating the troubles that they had in life when a little gray haired lady stood up and told a story something like this: "When I was a young girl I was married to a young man that lived near us, and we both had inherited large tracts of land on the Savannah. We united our fortunes and for a number of years lived verv happily. Two little girls and one little boy came to bless our home, but unfortunately we had built our house too near the river. One dark night after it had been raining for several days my husband waked me up saying: 'We must get out from here, as everything is going to be washed away.' We had to cross a valley in order to get to the high hills and the water was waist deep in some places as we went, my husband went back after two little girls that we had left sleeping in the house, and by that time the water had risen to such a depth that they all three were washed away and were drowned, and I never heard of or saw them any more. All night long I stood with my in fant boy in my arms, realizing that my dear husband and little grils were drowned, but there was more trouble in store for me. With a sad heart I made my way to some of my relatives where I lived and raised my boy. As he grew into manhod, he fell into wild ways, took to gambling and drinking. One night he went to Augusta, got in bad com pany, got drunk and was killed in a drunken row, and went down into a drunkard's grave; and to a drunkard's Hell.

54 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH TWO YOUNG HEN DROWN AT BULLWOOD.
In July, 1915, a party of young people went from Abbeville to Millwood on a pleasure trip. They put on bathing suits and went in swimming. The spectre of death was hov ering near, and two very promising young men were car ried back to their homes sleeping the last long sleep of death, victims of the treacherous waters of the Savannah.
Looking up the Savannah from the ferry boat. Photo by H. T. Cannon.
Mr. Calhoun Cason got into swift water and was carried down into a very deep place; he went down and every effort was made by his companions to save him but to no avail. Mr. Gr. A. Neuffer, Jr. went to his aid, and oame near being drowned himself.
Mr. Wm. McCelvey of Mt. Carmel, S. C., jumped in the river in an effort to aid them, and was himself drowned, and it was some time before his body was found. This happened on July 30,1915.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH oo
STORY OF THE DROWNING AT HARPER'S FERRY TEN PERSONS DROWN APRIL 4TH, 1920.
Lester Waters was a young man born and reared in the vicinity of Lowndesville, S. C. Miss Lollie Scoggin was a young school teacher of the same section, very beautiful and accomplished. They became friends and in course of time, friendship ripened into love. But the tocsin of war sound ed, the draft law was enacted, and Lester was among those that had to leave father, mother and sweetheart and ans wer the call. After many weary months abroad, he re turned to greet with a happy smile those whom he loved best, and in a short while he and Miss Lollie were married. He went to work as ferry-man for Mr. Harper, and his young bride continued her duties as teacher of the Diamond Springs School, near the ferry. This was about February 1st, 1920, they went to house-keeping near the brink of the river so that Lester could be near his work of carrying peo ple across the river.
THE FATAL DAY:
On easter Sunday, April 4th, 1920, a party of their friends came to visit them; nine young people in all, five young ladies and four young men. All happy and gay, heedless of lurking danger, they went down to the river and started across on the flat.
It was said by a man that lived near the ferry at the time of the accident, that Lester did not want to take the risk of going across, when the water was so high, but that some of the party insisted on going. It was said by some one that Mr. W. H. Bradshaw left the ferry a short while before the accident and told them: "Whatever you do, don't attempt to cross the river this evening." But anyway they went, and just as the flat reached the middle of the river, the post on the S. C. side gave way, the flat swung down stream for a short distance and then (being held by the cable) sank to the bottom. The young ladies screamed with terror as they were being swallowed up by the cold muddy water, but

56 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
alas! their doom was sealed; no human agency could act in time to save them. It is said that Lester had started to swim out when Mrs. "Waters rose for the last time and screamed. He exclaimed: "Oh, my God, what will I do." And when last seen, he was diving in a frantic effort to save her.
Xightfall found the river bank lined with heartbroken parents and friends of the lost ones. One family was minus a son and two daughters. Out of another, two young daugh-
Harper's Ferry, where the tragedy occurred April 4, 1920. The writer's son sitting on the flat.
Photo by H. T. Cannon.
ters were gone, never to return, and still another family suffered the loss of a fourteen year old daughter, and a six teen year old son. Another family lost a son, and alas^for Uester Waters and his young wife; their joy was turned into sorrow in the twinkling of an eye, and nothing was left at his house but possibly some dear pet that mutely longed for its master's return.
FIRST BODY FOUND: Thus passed three days and nights, the river was lined with searching parties, but no sight of the dead, nothing but the rippling waters of the Savannah, the songs of whippoorwills, the croaking of frogs to break the awful silence.

I
TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 57 On Wednesday evening, a man was searching along the brink of the river on Bear Island, near the point where the Seaboard railroad cresses, just about ten miles from the scene of drowning, and found the body of Miss Lucy Bradshaw. She had floated near the shore and become entangled with the bushes. Her body was taken out and brought to Calhoun Falls and prepared for burial, and sent home. It was said by people that saw her that she looked almost natural.
Millwood Camping Ground, Calhoun Falls, S. C. It was near this place that Lester Waters* body was found. May 1, 1920.
Nearly a week passed before another body was found. Searchers at Cherokee Falls found the body of Miss Inez Manning, her head and shoulders being buried in mud and one shoe protruding above the water, showing where she was. It was said that she could still be identified although badlv/ swollen. ANOTHER MAN DROWXED AT GREGG SHOALS.
About five days after the Harpers Ferry tragedy a man named Conwell was drowned at Gregg Shoals, some dis tance above, and people were searching for his body also. It happened that a few days after the body of Miss Inez Manning was found that two parties of searchers, one on

58 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
each side of the river found the bodies of Mr. Conwell and Albert Sutherland about the same time. Mr. Conwell was found on the South Carolina side and was taken to Georgia for burial. Albert Sutherland was found on the Georgia side and brought to South Carolina for burial. A short time afterward the body of Miss Annie Manning was found at McCalla Island. About seventeen days had passed since the tragedy, another heavy rain fell, the river reached the flood stage again, and other bodies began to rise. The bodies of Miss Alice Meschine, Mrs. Lester Waters and Robert Manning were all picked up at Cade's Ferry, about fifteen miles from the scene of the tragedy, all in one day, and the body of Lester Waters was seen floating down Cherokee Falls the same day.
Ten days passed and it seemed as if no other bodies would be recovered but Saturday evening, May 1st, two men were fishing at Millwood, twelve miles below Harper's Ferry. The river at this point is very wide and dotted with small is lands. It was nearly sundown, and they saw a vulture hov ering overhead; nearer and lower it came, and then alighted on a small green island in the middle of the stream. "I'll just bet you that is one of those drowned people", one said to the other. They got a bateau and went over and found the mortal remains of Lester Waters, with his features hor ribly mangled. They came on across and found a party of men fishing on the S. C. side and told them what they had found. After a brief consultation they decided to wait until the next morning to remove the body. On Sunday morning a party of men and boys went down from Calhoun Falls to get the body and carried a coffin and box. Three boats, manned by two men each, went over. Dr. J. V. Tate went in one of the boats to disinfect the body so that it could be handled. They tied a rope to his ankles and floated him to land, dragged him out and there we beheld in that hideous form, what had only four weeks before been a hand some young man, full of life, health and strength. Who could help but feel sad over such a fate? He had just passed thru all the dangers of the great war, had just been

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 59 face to face with death from shot and shell, sword and bayonet, only to come home and be drowned in his own beloved Savannah.
Two weeks more passed, and the body of Miss Allie May Bradshaw was found near Plum Branch, S. C., having floated nearly forty miles.
Monument to the Harper's Ferry victims, In the Presbyterian Cemetary, Lowndesville, S. C.
Photo by H. T. Cannon.
The body of Charley Meschine has never been found, and to quote, the words of the poet:
"On the bosom of Savannah, One of them is sleeping still." Thus ends the sad story of the drowning at Harpers Ferry. In the Presbyterian Cemetery at Lowndesville there are nine graves, in two rows. Nine young people await the resurrection morn, when they will again appear in their youth and beauty as on the fatal day on the Savannah.

60 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
THE DROWNING OF MR. CONWELL
AT GRE6G SHOALS.
Scarcely had the excitement caused by the Harper's Ferry tragedy begun to subside when the Savannah claimed ano ther victim; really it seemed that its appetite for human life was insatiable.
Mr. Conwell was an emploj^ee of the hydro-electric plant at Gregg Shoals, and lived on the Georgia side of the river. He crossed the river late in the evening with one companion, stajred at his home over night and voted in the Presidential Preference Primary election the next morning and with his companion started back across the river.
The river had risen to some extent during the night, the current was swifter and they lost control of their boat, and they realized that were going to be carried over the dam and to certain death. It so happened that there was a stone pier, built in the middle of the dam and the boat drifted near this pier. Just as the boat passed over the dam the com panion of Mr. Conwell leaped to the pier and saved himself. But Mr. Conwell was so overcome by the trying situation that he made no effort to save himself by jumping as his companion did and was carried to a horrible death on the rocks below. As to whether he was killed instantly by the fall, or was drowned, will never be known. His body was found at Cherokee Falls many miles below the scene of his death some days later by parties that were searching for the Harper's Ferry victims, as I have already stated.
The man that was with Mr. Conwell (whose name I have forgotten) stayed on the pier all that day, all night, and till some time in the eveninog of the next dav. without food or drink, and it looked as if there was no way to rescue him from his perilous position. Finally some one conceived the idea of stretching a cable across the pond about a mile above the dam, and from it a boat with a rope attached was sent down to him. This plan worked all right, and very soon he was brought to safety.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 61

THE WRITER VISITS HARPER'S FERRY.

Saturday morning, July 23rd, my son and I boarded the

train and went up to Lowndesville, and proceeded to the

cemetery where the Harper's Ferry victims are buried. I

photographed the monument and proceeded to read the

names on it. On the west side at the top is: W. Lester Wa

ters, Oct. 2, 1895; Lollie S. Waters, Nov. 6, 1899; Alice

Meschine Aug. 7, 1906; Charlie Meschine Feb. 4. 1904. A

headstone with C. M. and a mound with a vase of flowers

like all the others,j but alas! Charlie is not there. M*v> son called my attention to a new made grave just a few yards

away, and I told him it was Charlie's mother that had

died about three weeks ago. The next name is that of Al

bert Sutherland, and on the other side are the names of

Robert I. Manning, June 12,1900; Inez Manning, May 23,

1897; Annie L. Manning. March 18. 1904: Allie Bradshaw,

Dec. 28,1907, and Lucy Bradshaw, March 14, 1903. At the

bottom on each side is: Drowned April 4,1920.

We then proceeded on foot to Harper's Ferry, and after

walking all of the distance but about a mile we were taken

up by Mr. Morrows' son that operates the ferry, and carried

over in a Ford car. Upon arriving at the scene I stood for

a few moments and feasted mv. ev- es on the beauties of nature. Surely the Lord of Creation was partial to this par

ticular section of the country, as he made the Savannah al

most as straight as a gun barrel for a distance of about a

mile on either side of where the ferrv/ now is.> and all of the way there is about six hundred feet of water with not even

a rock or snag protruding anywhere.

I photographed the ferry and proceded to examine its

construction, as I had never seen a ferry boat with a cable

before. On either side of the river was a strong cedar post

braced

on

three

sides

bv *

heavv

wire

stretched

from

the

top *

to the earth. The posts are about fifteen feet high, and the

cable is about 25 feet above the water. Mr. Morrow asked

me if I would like to cross over, and I told him that I would

be tickled half to death to go if he did not mind carrying

me over. He said that it would be no trouble whatever. Just

62 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH

then one of his boys untied a rope and pulled one end of the

flat upstream and the current, the only motive power that

they use, carried us over in less time than five minutes.

On the Georgia side there is a bell for anyone to ring for

the ferryman, and on the whole it is about the best equipped

ferry in this section of the country, as everything is new ex

cept the cable and it is in perfect condition, although it lay

for a long time in the river after Lester Waters and his

party were drowned.

I asked Mr. Morrow some questions about the drowning

and he told me that no one knew just why and how it hap

pened as there were no eye witnesses to the scene, and that

the only survivor could tell very little about it. I then pro

ceeded to photograph the house where Lester and his wife

lived, which is now occupied by Mr. Morrow and his fami

ly, after which Mr. Morrow carried us back to Lowndesvile,

S. C.

In the waiting room at Lowndesville I talked with a lady

(Mrs. Broadwell) about the tragedy and she said that it

was generally believed that it was caused by the flat not

being properly adjusted, as Lester was a new hand at the

business. She said that Thomas Bradshaw told her son that

after he came back to the house almost frozen to death, to

get one of Lester's coats to put on, that he saw the table set

ready for them to eat when they came from the river, and

Mrs. Waters' apron lying on the chair, which caused him

to feel worse than he had ever felt before in his life.

Mrs. Broadwell said that everybody around had shown

great sympathy for the parents of the victims, especially

for Mr. and Mrs. Manning, as it seemed to hurt them worse

than any of the rest.

I told her that I felt that the whole wide word was in

sympathy with them in their distress, but we can only

imagine just how they feel about the loss of their children.

She said that thev had crossed over and back one time,

V

*

and that Mrs. Waters insisted on them taking the trip a

second time and then the accident occured.

I did not see any of the victims' parents, but told Mr.

Morrow to give them my best regards when he saw them.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 63
LETTER FROM MR. J. W. WATERS.
Dear Mr. Cannon: I am sending you a story about Lester. You can arrange
it for publication as you see fit. I sure will be glad to get one of the books as I am interested in them.
Hoping to hear from you again, I remain, your friend, JOHX W. WATERS, Lowndesville, S. C.
Lester Waters was born Oct. 25, 1894 near Lowndesville, S. C. His parents moved from there to Elbert County, Ga., when he was four months old and lived there four years. They then moved back near Lowndesville, where Lester lived the balance of his life. He was a good boy, good natured and never gave his parents any trouble, he was indus trious and liked by all that knew him. When he became twenty-one years old he went to work for himself, working a crop on halves. The next year he bought two mules and rented a farm, and boarded with the one that he rented from, and was successful with his farm. He was doing well when he was called to the army, and left his farming' interest in the care of his father. He was drafted into the army on May 29, 1918. He went to Camp Jackson at Co lumbia, S. C.. and trained there until August 5, 1918 when he sailed for France, making a good voyage and landing safely. He served there until June 1919. when he boarded the U. S. ship Minnesota and returned to Camp Jackson, where he received his discharge and came home. This was on June 19th, 1919. He was a first class private in Battery D, 316, Second Division. He went to work in the ginnery at Lowndesville in the autumn of 1919, and later on he rented a farm on the Savannah river and operated the ferry for Mr. Harper at the same time.
He kept bachelors hall (as the saying is) until February 5. 1920, he was happily married to Miss Lollie Scoggin a beautiful young school teacher of the Lowndesville section, and after their honeymoon, she resumed her duties as teach er of the Diamond Spring School. On April 4,1920 they went to their doom in the middle of the Savannah River
I

64: TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
when the ferry boat sank with them and nine compan ions.
"Solomon said that a wise son maketh a glad father", and it was indeed true in the case of Lester, for I watched his footsteps with great joy and pride all the days of his life and it was a sad blow to me when I got the message that my boy had met such an awful death.
JUST HOW IT HAPPENED.
While I was at the ferry and talking to Mr. Morrow, the ferryman, we were discussing the accident, and he ex plained the impossibility of some of the reports that had gone out over the country in regard to the accident, and showed me how it must have been from a technical stand point. A post about fifteen feet high, braced on three sides with heavy wire, the cable stretched from the top of this to the other side, a distance of about six hundred of more feet. Xow at the flood stage the strongest part of the current is almost always in the middle of the stream.
The post broke at the bottom and fell down stream, about two hundred 3Tards of heavy wire rope, with the flat con nected, with ropes and pulleys, fell into the river and sank to the bottom, carrying the flat with it, and leaving its pre cious cargo of humanity to struggle in about twenty feet of swift, cold, muddy water, and that at a distance of at least one hundred yards of either bank. Such, dear reader, was the awful fate of the Harper's Ferry victims.
After it sank it drifted back for some distance toward where it last started from, and the distressed people that came to the place after the accident could see it standing on one end with the other end sticking up out of the water.
LESTER WATERS AND HIS BRIDE.
People generally in speaking of the Harpers Ferry tragedy give more prominence to Mr. and Mrs. Waters than to the other victims. Why? Mrs. Waters, as an efficient "school marm," very easily commanded the love and friend ship of the old people, and the respect of the "younger

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 65
set". Also anyone will admit that a handsome young man, dressed in the uniform of the TJ. S. Army is a grand spec tacle to behold, especially to the ladies. They no doubt at tracted some attention by their courtship before he went away to war, and when he returned hearty and hale, with a broad smile for-every one, and for one in particular, there is no doubt that he attracted more attention than ever. They married and went to house-keeping; that called for sitll more attention.
On April 4, 1920 they closed the door of their lovely home and walked down to the river never to return. Just imagine, dear reader, the terrible agony of soul that must have been his as he saw that lovely face sink beneath the raging waters of the Savannah for the last time.
Everyone of those dear young people was some mother's or father's boy or girl, and they were not all quite grown, but they were still under the parental roof, therefore, people give Lester Waters and his bride more prominence than the other victims.
Taken away in the morning of life; no children will ever rise up and call them blessed, but they all leave a priceless jewel--a good name, that can never be taken away from them.
THE SILENT FEAST.
At the beginning of April, 1920, there was a new home on the east bank of the Savannah, near Lowndesville, S. C.. two happy hearts had been united after many weary months of waiting. The beautiful Spring had come, green leaves and sweet smelling flowers were seen everywhere. Lester and his bride sat in the bright moonlight, and listended at the whippoorwills. No doubt, he was truly thankful to God for allowing him to get back to his home and friends.
On April 4th, Mrs. Waters prepared a feast for her young friends, and after an egg hunt, some one suggested taking a trip across the river and back before supper.
Alas! the feast was not enjoyed; where laughing and merry-making should have been, all was as silent as the tomb. The hands of the ones for whom the feast was pre-

66 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
pared, as well as the dainty hands that prepared it were cold in death, and ten young souls had taken their flight out into the great abyss of Eternity.
HOW WAS LESTER ATTIRED?
T&ere was some discussion as to how Lester Waters was dressed at the time of the drowning. A newspaper stated
House where Lester Waters lived at the time of the drowning. Now occupied by R. L. Morrow and family.
Photo by H. T. Cannon.
that a dead body dressed in army clothing was seen floating down Cherokee Falls, and was supposed to be that of Lester Waters as he was dressed in his uniform at the time of the drowning at Harper's Ferry.
When his dead body was taken out of the river at Millwood he had on an army shirt, and heavy, hob-nailed shoes. The rest of his attire consisted of dark grey pants and a pair of well worn overalls, with the suspenders fastened with a wooden peg. It was said that he had seventy-five dollars in paper money on his person at the time of the accident. A very careful search of his pockets by Dr. Tate revealed only one dollar and ninety-eight cents in silver and pennies. His hands were still a natural color, having been in water all of the time, the rest of his body was almost as blacK as ink.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANXAH 67

His arms were pulled clown and crossed over his breast, tied with a cord, and his body was wrapped in a blanket and placed in a coffin at the water's edge, and borne away to a \vaiting truck, and carried to its last resting place by the side of his young wife at Lowndesville, S. C.

THE LAST ENEMY.

Xone of us cherish the thought of death: indeed while we are in good health, the most of us are happy, and love life,' no matter how hard our lot ma*v be. The writer of this sketch saw his youngest brother linger for months, and suf fer death many times with an incurable disease before death

finally ended his suffering He also spent many sleepless nights with his two infant sons, and watched them suffer

until their piteous cries were stilled by death. It is a relief, dear reader, to any one to know that their dear ones are r.

rest, where suffering is no more, but it is hard for them to be

suddenlv taken from us in the best of health, in the verv

c

,

bloom of vouth and happiness. Whv ? We can oiilv imagine



1 ,L



^

^

the anguish of heart that those dear parents feel. Surely

they can never forget their sorrow. The sweetness of life will

never return to them, and their gray hairs will go down to the grave in deep sorrow.

Only today I read of the death of Mrs. Meschine. who lost

a young daughter just fourteen years old on August 7,1919,

and also a young son whose bodv has never been found.



CT



There is no doubt but that Charleyrs last thoughts as he was

drowning, were of mother, and also as death ended her earthy troubles, that her last thoughts were of her poor boy who is peacefully sleeping somewhere in the bosom of Sa

vannah.

THE HARPER'S FERRY TRAGEDY AS COMPARED WITH THE MASSACRE ON LONG CANE.

Mam- people have spoken of the drowning at Harper's

Ferry

as

the

worst

calamity

in

Abbeville *

history .

The

writer has never entertained that idea for the following

reason: The Scotch-Irish settlers were a band of poor

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
people that had been persecuted and driven from one country to another on account of political and religious differences in the old world, and had emigrated to the new world with every hope that they would get to live in peace for the rest of their lives, and worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. Almost without warning they were set upon by a horde of wily sa vages and slaughtered indiscriminately. Just think of an
New river bed across the island, formed by the flood of Aug. 27, 1908. The mountain side in the distance.
Photo by H. T. Cannon.
old helpless woman being killed and her scalp being taken as a trophy of victory. Alittle four year old girl was killed at the same time and her little body was thrown into Ixmg Cane Creek to be eaten up by the fishes and turtles.
The Harper's Ferry tragedy was very sad indeed, and the writer has not a single word of criticism for the unfortu nates, but must say as many others do, tljat they took an un necessary risk, and lost their lives for the sake of pleasure.

1

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVAXXAII 69

WHERE IS THE BODY OF CHARLIE MESCHINE?

The writer believes that there are at least four reasons

why .

the

boclv.

of

Charley *

Mechinc

did

not

float

to

the

snr-

face as the others did.

1. It could have become wedged among rocks or snags

and remained there until it came to pieces, and his bones

mav* now be scattered for miles alon~g the river bottom.

2. It could have rolled into a deep place in the river bot

tom, and have been covered with soft mud and sand, and

mav/ remain there whole for many years to come,- and .p1. robably petrify. Such has been the case.

3. It could have been covered up in a sand bar. above

the low water mark, and mav vet be found bv a hand or foot sticking out. A young man was found in Alabama once

after bein%g-- lost for 3 *years in this very way. . 4. It is not at all impossible that his body could have been

carried all the way to the sea and have been devoured by

sharks, but it must not have risen and floated as the others

did. for if it had some one would have seen it. A person

could

be

carried

a

lon^g?

way

bv

swift

water,

in

eiTM ghteen

days

and nights. Furthermore, the river does not extend all the

wav to the ocean but loses itself in a bay of salt water about thirty* miles above the ocean. This water is infested bv many young sharks.

A STORT OF THE SALUDA.
About three weeks ago a young lady was drowned in the Saluda river over on the eastern edge of Abbeville County, at a pleasure resort called Irwin's Mill. Her father is get ting^? old,- indeed has been ^g?rav headed for many A~enrs but none of his children were grown. All of this calls back to the mind of the writer a conversation that took place at Honea Path, S. C., one Saturday evening over fourteen years ago. I was sitting in front of the Bank of Honea Path and Mr. T. R. Finley. the cashier, came out and talked with me on the subject of matrimony. He said that a man should never put off marrying until he became middle aged . "That is one great mistake that I have made." he said. UT have

70 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
waited until I got nearly forty to get married, and now I will not live to see what my children will do in life."
But, alas! he has lived to see his pretty seventeen year old daughter's ejres closed in death, the victim of a frightful, untimely death. Dear reader, our first parents disobeyed God's command and we must each and every one drink of the bitter cup of sorrow in consequence.
A WORD OF SYMPATHY TO THE BEREAVED.
This writer knows by experience how hard it is for pa rents to have to part with their darling children; his first born son was taken from its mother's arms and placed in the arms of Jesus. Also, less than four years, ago the death angel came while the family were all asleep and took away the spirit of a beautiful boy that was old enough to toddle down the walk and meet his "dad" as he came in from his work. But this is treasure in heaven, and I soon became reconciled to the will of God. Now it is something else to think about giving them up after we have watched their footsteps from the cradle to young manhood and woman hood, and if they are snatched away in the twinkling of an e3Te as it were, we can't always be sure as to the welfare of their souls. But it is the hope of the writer that "all is well" with the souls of every one of those young people that were called into the presence of God in such a sudden and tragic manner on April 4th, 1920, at Harper's Ferry. I hope that Lester and his wife will be reunited after their long rest in the grave, and that every father and mother, son and daughter, husband and wife will stand up once more in life and smile into each other's faces, and be parted never more, either by war or death, and to dwell together forever on a river where drownings are unknown, and where the scenery far surpasses all of the beauty and grandeur of the Savannah.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 71
DEATH BY DROWNING. (Selected).
It is believed that the rapidity and painlessness of death by drowning are due chiefly to the speedy obstruction of the circulation of the blood through the lungs. In ordinary asphixia, by the simple deprivation of air, the blood through out the body becomes charged with carbonic acid, and the arteries, as well as the veins, become filled with venous blood. Venous blood does not pass readily through the capillary vessels, and when the accumulation of impurities has become so great as to prevent its passing at all, the cir culation comes to a stand-still. But the dreadful distress of suffocation comes on long before this point is reached.
Xow, when cold water is sucked into the lungs and comes in contact with their delicate and sensitive mucous mem brane, it must cause an instant and powerful contraction of the capillaries, and obstruct the current of blood from the right side of the heart, thus indirectly damming back the venous blood in the brain. The state of things brings on unconsciousness rapidly, preceeded by the pleasurable tingling sensations, rapid successions of ideas, and flashes of light and color, so often described by persons who have been rescued from drowning. Drowning persons then die in different ways: 1. By syncope and asphyxia while un conscious. Some of these die instantly. 2. By apoplexy (usually congestive) common in plethoric and aged per sons, followed by asphyxia while unconscious. 3. By as phyxia, pure and simple.
Deaths which come under the first two heads are rapid and painless, constituting probably a half, and according to Taylor, three-fourths of all deaths by drowning.
Deaths which come under the third heading we presume are not accoompanied by physical suffering for these rea sons: 1. Persons who have been resuscitated after having become unconscious declare that they have felt no pain whatever. 2. Death is speedy. 3. Persons who lose their presence of mind are so occupied with their struggles and mental agony, that a slight degree of physical pain would be unnoticed. 4. Swimmers, and persons who do not lose

72 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
their wits, become so exhausted and chilled, that when the final act comes, their powers make but feeble resistance, and in both cases the passage of water into the lungs tend to bring on insensibility by obstructing the circulation before it is time for the agony of asphyxia to be felt. So that in drowning we have reason to believe, contrary to Taylor's opinion, pure, uncomplicated asphyxia, never oc curs. If death by drowning be inevitable, as in a shipwreck, the easiest way to die would be to suck water into the lungs
A portion of the S. A. L. trestle over the Savannah River. Photo by H. T. Cannon.
by a powerful inspiration as soon as one went beneath the surface. A person who had the courage to do this would probably become almost immediately unconscious, and never rise to the surface. As soon as the fluid filled his lunges all feelings of pains and chilliness would cease, the indescriba ble semi-delirium that accompanies anaesthesia would come on, with ringing in the ears and delightful visions of color and light, while he would seem to himself to be sinking gently to rest on the softest of beds and with the most de lightful dreams.
--R. S. Tracv, M. D.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 73
THE EASTER DROWNING IN SAVANNAH.
In the Spring of nineteen twenty It had rained most every day,
And the brooklets, creek and rivers Rushed in torrents on their way.
It was on the fourth of April. In the Easter eventide,
That eleven youngsters ventured O'er Savannah wild and wide.
Chorus:
They have crossed, but not Savannah, Yet beyond this veil of care,
When their friends have crossed the river, May they find their loved ones there.
Xot a dream of lurking danger Xot a tear stood in their eye,
Xot a farewell kiss from mother. Xot a father's last good-bye.
Forth they went in quest of pleasure As so often youngsters do,
In the bloom of *v. outh and beautv* Brave young men and maidens true.
They had gone to Harper's Ferry
For they lived not far away, And the boatman's wife was teacher
Of their district school, they say. Let us cross the brimming river,
Some one yelled in youthful glee, It is well the others echoed
In a voice of ecstacy.
All were on and then the boatman With his young and lovely bride,
When the flat was loosed from anchor Started for the other side.
Xow a strong and goodly cable

74 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
Held the flat boat in its place, But the rough and angry waters
Showed that time had left its trace.
When they reached the mighty current That with wonderous swiftness ran,
Then the cable post was broken, Thus defied the works of man.
As the flat swung down the river Half restrained and partly free,
Then the air was rent with screaming And with cries of agony.
Soon the goodly flat was sunken, They must sleep, but not to dream,
Eleven start, but ten are missing. In that voyage across the stream.
One was left to tell the story, Thomas Bradshaw is his name,
But the rest will live forever In our memory's hall of fame.
Two of them were Misses Bradshaw, They were sisters understand.
Mannings three, two girls and a brother, And a boy named Sutherland.
Lester Waters, too, was missing, With his young and lovely wife,
Charles Meschine and Alice also, Perished in that loss of life.
Easter night was swiftly falling As the tragic news was borne
To the loved ones of the missing, And their friends who came to mourn.
After days of tireless searching Through the sunshine, rain or chill,
In the bosom of Savannah One of them is sleeping still.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 75
Gone are they but not forgotten, Change is wrought by fleeting time,
And the bloom of youth and beauty Is the tempter's sweetest chime.
Let us heed this note of warning As the path of life we plod,
Then my prescious friend and reader, Oh! Prepare to meet thy God. --E. Ii. FANT.
Xote--Mr. Fant has granted me permission to use this poem on condition that I use his name as author.
SOMBER SIGHS THE SAVANNAH.
Great river of pathetic gloom! Oh rushing waves of frightful surge,
Thy. sorrow chants its tearful dirg*-^e For all those ill-stared victims' doom.
Great river of historic waves, From mountain rill of tender flow,
To rushing, angry torrents grow, And speed its victims to their graves.
Sad stream of sorrow whose fell flow, In tearful melancholic davs,
v7
We sing our sad and grevious lays, To calm our cruel raging woe.
Savannah in dark mem'ries clad, Has often brought us grief and fears,
But none exceeding those in tears, Oh wreck of raging waves so mad!
Sad river flow gentle and calm As seaward you pass by their graves,
Molest not with turbulent waves, Our sorrowing chant of a psalm.

76 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
_
The birds of song will pass away, Like sweet wild flowers on the hills,
Or blossoms by the rythmic rills, But these dear souls will last for aye.
Oh, torn away in youthful bloom, The rose droops sadly by each grave,
And violets, in fragrance wave, Perfume the air in tender gloom.
Fly angels, hither from the sky!
There is no sadder spot of ground, In deep Savanah's valley found
Than where these Easter victims lie.
Fond mothers! Be solace thine; That healing hope will heav'n impart,
And anguish of a mother's heart Be soothed with melody divine.
How sadly do the lillies weep,
For Charlie where his life was spent;
The flow'rs will bloom his monument Where all his fated comrades sleep.
f
Heart-broken parents, dismal, sore, Oh home, sweet home, where they did dwell!
We send the rose, the immortelle, And Heaven, joy, for evermore.
--D. H. MAGILL.
Note--Mr. Magill has given me permission to use this poem in my book.--H. T. C.

TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH 77
TRIBUTE FROM A FRIEND OF BOYHOOD DAYS.
"Lester Waters and myself were reared in the same neigh borhood near Lowndesville, S. C. As school boys we spent pleasant hours together. On May 29th, 1918 we were called away from the peaceful occupation of farming to learn the grim task of war. We entrained and went together to Camp Jackson, where we separated and looked for the last time into each others faces. Though we both saw active service abroad and both returned safely, that was our last time to see each other on earth.
As I look back over the years past and gone, it is hard indeed for me to believe that mv/ dear friend and fellow soldier is gone from among us, and in such a tragic manner as he died, but alas, it is true.

Scene at mouth of Rocky River; the big island on the left. Photo by H. T. Cannon.

Lester was unusually handsome, and had a way of com

manding the love and respect of all with whom he came in

contact. He was of a mild, peaceful disposition and made

no enemies. I feel that I have sustained a personal loss that

all of the ages of tune cannot replace, but must be reconciled

to the will of god."

G. G. GRANT,

Calhoun Falls, S. C.

78 TRUE STORIES OF THE SAVANNAH
WHY DID THE BODIES NOT EISE AND FLOAT 4 IN LESS TIME?
One thing that seemed,out. of the ordinary in the case of the Harper's Ferry victims was that they did not rise and float in the usual length qf time that it takes a human body to do after being drowned... A person will rise in from seven to nine days in warm weather; and in less time than that ih sultry weather, but none of those bodies floated in less time than eighteen days, and three of thefti weSre picked up, and a fourth, was seen on that day (eighteenth).: 'This same

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"A clow up" view of tho srenrry on the Savannah. Photo by H. T. Cannon.
body that was seen floating at Cherokee Palls was picked up at Milbvood ten days later, and still floated like a fcork when dragged off of the little island where it'had lodged. . :
In the process of decay, following death, gas (Igratic) is formed within the body and cannot escape. Thus the body will rise and float for many days. In the case of the Har per's Ferry victims, the cold water kept the .bodies pre served, as it were, and the process of decay did not set in for at least twice the usual length of time.--Selected.
L'