Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

lewis m. grist, Proprietor. J $nbtjpfo?tl Jarnilg ftttospptr: Jfor % promotion of ijjt political, Atrial, ^griraltoral anb Commercial |irft?sts of % j&ontji. |TERMS?$8.00 A YEAR, IN ADVANCE. VOT, <23. YOEKYILLE, S. C., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1877. HO. 37. lb* ftotg ifllw. BAMBLIN6 ON THE MISSISSIPPI. In the Fall of the year 1857,1 found myself on board one of those floating palaces, a Mississippi steamboat, on my way from New Orleans to Cincinnati. The "Sultana" was a mammoth boat, designed for both freight and passengers, and she was superbly appointed in every respect. In the days to which we refer, the passenger accommodations were upon what we should term the hurricane deck, consisting of a long hall running fore and aft from which opened the state rooms, much like the Long Island steamers of the present day. Here the table was set for the passengers at meal time, and when cleared away a series of short tables were left, covered with green cloths, about which card parties spent hour after hour at their favorite games. Indeed, there were professional gamblers who lived on these steamers, paying passage like any other travelers, but whose business it was to pick up any unwary person who might be od board, inducing him to play, and after gaining his confidence to a certain extent, they managed to "clean him out," as the term was, of every dollar he possessed. I noticed of this class of men one set of three, who were so evidently sharpers, that few persons, however unaccustomed to meet such, were liable to be deceived by them. Though very neatly dressed and very courteous in manners, there was still something about them which betrayed the nature of their calling. They were professional gamblers. They had more than once invited me to sit down with them, but I had uniformly declined, and the last time so pointedly that I felt satisfied they would make no further attempt so far as I was concerned. They had played, however, with several different individuals by the close 6f the third or fourth day, of course with the usual result. At first they would lose inconsiderable sums, in order to lure their victim on and to lull any possible suspicion; but before they finished with their victim, they were sure to take his last dollar. One poor fellow, who had been thus victimized, became so disconsolate at his losses, which were so very large in the aggregate, that I really thought he would throw himself overboard. He acknowledged to me k?? fko mnnao Ko KilH lnot. wns not his own. but intrusted to his care as a messenger of a St. Louis bank. I had noticed, from the first day, a young and gentlemanly-appearing person, who selected nearly the 9ame seat every day, near the port bow of the steamer, where he could ^, command a fine view ahead of the course in "s which we were steering, and could also take in, at a glance, both sides of the river. He invariably had a book in his hand, between which and the attractions of the ever-changing scenery, he divided his attention. He seemed to be quite alone and to have no friends on board. He had a mild, quiet expression of features, and as 1 thought, just a little dashed with melancholy. I tried hard to place bim, as the saying is?that is, to imagine to what class of society he might belong, and what were his probable associations or business. But I did not arrive at any successful conclusion as regarded these matters. He might be a young law aiuueut.-m u juuug utwgjfuwu,BU BtfllieiJ respectable and modest did he appear ; at all events he seemed to be a gentleman. Hi9 features were remarkably handsome, and his hands as delicate as those of a fine lady. I fancied that the gamblers had been watching this youug man, and I confess that I felt some little trepidation lest they should succeed in enticing him to sit down with them. K- "Of course I knew very well there could be but one result to such an interview?he would ouly be the fifth or sixth victim thus far, on the up-river trip, to that rascally trio. I was not sure that they had their eyes on him, but somehow it appeared to me that it was so. I seemed to feel it instinctively. It was the evening of the fourth day since we left New Orleans. I had been down below upon the engine-deck, to see the busy asspect of life which such places exhibit. After an hourspent below, I returned to the upper cabin, and just as my bead came above the stairs that landed in the main saloon, my eyes fell upon the table where the three gamblers usually sat, and there I saw sitting and playing cards, the youug stranger to whom I have referred. It was just what I had feared. Here's another victim, I said to myself. A sort of fascination drew me to the table where they sat, and I soon became interested in looking upon the game. The young stranger seemed to play a very fair hand; he was cool and quiet; if he lost or won it really did not seem to excite him, but at that time the stakes were so small that it was quite unimportant; a dollar or two more made very little difference to either of the party. But I understood the game these sharpers were playing. They were enticing and leading the young fellow on, aud the first time he sat down with them, when the game was over, he was the wiuuer to the extent of twenty or thirty dollars, even at the small stakes which they had mutually risked upon the game. He seemed to be one of the most unsophisticated persons I ever saw, and even took up his winnings with some hesitation. The gamblers knew very well what they were about; they saw a profitable customer in this young and unsuspecting person. I was auxious about the young man. I had not yet spoken to him. Somehow he was so retiring and yet so quietly dignified in his manner, that one would hesitate to speak to him abruptly, or without a manifest excuse for doing so. After he had closed this first game, I saw him resume his book at the old seat near the bow of the boat, and he was soon evideutly deeply interested in the pages before him. I did not fail to observe the sinister smile which the three gamblers interchanged with each other. The impatience I experienced in a desire to warn this young man against those professional rogues, fairly made me nervous. Exactly how to do this I did not know, but do it I resolved I would, sooner or later, before another day should have passed. I could only watch for an opportunity, trusting that some chance would favor my design. I failed in my object that night, but I had it so much at heart to save the trusting youth from these sharpers, that I actually dreamed about the matter half the night. Though I rose quite early on the following morning, I found the young man at his post that is; near the bow of the boat, most studiously engaged with his book. Now is ni) time, I thought, and so I approached him saying: "A pleasant morning." "Remarkably so," he replied, in a quiet 4 4t*V>?i m 1 Qt foHpQ awav pieUSUUI> VIIIVC, liuuiug, auv. rapidly before the early glaucea of the sun." "Do you go far north ?" "Only to Cairo," he replied, looking rae ful in the face with his clear, haudsoroe eye. I could not but compare him at that mo roent, with his remarkably handsome fea tures, clear complexion and neat appearance generally, with the hard-visaged, callousec and fast-looking men whom I had seen hin playing card? with so lately. They bore upor their countenances the stamp of professions rogues, while he was almost girlish iu his ap parent innocence. "You play cards, I believe," said I, open ing the subject which I resolved to speak to ! him about. "Sometimes," he replied, looking rather sharply at me. "But why do you ask V' "Excuse the liberty." "Certainly." "Well, I observed that you sat down with those fellows yesterday, who have managed to clean out everybody they have played with since we left New Orleans." "Indeed 1" "Yes, and in one or two instances, unless I am greatly mistaken, the loss has been very aerious to the victims." "I suppose they take the chances." "Undoubtedly; but these professional players always have the advantage, and are sure ! to win in the end, either by fair means or by foul. Don't yoi| think so?" "Well, yes, I suppose you are right," he said. "For my part," I continued, "1 am caretui to avoid such persons. They are sure to get all my money." "You are very right, and one ought to be cautious, as you say, in dealing with such people." As he said this, he quietly resumed bis book, and thus put an end to the conversation. I did not feel exactly satisfied with the result of my brief interview, but concluded that at all events he had got a bint of what he might expect if he continued to play cards with that trio of sharpers. I felt a sense of relief at having done what I conceived to be my duty. There was, as I said before, a sort of fascination in his youth and remarkably handsome face, which drew me toward the young man, and I watched him closely during the day. In the afternoon I was seriously disappointed to see him again seated at the card table with the same set of whom I had spoken so decidedly in the early morning. I drew toward the table and looked on at the game. I knew it well enough to understand what was being done, and it only required half an eye of an outside observer to detect the most glaring acts of cheating on the part of the three confederates. Still the young man did not seem to observe their I ..nma . Via moo either uerv nht.llflR or verv in 6a,uu I ?? n? V. ? V. ? J J different. While the three men exchanged intelligent glances with each other and won his money rapidly, he kept his eyes upon his cards, and studied their possible combinations. I felt positively enraged to see this downright swindling, and was angry with the young man, that, after he bad been so plainly cautioned, he permitted these men to cheat him out of his money, with scarcely an effort to protect himself. Once or twice, however, he did surprise them by promptly taking advantage of a chance offering in the game, and, by adopting a shrewd play, he won their money and gathered the bank bills quietly to his own side. On these occasions the men looked somewhat surprised at his shrewdness, which was at variance with his usual manner of playing. I carefully watched the play throughout, I and when the young man got up from the taI kin kn ko/1 onirlan tlx? I not ft laron niim wlllrth. I UiTj ug U?U V V 1UUU ill i ivuv w a.w w?.?, .. ? , however, did not seem to disconcert him very much. He must either have plenty of money to throw away, or else he yet hoped to win back his money before we arrived at Cairo. But he is playing with fire and will burn his fingers. At midnight that night, while most of the Eog ciyo? fre? thprp rnaP thpi Every one hurried on his clothes and rushed out of his stateroom, until quite a pauic ensued. A fire had broken out among the cotton bales on the freight deck, and it bade fair to envelop the boat in flames before it could be extinguished. There was the usual consternation and excitement among the passengers, and especially with the women and children, though, as is always the case, there were some notable exceptions. I particularly observed the young man of whom I have spoken. He was cool and resolute, and heading a party of the passengers whom he had organized, and supplied with buckets, he directed their efforts to such good purpose that he had succeeded in checking the fire almost entirely at the particular point where he had attacked it. He was a person who seemed hardly calculated to meet an emergency of this character, but in fact he proved to be the mostefficient of all the passengers on this occasion. A few hours served to put matters once more to rights. The crew were detailed to extra service, and even the evidences of the fire were rapidly obliterated. The boat was once more threading her course in the midchannel, and the late fire only served as a theme for conversation, old travelers telling of some similar experiences. When I was listening to one of these stories, I saw one of the three sharpers walk over to where the young man had again seated himself with a book, and evideutly judging from his manner, he was inviting him to sit down once more with them to a game of cards. He seemed to assent, and my cheek burned with indignation. I determined to speak once more to him, and hastily rising, I intercepted his steps as he prepared to pass over to the gambling table. "Excuse me," I said. "Certainly : but what for ?" he asked. "I know that where my words are kindly meant you will not repeat them," 1 said, half interrogatively. "Certainly not." "Well, then, you are simply being swindled by those sharpers, youder, and I cannot patiently look on and see it without a friendly | warning." "Thank you," he said, "you can he actuated by but one motive," and he extended his hand to rae in acknowledgment. "You are correct in that." "Well I will be more vigilant," he said, but at the same time he went directly aud joined i the trio. i I turned away in disgust. But there is a fascination in these games | which draws one in spite of oneself, so I soon i after found myself near the table, and watchi ing the course of the game. Young Hudson, | for I had now learned his name, lost at almost i every turn of the cards, and his pocket-book i' was manifestly growing lighter and lighter, I while each of the trio now aud then took out1 ; their own well filled ones, to add to their con-1 l I .1 - u:ll_ .1 ranlflln ! I ItflllS WJC UII10 UI wuiici liiUJ ncic ou iopiuij i swindliDg young Hudson. ) I could not possibly understand the equai nimity of his manuer under such circum! stances. He was as cool as a cucumber, and j) challenged even the admiration of the prac, , tical rogues with whom he was playing. Now ' and theu he would seem to awake, as it were, ' and by a few masterly strokes would win ,! every stake upon the table; but this was on! ly a momentary success, as it appeared, for I he as quickly relapsed iuto his former style ,! and lost his m >uey right and left. r | "Well, gentlemen," he said, at last, "I've } done." "No, no, not yet," exclaimed the trio. "Ah ! hut I'm cleaned out." I j "Not quite." "True. I have a ten spot left; but that is I only enough to carry me home. I must hold - on to that." "Tpu if ntwl vnn mflv win hack the whole M. . J .v, ...... J j 1 | you have lost," said one of the avaricious ) scamps." i "No ; luck is against me." 1 "Can't tell for certain till you try." "That's very true." "Go the ten-spot, then." "No. When I say no, I mean it," ami any one observing the expression of young Hudson's face just then, would have understood that he did mean it. "Look here," said one. "What is it?" said Hudson. "Your watch 1" "What of that?" "I'll discount a fifty-spot for it." "No you don't." "Better try your luck once more." "No, I thank you. I've lost my money, but I don't propose to strip myself of everything I possess." "As you please," added the other. "Young Hudson left the table, nodding to me with a pleasant smile as he passed, and, seeking his special seat near the bow, was soon apparently absorbed in his book, and seemingly having quite forgotten the large amount of money he bad but just lost to tne harpers. His conduct seemed rather inscrutable to me, and I walked over near to him after the lapse of a half-hour or so. I was close enough now to see the title of the book which he seemed so much interested in perusing. It was "Pilgrim's Progress." "Wonderful book," said I, by way of opening the conversation. "Wonderful, indeed," he answered. "Do you think that Bunyan, a poor, uneducated tinker, had any premonition of the future popularity of this book ?" "No, I do not believe he could have had," I answered. "He could not help writing what he did. It was as much inspired as any part of the Bible." . "I am glad to hear you say so," continued young Hudson. "It is my favorite book." "To be frank with you, I wish you had stuck to it rather than joined the sharpers, who seem to have emptied your pockets completely." "Ah! true. As you say, they were too many guns for me. They had it all their own way!" "So I thought." "Well, one must pay for his experience. I shall not be over-ready to lose my money again to sharpers, and there is no deuht but that those fellows deserve that appellation. I believe I saw them cheating more than once." "And so did I." "You must have a quick eye, for they are experts." "Nevertheless I saw them cheating." "Well, well, we won't cry over spilt milk, fon't rlftnro nnlpflfl ho in willing to DaV I the fiddler." "Where do you land?" "At Cairo." "Ah! so do I." "I am on my way to Cincinnati." "And so also am I." "We ought to be there early to-morrow morning," he added, "and we shall be obliged to be up and dressed in good season." As we reached the mouth of the Ohio river on the following morning, there was more than the usual bustle on board the Bteamer while she drew up to the landing. The pas sengers, as usual, all crowded to that side of the deck nearest to the shore, causing the boat to careen in rather a dangerous manner. I saw young Hudson among the throng* with a moderate sized leather bag in his hand, hardly amounting to a carpet-bag or an ordi? ? ?- -? kn f if ooomor] tn Kfl uary VUIISC iu uub iv o^v/iuvu w ?#w all the baggage, he possessed. At the mo* to hgi^^Ar Mbeen playing on the previous day with such ill-luck. He seemed to bear these meD no malice, for he was chatting with them, and laughing heartily, as he did so, either at his own joktsor at what they themselves uttered. But presently they were hustled away from him by the surging crowd. This much I had noticed, but the attention was now taken up in watching the mooring of the boats at the landing. Suddenly there arose the somewhat startling cry : "Pickpocket! pickpocket!" Some of the emigrant passengers, whose place was on the lower deck, had taken advantage of the confusion of the moment to in* yade the upper or saloon deck, and by their numbers, added greatly to the confusion which prevailed. "Pickpocket! pickpocket?" again resounded from a score of mouths. The captain, who had been directing the landing, now came forward and said that as certain persons had lost their pocketbooks and their valuables, the few individuals about to land must first submit to 1 ' ?' ?-.-1 ofiAM il?A i?A?fA/?A anna i?noI ma/] De searcneu, UUU Ulicr tllC vujagc naa i U!UI1H,U those left behind could shrive themselves of any appearance of guilt at their leisure and convenience. This was exceedingly disagreeable. However, I submitted with the best grace I could muster for such an occasion, and the steward and captain both "went through" my valise, and examined my clothes upon my person, all with an adroitness which showed that they were by no means unaccustomed to such episodes. Young Hudson also took matters very philosophically, and was good-natured through the whole of the personal investigation. It wa9 the best way, no doubt, for had we refused to be searched, we should not have been permitted to land at all. I could not, for the life of me, take it quite so coolly as young Hudson did, and I did not hesitate to say to him, before both the captain and steward? "This is disgusting and insulting." "You take it too seriously," said young Hudson. "These officers must satisfy the ladies or gentlemen who have lost their property, that we have not got it." "True." "You will laugh over the affair to-morrow." The examiuation was soon completed, and of course it led to no discovery. The boat was once more cast loose from her mooring, and swung into the stream. A few vivid and startling snorts, as though the huge, floating fabric had been an animal, and her head was once more turned northwest, and with her thundering paddle-wheels the steamer was stemming the swift current of the Mississippi. The passengers who had landed, paused for a moment to see the steamer off, and, like young Hudson and the rest, I took off my hat aud waved a farewell to those who stood upon her decks. As I turned to pass up the pier, I saw Hudson by ray side, and we walked on together. "That pick-pocket matter was quite unpleasant." "Very common on these boats," he answered. "Do you know who was the victim?" "Oh ! yes." "Pray who was it ?" "Do you remember those gamblers ?" "The three sharpers ?" "The same." "Yes, certaiuly, I should know them again, I you may be sure. ! "Well, it was they who lost their raouey." i "Indeed." "Yes." "Retributive justice?" "Do vou think so?" | "Decidedly." "Look ye, my good sir," said young Hudson turning upon me with a bright glow in his eyes. "What is it ?" I asked. "You gave me some good advice on board the steamer, and evidently meant to befriend I me. ! "I certainly did." "May I trust to your honor ?" "Iu what ?" "Not to betray ray coufidence ?" "Implicitly." "Good ; I have your word, and I believe I can trust you, and if deceived I will never attempt to read character again. Please step aside here for one moment." As he spoke he passed me into one corner of a large open place of shelter, built to cover freight. He cast a quick but comprehensive glance about us to make sure that we were not overlooked, then removed a false bottom from the outside of his valise or leather bag, which was so arranged as to open like a drawer, by pressing upon a concealed spring. "See here, my friend!" "Good gracious!" I exclaimed. "You have eyes ; what do you see ?" "Three pocketbooks, and fat ones too." The false bottom or secret drawer was in stantly closed again, and yonng Hudson passed from the shed out upon the thoroughfare again. I was all amazement. "You remember the sharpers ?" "Yes." "Those pocketbooks did belong to them ; they now belong to me. I am not much at cards," he continued, "but I am counted to be rather adroit at sleight-of-hand. I had no idea of losing my money, and I thought that it would be inculcating a highly moral lesson to make these rogues pay dearly for their swindling proclivitiesadding: "I am not so green as I seem." It was, of course, clear enough to me now. Those sharpers had been taken in and done for, most emphatically, by one of their own class. I ??? *SSE2?2??S? pishrug sf Jh (tolina. HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP THE Early Settlement of South Carolina. BY BEV. BOBEBT LATHAH. HILL'S IRON WORKS. In the north eastern section of York county, on the road leading from Yorkville to Charlotte, about eleven miles from the former place, is what is now called the "Clay Hill neighborhood." The limits of this region, like all others of a similar character, are marked out neither by metes nor bounds. It has no fixed "butts and bindings," but extends so far in all directions as is agreeable to the desires and inclinations of the inhabitants. Through this region there flows a bold stream, which, for more than a century, has borne the name of Allison creek. This stream rises near Bethany Church, at the foot of Henry's Knob, and empties into Catawba river, a short distance above Thorn's Ferry. This Clay Hill region was once a part of that extensive region, known, all over the upper section of South Carolina, by the name of Bethel. It is impossible at this late date, to fix, with absolute certainty, the exact period when this section of country was settled by wh:te men. It is highly probable that, at a very early period, Indian traders took up their abode e> 1 1 | 1 that at several points on the Catawba river, the traders had settled as early as the year 1736. The most of these Indian traders were Scotchmen. It is highly probable that the Bethel region was settled by white men as early as 17^0. The tide of immigration from Pennsylvania and Virginia, continued to flow gently into this region for a number of years. In 1755, the defeat of Braddock lorced multitudes to leave Pennsylvania and Virginia and seek a quiet home in the South. These immigrants were nearly all Scotch-Irish. A few were of the old Puritan stock. Bethel Church was organized by the Rev. William Richardson in 1764. There is abundance of evidence that this region of country, which we now call Clay Hill, was settled long before the Revolutionary war, and that the people had accumulated at least some wealth, and provided themselves with many of the comforts of life. Among the early settlers of this Clay Hill region, was Col. William Hill, the grand father of Gen. D. H. Hill. The region of country north of Allison creek abounds in iron ore. At an early period, Col. William Hill established a furnace on Allison creek, at the point at which now is located Miller's mill. A copartnership in this furnace existed between Colonel Hill and Isaac Hayne. During the Revolutionary war, the furnace was where Duff's mill now is. At these iron works were cast cannon and balls with which, in part, to supply the southern division of the American army. Not only so, but the farmers for a very considerable distance in every direction around these works, were supplied by them with iron for agricultural purposes. After the fall of Charleston, on the 12th of May, 1780, the British army under Cornwallis, Rawdon, Tarleton aud others, advanced 1 * *?*? -^ AI- ? AofoKlioKo/l into ine interior ui tuo otatci auu mm*ui its headquarters at Camden. This emboldened the tories and loyalists of the State. The Whigs were in an unorganized condition and destitute of every means of defence. They had no fire-arms except their squirrel guns; and powder and lead, we may well suppose, were extremely scarce. In this critical condition of things, the men abandoned their homes, leaving their domestic affairs in charge of their wives and children. The tories prowled through the country like so many hungry wolves, devouring and destroying everything within their reach. Generally * * *' - 4 rvl o/l id rflfnK. speaking, me tunes wcicuupiuu^u n.v?u es, who neither feared God nor regarded man. In this Bethel region, on Rocky Allison, a few mile8SOUth-we8t of Hill's iron works, was established a kind of store house, in which was deposited salt and many other articles for the support of the Whig families. This store house was a large stone and brick building. Its site was on the plantation now owned by Mrs. Eva Gillespie, mid-way between the Wright's Ferry and Thorn's Ferry roads. For small quantities of salt, the Whig women were accustomed to ride on horseback from the neighborhood of Wiqnsboro, in Fairfield county, to this place, Col. Watson was in charge of this store house. It is more ' . .1 -.? l ? than prooaoie unu it ??o uui UHbu tut* v? ! supplies. We may as well notice, that after the Revolutionary war, the bricks of which this store house was in part constructed, were moved out on the Charlotte road, about six miles from Yorkville, aud used in constructing the basement story of what was once known as the "Red House." This house was recently torn down by its present owner, Mr. Lee Williams, and these old bricks are again to be worked up in another house on the site of the old "Red House," One object the British and tories had in scouring the county, was to destroy such institutions as Hill's iron works and Watson's store bouse. Many things prevented the completion of this design, longer than might be supposed. The British were in a strange, and, at the same time, a hostile country. It was not safe for the friends of King George to make distant excursions into the interior. The distance from Camden was considerable, and the country was inhabited by Whigs, bold and defiant. ? ... ?1_ *_n _f| Some time in tne summer or eany iau m 1780, a party of tories and British was organized for the special purpose of burning Hill's iron works. Who was the commander of this party, when it was organized, or on what particular day or month it perpetrated the deed, are facts which we have been unable, so far, to ferret out. The impression is on our mind that Captain William McGill said that Hill's iron works were burned but a short time before the battle of King's Mountain was fought At present, we must be satisfied to know that Hill's iron works were burned, and burned by the British and tories. This was regarded by the whole surrounding region as a sore calamity. As an evidence of this, it is related that some time during the year 1781, the people in a portion of Rutherford county, N. C., were assembled together, when one John Miller, an Irishman by birth, a Whig by every instinct of his nature, and an elder in the Presbyterian church, was called upon to lead the assembly in prayer. Tradition has preserved the words of the prayer. They are as follows: "Good Lord our God that art in heaven, we have great reason to thank thee for the favors we have received at thy hands?the many battles we have won. There is the great and glorious battle of King's Mountain, where we killed the great General Ferguson and took his whole army; and the great battles at Ramsour's and at Williamson's; and the ever memorable battle of the Coopent (Cowpens,) where we made the proud (ieueral Tarleton run down the road, helter-skelter; and good Lord if thee had na suffered the cruel tories to burn Billy Hill's iron works, we would na have asked any mair favors at thy bauds. Amen." Whether good old John Miller ever offered up this prayer or not, we dare not assert. All that we say is that tradition has preserved it, and that the last sentence shows the estimate which was put upon Hill's iron works. On their way to the iron works, the British and tories?at least a part of them?passed by the place where John Barron, jr., now lives. James Simril, at that time, lived in the field only a few hundred yards from the present site of John Barron's house. This James Simril was a lover of fine stock, and somewhat addicted to horse racing. He had oo bis plantation race-paths, traces or wdicd are to be seen to-day. Tbe stables and barn of Simril were burned by tbe British and tones, but it does not appear that any horses i i i i n .. .r 0, ii r> tionary war, another James Simril, or perhaps the same, had his bam, stable and four horses burned up. This latter was the work of a private enemy. These two events are often confounded. Leaving James Simril's, tbe next deed which the burning party executed, was the scalping of John Forbes. Mr. Forbes was a true Whig and lived at that time on Rocky Allison, near where Spratt Wright now lives. It seems that there were two Forbes brothers ; both, living in the same locality. When the British and tories approached their dwelling, both ran in the direction of Catawba river. By some means, one of the brothers made good his escape. It is said that on arriving at Charlotte, be was wholly unable to tell where or how he crossed the river. Un fortunately, the other brother was captured after running only a short distance, and being scalped, was left, as was supposed, dead or dying. In this condition be lay unconscious for several days. By accident, a young girl by the name of Prudy Hall, in looking for the cows, passed by the spot and discovered him. His head was awfully mangled and alive with maggots. He was removed and finally recovered, and lived to bean old man. The bones, which were cut off his head, are still preserved by his descendants. ""The burning party were now within two miles of the iron works. They bad captured a man by the name of Henderson, and forced him to conduct them to the ford of the creek below the iron works. Colonel Hill was in the army. His sons were at home. The two oldest?Robert and Andrew?had received some intimation that the British and tories were coming. They bad prepared a small cannon, and having mounted it upon a stump, stood, with match in hand, waiting until the party would come in sight. The hill on which they bad tbeir cannon mounted, overlooked the whole adjacent country to the south?the direction in which the boys supposed the party would come. To their utter astonishment, before they were aware of it, a party of British came upon them from the east. Their cannon was pointing in the wrong direction. Without inflicting any injury upon the brave but outgeneraled boys, their cannon was taken from them and carried to the foot of the hill and thrown into the creek. Here it lay for years. The din of war had died away and the country was enjoying peace and prosperity. The little cannon was forgotten. One day Mr. Garvin, the miller, was engaged in fishing. His seine became entangled. In order to extricate it, he was obliged to thrust his hand into the water. He found, to his astonishment, that his seine had become en.tangled on the end of a piece of iron. The iron was raised to the surface of the water, and, behold, it was a veritable cannon. For a number of years after its discovery, this little cannon was used by the boys in the neigh ?? borhood to shoot "Dig guns oo v^nnamitw and the fourth of July. Finally, by overcharging it, it was bursted. Fragments of it are still to be seen. One piece is in the possession, or was, some time ago, of Mr. A. A. Barron, of Clay Hill. The iron works were burned and the British and tories departed. Poor Henderson, who had been forced to act as their guide, was stripped of his clothes, tied to a tree and whipped. He was left tied, In this aot there *?oo onmn iViincr inhnmanlv cruel. noo OVU4V*MIM^ ?< ? After the war, the iron works were rebuilt, but did not prove remunerative. General Hampton?the grand-father of Gov. Hampton?rendered considerable pecuniary assistance to the parties; but the debt kept increasing, and, finally, General Hampton took the negroes belonging to the firm in payment of his claim. Some idea of the sum due Gen, Hampton, can be formed from the fact that it took near one hundred negroes to liquidate it. The iron ore found in this region is said to be in great abundauce, and, for some purposes, of very superior quality. We omitted to mention, in its proper place, that previous to the arrival of the British, all the cannon balls had been hauled down to the creek and thrown in. These balls have, so far as we know, never been found, fgtollattWM ftading. THE PROVINCE OF THE TEACHER. An Address delivered by W. A. M. Plexico, al Cain's Spring, on the occasion of a picnic, August 25,1877. Ladies and Gentlemen :?Perhaps yon may deem it presumption in me to offer an address npon the "Province of the Teacher,'1 especially in the very presence of one to whom I sustain the relation of a pupil. But deeming it an honor to be in any way noticed by yon or him, I shall bespeak your kind consideration of what I may have to say. It requires great wisdom and industry tc rear a common building, and it requires more to build a fine house; but my friends the greastest and noblest work is that of endowing man with his proper qualifications, some of whioh are piety, justice and all kinds oi honest and worthy actions. The teacher if said to be abroad, and we are all pupils, Who is our teacher upon the earth ? Is il our father, or our mother, or is it the world 1 I would feign say that the world is, to some extent, the instructor of man. In vain do 1 attempt to describe the teacher. What are his limits ? Are they to the sea ? Are thej across the ocean; or do they extend to the end of the earth? I tell you, ray friends, the limits are the boundaries of the mind itself The question might be asked, "How far if that?" There can be no definite answer given, seeing God has given greater mental facultiee to one man than to another. The term teacher is a generic term, meaning to instruct?to give knowledge to. It takes its origin from the Latin word magister, which means mastei of a school or teacher. To be a successful teacher, you must acquaint yourq?lf with the rudiments of the different languages, and dive below the surface if you ever bring to light the hidden treasure. The qualifications of the teacher may be embraced under three heads. First?That he be able to do what he proposes. Secondly? That his method should be correct. Thirdly?That he be of pure character. First?That he be able to do what he proposes. In order to do this, he must have a knowledge of the subject which he proposee to teach. We say, then, to be a good teacher, be must be thorough; no one will doubt that. It is very common to find or meet np with a mechanic who does not understand the principles of hie art; so with many teachers. It is with a great deal of truth and force that Pope says? "A little education is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring." My friends, a smattering of knowledge will not do. Now, the question comes up, what kind of knowledge must a man have ? Is it any form of words? Now suppose I had my faith pinned down to text hooks, and I chanced to come in contact with a well educated man, who should ask me a question involving the same principles as those contained in the book, but not in the same form of words. WK- T 1 -J '""1- "" tonishment and say, "that isn\ in the book that I studied. I donTknow that." So then, my friends, we see that a mere form of words will not do. What will ? Is it the relation, whether of cause or effect, which one word >"??= onnthor? Th? lftf.tar in the nronoai UUUI O bU UUVVUVI I *uw ????? . ?. W?- ? ~? tion that I maintain. Secondly?That bis method should be correct The business of a teacher is strictly to convey knowledge to a mind yet growing and unoccupied. To do this, we say, requires that his instructions should convince the mind at once. It requires time and a great deal of thought and reasoning to acquire an education. Therefore, the teacher should reason with the pupil and get him to thinking. A great many teachers think if the pupil recites all the rules and notes in a grammar, that he is master of it. But I tell you, my friends, ?s I have tried to show you, that is a sad mistake. He has only learned to repeat and not to analyze. What is the first question of every inquisitive pupil? Why? Why? If this question be not properly answered, it not only implies the ignorance of the teacher and leaves the truth doubtful, but implants wrong ideas into the minds of the pupil. If we would explain the nature Of a watch, it will not be sufficient to show the outside and the movement of the hands; but we must open it and exhibit, piece by piece, the use and relation of all the machinery. Thirdly?That he be of a pure character. He should be an honorable, and a truthful man, as he comes in next to the mother. The mother is the first teacher, for as soon as the child begins to talk it is learning, and it ii catching at everything, whether good or evil, A word here to the old gentlemen. You who have daughters, and wish them to be an ornament to society, or even wish to add anything to society, should educate them. Educate them, and you give them what cannot be taken from them. We are born with faculties?powers capable of alraosUanything? such, at least, as would carry us farther than can be easily imagined ; but it is only the exercise of those powers which gives us ability and skill in any department of science or art. For instance, take a dancing master or a musician ; the feet of a dancing master, and the fingers of a musician fall, as it were, natural ly, without thought or pains, into regular and admirable motion. As it is in the body, so if is in the mind?practice makes perfect. You see, my friends, that there are great responsi' bilities resting upon an instructor. Does an education pay ? If you will compare Africa with this country, you will see, at the first glance, that it will pay. There the people are savage and brutish ; live under nc organized government, and have not the privilege of reading the Bible, nor of hearing preaching. In our land the people are civilzed, and have the opportunity of sohools and many privileges that the people of Africa have not. We have newspapers and manj books from which we can obtain knowledge, if we will but apply our minds. When Salmasius, who was wiser than his cotemporaries, came to the close of life, he saw cause to exclaim bitterly against himself "Oh !" said he, "I have lost a world of timetime, the precious thing ; whereof bad I bul one more year, it should be spent in David'e Psalms and Paul's Epistles." Education is the first step toward civiliza tion. Where the people are civilized, yot will find that they are educated. We live ir an age of progress?ao age of improvement A few years ago there was no such thing as t steam engiue or a telegraph wire; but nov you can hear the whistle of an engine and s? the telegraph wire stretched from station U station. The world is rising, and by the help of education, it will continue to rise. So I say, young men?you upon whom the world hangs as it were?should put every fac; ulty into practical operation, for, in a few years, there will be a great demand for active i and intelligent young men; for as soon as this i generation passes away, the rising generation will have to assume their fathers' position, i wi,a knf fViftt ft fhtnra President of the fl UV nuvns wmif ? ; United States, however unnoticed he may be > to-day, sits under the sound of my voice, and it depends upon you to say whether or not you will bring honor or disgrace upon your names. > The time has come, ladies and gentlemen, ) when men will hold rank in society, not so > much by the amount of money they possess, as by the brain power whioh they can bring i into active operation in the world. The boy : whose cradle is now being rocked in the robe i of poverty, if he only has in him an uncon querable desire to succeed in life, and will make use of the few opportunities of im> provement which may present themselves, ? will sweep far by the rich man's favorite son, who has nothing to commend him except ) family name and inherited lanness and pride. ' Men are beginning to look beyond the but1 tons on a man's coat and ask for something ) more than greenbacks as a guarantee of char. acter. Let us all then, my young friends, i take new heart, from the signs of the times, , and resolve to 6nd,or make a way in life, and i in order to do this, we must master the rudi ments of learning?learn well what we do > learn, and put every faculty and idea into i practical employment. "The heights by great men reached and kept, I Were not attained by sndden flight; 1 Bat they, while their companions slept, I Were toiling upward in the night." 1 THE SOUTH OABOLIHA BAILROAB. ' A GLIMPSE AT ITS EARLY HISTORY. As the subject of railroads and railroad 1 management is now being generally discuss> ed, we propose to devote some space to that . railroad in which we are most interested. A . long time ago, in our boyhood, we heard that Mr. Tristam Tupper, Mr. Alex. Black and Mr. William Aiken, the lather of the Gov' ernor, and a large capitalist, all of Charles> ton, had conceived the idea of building a i railroad from Charleston to Hamburg, whioh was to carry passengers and freight through in two days, and at a cheaper rate than by stages and wagons. Everybodylooked upon ' it as a most visionary scheme. We remember ' how the old people used to say, "Pooh I ridic1 ulous, visionaryI" and other exclamations of > doubt and incredulity. But these gentlemen had faith in their idea, and were not to be laughed out of it; they called to their deliberations Mr. Horatio Allen, an eminent civil engineer, who entered earnestly into their plan and enlisted with zeal and talent. The merchants of Charleston, as a class, were ' then, as they are now, accomplished, educated gentlemen, and the three men above named, possessed as much hard sense, practical expe rience, and indomitable energy as any three , men in the State. They obtained a charter, opened their books, and, by much persuasion, their friends were induced to subscribe the amount of stock ne IJ l)U ULlUllI nut) uwibui A 1>HU uumTw of the8e had not thanHe^*"'* " fl.Jnnnn ?t ?. , enterprise. The road was surveyed; Allen, i with his corps of assistants, Dexter, Pascallis, Clarke, McCain and others, as fine and jovial a set of fellows as ever sang a song or told a story around a camp-fire, located it on its present line, making but one mistake, the inclined plain at Aiken, then called "the lev1 els," if we remember aright. That hill should have been turned. But then an inclined plane was considered a great engineering feat, and perhaps if they bad not made it, the great health resort of Aiken would not have ; been established. We remember when the cars were run from Charleston to Four-Mile House, propelled by a large mainsail, and everybody spoke of the railroad as the folly of Tupper, Black and Aiken. But these earnest men had faith, hope and pluck. When their subscription was spent, they went to the legislature, and, by bard begging, obtained a loan of $100,000, we think. At length all difficulties were overcome, and the road was built, on piles, from Charleston to Hamburg. When the engineers came to a hill, they cut through it; when they came to a pond, swamp, or wash, they drove long piles and laid their track, so that the incredulous jeered and called it "a road on stilts." But, for all i this, the indominitable Topper, and Black, and i scientific Aiken, assisted by the equally per. severing and scientific Allen and his corps, , persevered, and the first railroad in America, and the longest in the world, was built?a monument to their genius, perseverance ana 1 manhood. 1 The trunk railroad was all they intended ; it was a grand and successful enterprise, surpassing all expectations, and forever silencing doubt and distrust, revolutionized the travel ( and transportation of the world. The stock was sought as in investment; the trust funds 1 of widows and orphans and estates were con1 verted into shares that paid good dividends, . and, but for mistakes in management, South i Carolina Railroad stook would now be the I D 8l in lOO OlttM3? "JL#U7 ?A/ftv?f?vn Liberia.?We copy the following interest ing facts from an exchange: i The American Colonization Society was , formed in 1816 by fifty persons, many of them southern gentlemen. In 1824 the territory, on the west coast of Africa, was purchased 1 from the native kings by Commodore Stock' ton and Dr. Eli Ayers. In 1847, the present ' Republic of Liberia was established in the , hands of colored men, having Monrovia for . its capital with six hundred miles of sea coast, ! and extending into the interior say fifty miles until it meets the pressure of savage tribes. Its area is said to be 14,000 square miles; 1 over 9,700 of which jurisdiction is exercised. ; The tariff duties collected are $100,000 per i annum. Other receipts from government taxes, we are not able to state. The Coloni7ftfinn Rnnifit.v has landed in Liberia, from its origin to July, 1877, 20,820 colored persons, decendants of those from Africa and speaking ? EngliVj. 19,000 of the population now there, > or not quite three per cent., are from Amerii ca; 701,000 are aborigines. Late writers es. timate the total population of the continent , of Africa at 199,000,000, of whom one per | cent, can be set down as civilized, and a little ' more than one per cent, as semi-civilized. The rest, say 197,000,000, are either barbar> ous or savage. Incorporated in the constitution, of the Re , public of Liberia, are provisions "which pro* hibit any white man from holding office, and disfranchising him. On the 1st of May, Anthony W. Gardner, of Bassa county, was ! elected president, and Daniel B. Warner, of ' Monrovia, vice-president Enterprising colored men in South Carolit na, who are beginning to feel restless and i discontented here, might as well go to Liberia. There is certainly an immense field for enei> gy, if they could get there, and then will only orivA nn office seeking and iro to work on the 1 forest lands with axes and hoes as soon as 1 they land in Africa. t&~ San Francisco bar-tenders have chunks 1 of glass resembling ice which they pot into 1 drinks for intoxicated customers instead of > the genuine cooling substance. The motirev ) is economy. \ A