Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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WAK SI Startling Career of trie Shot in the Up from the Lone Star Slate t'lcre came to Chicago last week a pictures que citizen of Dallas, Texas, formerly a resident Nacogduchos, with the dramatic story of the life of DouEchka Pickens at his tongue'* en J. This visiting Texan was former Brigadier General George If. Alford, Confed?r ate soldier, indian lighter, legislator and capitalist. There is, perhaps, no person living who knows so well thc story of the life of the daughter of South Caroli na's war governor, for General Alford was himself once a sweetheart and schoolmate of the mother of Douschka Pickens. During all tho years of her life this "Child of South Carolina" was not once lost sight of by the stern Texan, who wrote versea to her, championed her wit and her beauty at banquet and in legislative hall, and now ac credits hiirjLher historian by right. To a writer for the Sunday Inter Oceuu General Alford last week told the story of how thc child, Douschka Pickens, fired the first shot of the Civil War, but no less interesting is his recital of the story of the gran deur surrounding her christening, of her part in ono of the saddent and most tragic marriages of war times, and of her bravery as a leader of thc notorious Kuklux Klan. From the time of hor birth, in the . palace of the Romanoffs, until her d?:itb and burial beneath the great . .us of Edgefield, S. C., Dousohka PickeoB had a marvellous career amid the glamour and glitter of Euro pean courts, in the war-stricken cities of the Palmotto State, and amid tho bleak and devastated estates that had been scourged by contending ar mies. Born in the imperial palace of the Russian czar, christened by an em press, made the idol of a hundred di plomats, this ohild later touched the fuse to the artillery that boomed for four years throughout Dixie. And when war was ever and the armies were disbandod she beoame ono of the leaders who toiled to solve tho peri .lous problems of the post-bellum .days. To tell tho story of the life of Dousouka Pidkens it is necessary to go baok to Naoogdoches, Texas, 'hat wonderful Southern town that sent .out into the world so many people of Annh varied interests and abilities. Within oalling distanco in Naoog doches there lived' years before the war, an interesting company of young people. Tom Oohiltree, the red headed raoonteur and bon vivant, sauntered through the streets. Ade laide MoCord, who beoame known throughout the world as Adah Isaacs Menken, the Mazeppa, began her conquests there. It was the home of General Sam Houston, the greatest of all great Texans. There lived in tho town, too, Lucy Holcomb, the most beautiful woman in the State. e^.Hero begins the story told by Gen l<[ Alford. It is best told in his own words. It was with great reluc tance that he reoited that part of the story which deals with his own name, and has not heretofore been made known. * "I was ono of tho Argonauts that Was entioed by dreams of fortune to the gold fields of California," he said. "When I left Texas I went with the purpose of enriching myself and then returning to wed Luoy Holcomb, the belle of Texas. I remained in Cali fornia for some time; went thence to Panama, and from thero down the .. western ooast of South America. I knew I was expeoted homo, but tho r fever of adventure led me on, and I r> delayed my return for some months. "In thc meantime Lucy Holcomb had became thc belle of the South. 5 She infatuated all who beheld her. - Once when she was visiting the fami ly of the famous governor, John A. Quitraan, at the Mississippi capital ;* she ^captivated the entire S tato legis lature, and when she departed for "l&ew Orleans the general assembly adjontaed and went with her. Af ter ' ward, she was married to the brilliant Colonel Frank Pickens of South Caro lina. ' - From the time I left for California E saw her no more as Lucy Holcomb. fThen I returned she was Mrs. Pick ens, and it wai not long before I, too, married. I first met her again at President Buchanan's inaugural, ?ffher? she was tu? most petted and (patronized of all the beauties in ^Washington. "President Buohanan appointed 'Colonel Pickens minister to B?sela, ?and ?there tho beautiful Sonoro ?vari'bccime the court favorite* The empress delighted in her society,^ and ?fte women of all the legations gave way for the captivating American. .Xiater she was taken to the Imperial . of the Bomanoff* and there in ORIES. Girl Who Fired First Civil "War. I May, 1858, was boru thc child that was destined to figure so strangely io history. J "Thc czarina claime d thc privilege I of being godmother to the iufant. ? When thc doy came for the christen ing all thc grandeur of thc Russian court was brought into play. Invita tions werft sent to the representatives of all the foreign nations. The com pany was thc most illustrious that j ever assembled for a similar purpose in the history of thc world. "When the officiating diguitary of tho Church asked the czarina, "What shall be the name of this child?" she replied: " 'Her name shall be Douschka.' "Tho English for Douschka is 'sweet little darling.' But, as is tho Russian custom, Bevcral additional names wero given the child, and she was christened in full Douschka Olga Neva Francisca Eugenic Dorothy Piokens. Tho first of the series of names was tho one by which she wan ever known. "During the campaign of 1860 Pickens was nominated as candidato for Governor of his State, and on thc day Abraham Lincoln was eleoted President, Piokens was elected as tho chief executive of South Carolina, of which his father and grandfather had previously been governor. He left tho Russian court and brought his wife and little daughter to America, but the Russian royal family never forgot the little Douschka, und upon each birthday ehe received from Czar Alexander II a bewildering array cf costly gifts, a custom whioh was con tinued by the present czar until the death of the beautiful woman a few years ago. "In Carolina, Douschka, a mere tot, beoame as great a favorite as she had been among the splendid Russians. Civil and military officers worshipped the child, and it was this universal love for her that made her, historical ly, the leading young woman of the State and of the South. "When too days grew darker aud darker, and it was seen that war could not be prevented, the Confederates at Charleston prepared for the conflict. Tho Federals oooupied Fort Sumter, and General Beauregard made every preparation to defend the oity. When it was finally deoided that he should bombard the Federal fort he invited* Gov, Pickens to inspect thc garrison and witness the inoeption of hostili ties. The governor visited the forts and gunboats and took with him his wife and child, Douschka. All tho guns were in readiness for the first fatal shot whioh was to rend the na tion in fratricidal strife. "When tho governor had visited all parts of the garrison, General Beaure gard pioked up the golden-haired, blue-eyed little girl and petted her for a moment. Then ho plaoed a burning match in her baby fingers and held her rintil she touched the fuse of a cannon. Thus the child, at the tec dor age of 3 years, born in the Rus sian palaee, the pet of the nobility of all the nations, and the daughter of the great war governor, fired the first gun in the greatest war of modern times. "After that first shot the artillery boomed for hours, but the child ?ind her mother had been taken to a plaoe of eafety. It is not necessary to deal ' further with the conflict itself in tell ing the story. ' ' A few months after this dramatio inoidont a daughter of Governor Fisk ens by a former marriage was to be wedded. Douschka was "ohosen to aot us a flower girl. Upon tho day of the wedding a sad-looking, but aristo; eratic assembly orowded the great St. Michael cathedral at Charleston. Soon tho preliminaries of tho wedding wero gone through and the bride and groom were standing at the altar. A solemn hush was over* everything, and the only thing to break the stillness waa tho occasional distant thunder of a cannou that kept up a dismal chal lenge and roared at the old oity. "The Churchman was reading the wedding ceremony. There at the side of the biiue-to-be stood little Douschka, her arms enoiroling a great bouquet of flowers. The intended i husband reached out his band and I clasped the fingers of the bride-oleot when, with a terrible crash, a cannon ball pierced the wall of the old oaths* dral and struck the bride full in the chost, ci ushing out her life with a tragio completeness. Her fiance still held her hs-d. Tho minister, riveted to thc spot like a statue, went on reading the final words until oh co ked by a groan of agony that came from the audience. "Over the white flowors Dousohka clasped in her arma and over tho white folds of her baby dross wis scattered tho lifo blood of the bride, i ?ho child did not realise the full hot T ror of this tragedy, the woeful out come of the saddest marriage ceremony of-all those four long and terrible years of war. "Throughout the war Douschka'u uame was frequently^ heard. She be came the foster obild of the State legislature and by special enactment that body named her 'The Child of South Carolina.' Yet it was not un til the days following the war, those days which were blacker than war it self, that Douschka became thc idol of tho people. "Governor Pickens died in 18G4. On his plantation at Edge?eld were his slaves, Which had refused to leave him, despite the fact he had told them they could go if they wished to go. He called his negroes abo u his death bcd and chose from among tho oldest of them his pall-bearers and then gave into their keeping his wife and little Douschka. These slaved, when freed, were never the source of the least trouble, but any one who lived in tLe South in the days follow ing the war knows how the people suffered at the hands of the'freed ne groes. "In the early 70 s the ex-slaves cf Edgefield County, South Carolina, be oame threatening. A lot Of unprinci pled white scoundrels had egged them on to deeds %f misohief and things oamo to such a pass that neither life nor property was secure. As condi tions grew worse the negroes gathered at Edgefield. They swarmed through the streets and frightened the whites from their humes. They eventually formed a drunken'mob and threatened to burn the town. "Just SB the town was about to be destroyed something wierd sud terri fying happened. From the four winds rode hundreds of strange-looking be ings, elad in:long robes of red that hung from their heads'to their feet. In ali 1,500 of them came., all on horsebaok, all dressed alike. They gathered at the center of the town and then formed in a long col Ann. "At the bead rode a alight, red robed figure. It was Douschka. She guided her great horse through every street time and time again. The superstitious negroes fled in terror from the town, end hid in the woods. The silent, solemn march was kept np by these red-robed members of the Ku Klux until every colored person had ?eft the town.. From that day not one word of discontent was ever heard from the freed slaves of Edge fieldoCounty. Doasohka wa& known from that time as 'Joan of Aro.' "When it fell to Dousohka's lot to manage the plantation when she grew io young womanhood she per formed lier duties 'wilt? o?%loh!e?? skill. She was a splendid horsewo man, and every day rode over the es tate. In the fox chase, a sport in which she delighted, oho always rode the leading horse, and most often got the fox. As a farmer she learned everything that must be done about the old plantation. To her belongs the honor of establishing the bonus system of pay for freed slaves. In addition to their salary she gave them a percentage of the prooeods. "When Dousohka grew to woman hood she married Dr. Dugas, a bril liant physician of Augusta, Ga. To them were born two daughters. Six years ago, while she was visiting her mother at Edgefield, she sickened, and. died. "Gray-haired negroes who had been her father's slaves carried the casket in which she slept to the shade of the oaks, and there, beside the grave of her parent, another grave was waiting. When the casket was opened at the edge of the grave those who leaned to take a last look at the dead faoe of tho woman saw abont her neck a beautiful necklace which the caarina of Russia herself had hung there on the day the golden-haired little girl left the palace."-Chieago Inter-Ooean. V /i j J ? // l DANGER ll \ ' It is coasting danger to stand under icy eaves. - Not a few have learned this to their coat. Every winter injury and even death are repotted as the result of this carelessness. But there is a far more popular wayv of courting danger. Every man or woman who neglects a cough is inviting sickness, and many a fatal sickness has ita beginning In a slight co-igh. '?he timely usc of Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Diecovery will cure the cough. Even when the cough is obstinate and there is hemorrhage with emaciation andi weakness? "Golden Medical Discov-ry" always helps and almost always cures. ? X was troubled with a bad cold, which settled; on my hmm and left me with a miserable' cough*? writes Mr. joseph D. Huras, of 31S HuesUs Street, Ithaca. Kew - York, ?rosed two bottle? o? / I ^ > your ! Ooldea Medical D??CT .-..> cry,' after which ray cough "TSTBHL disappeared entirely. -X carv ? jSBPk. not recommend your atcdl T&aSjBJBSw . cine too highly.? Accept no substitute for n Golden Medical Discov ery.? There is nothing ?just as good* for dis eases of the stomach, blood, and lunga. Sub stitution means & little more profit to the dealer but a Toes to you. The Common Sense Medical Adviser, J008 large pages, in paper covers, is sent free on r^.tlpt of at one-cent cramps to pay ?.spense ol mailing oms. - Address EA R. V. Pi<uve, Bul falo, N. Y. Gilligan, Slayer of Tonier, Dead. Riohmo'nd, Va., April 20.-Andrew Carter Gilligan, who about three years ago shot and billed Mr. Beverly R. Turner, a prominent resident of Isle of Wight County, died late last night in the penitentia.y where ho was serv ing an 18-year term. The tragedy was one of the mu?t sensational that has occurred in Vir ginia in the last half century. The shooting ooourred over Misa Isabelle Turner, whose father had forbidden Gilligan to visit her. They held clandestine meetings ?ud it was at one of these that Mr. Turner was killed. The young woman who figured so prominently in the tragedy married another mau only a few weeks ago. Mr. Beverly R. Turner, a prominent planter and landowner of Isle of Wight County, was one night about three years ago shot down near his country j home. The tragedy ooourred after dark. The wound was made by a gunshot, and beyond that at first nothing was known, as Mr. Turner died without being able to tell who had killed him. Suspicion Ister fell on young Gilligan, whose quarrel with the father beoame kuown and he was arrested. Gilligan was the son of a man em ployed by Turner and had fallen in love with Miss Serena Isabella Tur ner, the daughter of the house. The proud father had resented this atten tion from a man he considered his in ferior and had driven the young man from his house. In the investigation j of the murder it was shown that Gil ligan did not cease his attentions to thc giri, but mot her many times se cretly. Ho was on the Turner planta tion the day of the tragedy, and' had borrowed a gun. Though the exact circumstances of Turner's death had never been defi nitely disclosed, it was believed that the father returned home and found his daughter and the young maa to gether, sad that Gilligan, fcuriug MU attack, shot him. Gilligan would have hanged if the jury had not believed that the murder wat? not deliberately planned. As it was he waa convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to a long term in prison, whioh has just been ended by his death from disease. The young woman, who is said to be pretty and accomplished, was mar ried not lon* ago and is now residing in Richmond. _ Stops Cough anti Works off the Coln. Laxative Bromo-Quinine Tablets oure a cold in one day. No Cure, No Pay. Price 25 cents. J ?C:V? jr. '. 'J ''$. Now] Juat to see the boys scram legitimate and irresistible? We throw out a few samples of what w trading line. Some of them, you will < season, but geewhiz ! notice the price ? 20 Backs Bliss, Triumph*, aad oil 82.50- pei Sack, former price &&25. Deon & KatliflVa Fancy Patent ? Bean's Patent Flour, wosfih $4.25, Bally-good Plantation Molasses tc 25 pieces pieces Cotton and Wool worth 25 per cent more than this. One Car Ti unka, ranging in price $4x50 for the finest Traveling Trunk oi We swre always S FEED AND PUNI Y on will save dollars to gi Cori Oats \ . ; ' ' . . ' ; -.'?.?"..I Bra . Ric? Our prices are always low* DEAN & v; The Busj Holds Breath Til! Dead. London, Ontario, April. 25.-John Myklohurst, a Norwegian, committed soioide at Mill Hoad Infirmary, Liv* erpool, in a manner which constitutes a record in the annals of self-destruc tion, i It was stated at the inquest that he was rowOiOu to thc infirmary in con sequence of his str?nge manner? and that while there he asked for a revol* ver to shoot himself. This being re fused he deolined food, and subse quently held his breath until he rup tured his lungs and died. It has hitheri j been, held that no one has ever committed suicide by holding the broath. This opinion ' was based on the ground that the ex cess of carbonic acid circulating in the blood caused by the deprivation of air stimulated the nerves of respiration to suoh an extent that no effort of the will could prevail over the act of breathing. ? How John Myklehuret was able to prevent'air entering his longs needs explanation. The "rupture of the lungs" was probably nothing more than the breaking of some of. the smaller blood vessels. This would suggest that the hold ing of the breath'was not a mere still ing of the ribs and diaphragm, which acts ss bellows. On the contrary, the rupture points to having acted vigorously, bnt without being able to overcome an obstruction in the wind pipe. John Myklehurst, being insane, was possibly seised with a paralysis of the larynx, or voice box, the result perhaps of auto-suggestion. Cures Blood 'Poison, Cancer, Ulcers, Eczema, Garbo noies, Eto. Medicine Sent Free. Robert Ward, Maxey'e, Ga.,, says : <. "I suffered from blood poison, my head, faoe and shoulders were one mass of corrup tion, aohe?in bones and joints, burn ing, itching, scabby akin, was all run down and . discouraged, but Botanic Blood Balm oured me perfectly, heal ed all the Bores abd gave my Bkin the rieh glow of health. Blood Balm put new life into my blood and new ambi tion in tn rn tr br tin." Q-AA. A__ Wjl. Hams, Roxbury, face covered with pimples, chronic sore on back of head, supperating swelling on neck, eating nloer on leg, bone pains, itching skin oured perfectly by Botanic Blood Balm-Bores all healed. Botanic Blood Balm, cures all malignant blood troubles, snob aa eczema, soabs and scales, pimples, running sores, car buncles, scrofula, etc. Especially advised fer all obstinate cases that have reached the seoond or third stage. Ihruagists, $1 per large bottle. Sample of Botanic Blood Balm free and prepaid by writing Blood Balm Co., Atlanta, Ga. Describe trouble and special medical advice sent, in sealed letter. Sold in Anderson by Orr-Gray Drug Co., Wilhite & Wil hite and Evans Pharmacy. Begins ble to pick up a few genuine, re propose to do this- Spring In the see, are to close out because of the late ber varieties Seed' Irish Potatoes at 'lour, worth 85.00* our price 84,25. wo ask ody 84.00'. ? go at 16o in barrel lots. Jeana ranging in, price from 8o to 26c, from 98c for a Zino Covered Trunk to ii the market. . ' . :^ ' [eadquartera for imor SUPPLIES. ve us "aur business 0117 n, III ?lli?lSI r ' Wv ''?' r ?st ?nd our Goods aro the beat. -?? ? fV : <y ?.% "^'\':ri#S;.W f Hustlers. We have about Twenty Exce^ns SECOND-HAND OR?ANS,1 ?n perfect w??iiion, beiier goode than many of the vheap M new onea, at 825.00 up. New ones/euch as-. MASON & HAMLIN, . ESTEY, CROWN and F ARK AND. All the?very highest quality, at prices wo have never been able to give. 1 Come and see our Stock ; we may have just what you have beau hunting THE C. A. HEED MUSIC HOUSE. rpi S. VAND?VER. E. P. VANDI7B?j GENERAI. MSRGHANT8V-. \ ' ANDERSON, 8. C., October 8,1902. Wo proposo pulling trade our way this Fall, sud have made prices otfj good, reliable, honest Gooda that will certainly bring it We have the strongest line of rhea's, Worues'S ?w Children'sSSCI? we have ever shown, and have them, marked down so low that every pair ul great value. We have another big lot of-Sample Shoes that we throw ca the market at factory prices. Come quiote while we: have your size. We are money-savers on GROCERIES. Bess Patent Flour ?4.50 pei barrel. Best Half Patent Flour $4.00. Extra Good Flour 83.75. COFFEE, SUGAR, LARD, BACOf*, BRAJT, CORN and OJ always in stock, just a little cheaper than th? market prices. We are strictly in for business and want your traded Try us and wiU stick to us. . j Your truly, VANDIVER BR?3. JUST RECEIVED, ~ TWO G&m OF BuaaiEs, ALL PRICES, from a $35.00 Top\ Buggy up to tbe'finesi Rubber Tired jo -- ALSO, - LQT OF WAGONS, That we want to sell at once. We keep a large stock 'cf Georgia Horn? SVlade Harness Cheal , The finest, light draft In the world. Come and see it f Yours in earnest, Two Cars Fine Tenn s BB et*Valley / 'ramp??Ti.y..?QUND? You run no risk in feeding this to your stoc?. Will also make the very finest meal. HQr Come quick before it is all gone. .Os ? lon L0?? LOOK ?HEI A man thinks U ia when the matter < inirarance suggests iteelf-vbut eirene eas bf late .b??T? ?iowa how life hang; thread when war, flood, hurricane and suddenly overtakes you, and the onI;j to be sure that your family , ifi ?rot case ?f calamity overtaking you * BOX* in a eo?d Company like^ ?he ?fotual BeuejBt life &s|? Drop in and eoe tis about it. * S v?i ; r?ZE A3KKT. .' Bfcttk.^t;UdiJtg, ANI>SBSPN i b i' ' fen