The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, May 05, 1916, Image 3
An Old
Tragedy Recalled.
jiemtvort. ?. CX, Miiy I^?TUe flrat of
May always Uringw a aad recollection
m the people liere of the terrible trag
,Hiv a! Uoy^W Mill on the 5th of May,
intio. In which ?o many families were
bereaved at the loop of their loved
ones. Thlh Information haH been hand
od (loWn if row generation to genera*
fi(,n until It l? ?tHI freeh In the mluda
of tin* ]MM>ple. In the afternoon a
Ufgo num)>or went on the flat for a
ride on the i?ond. The fiat Was ele
vated on the ends from the water and
mnlerueatb a box was attached. In
plain words It wa? a "box flat/' Pole**
were used to guide It, ami these were
In the hand* of Mr. Handy Hogan and
Gaskln Hoykln, a slave and nijiller of
Mr. A. II. Hoy kin. Iloth were large?
and strong men. The pdnd whh fulj
of stumps and the llat struck one,
which tore a hole In the 1k>x. T1?1h let
the water In. and lowered the flat on
rhe slump, <?askln told me year# after
that In tin- confusion he and Mr. Ho
gan puslnxl against each other, whlc'
made mat tew worse. The people now
became panic stricken and commenced
to Jump and getting tangled In the wa
ter bonnets drowned without coming
to the surface. A few clung to the
tint and were saved, sonjP' swam out,
and others got on stumps until res-,
rued. From accounts the scene beg
gared all description. The largest suf
ferers were Mr, and Mrs, S. If. Young,
of this place, when Mrs. Young's hro
tbor, Mr. Jerry McLeod, her nelce, Mrs.
Mary Jenkins, her three children, Hol
ly, grown, Mary, about 20, and Henry,
about Id. all found a watery grave.
Mrs. Young died a few years after, car
rying with her to tho grave, her great
burden of grief at the loss of her loved
ones. Of her large family only two
Hve, Mrs. T. I>. McLeod and Mr. W. J.
Young, of this place.
From the beet information available
the article below Is generally accurate,
(ho writer twin* too small to know any
thing about It This article Is repro
duced from an old issue of the . Sum
ter Watchmau and recently appeared
in the Sumter Daily Item:
"Through the courtesy, attention and
kindness of the telegraphic operator at
Camden, Mr. Withers poon, the tele
graphic operator at Kingville, Mr.
Dean, and Mr. J. J. Evans, the gen
tlemanly and accomodating conductor
of the Wilmington and Manchester
Railroad, we are permitted to lay be
fore our readers at this early hour,
in advance of the mail, the following
particulars of one of the most heart
rending and afflictive accidents It has
been our melancholy duty to chron
icle. as having transpired within the
limits of our state.
"The startling rumor which reached
our town on yesterday, morning, and
which agitated with painful and ex
cited Kusj)ense the minds of our citi
zens. has l>een proven to be "but too
true.
On Saturday morning last, a most
happy company, composed of young
ladies and gentlemen, children and pa
rents, left their homes in Camden for
h day of recreative pleasure and amuse
ORD
Cars
Parts
Accessories
SERVICE STATION AND
FORD PARTS IN STOCK
vie r:
KERSHAW MOTOR CO.
Phone 140 Camd?n> S. C.
went <it Uoykln'H Mill l??ui, about!
ten miles this side of that pi acts hu<1 ;
u(k>u the line of the mil road. Those
WW9 Joined by other* from tlu> neigh ,
borhood, for uil uk a party of consider#
ble size."
'The fore part of the (lay, (the dls- I
tresslng accident occurred late lu the I
afternoon), was spent moat happily
and pleasantly hy the excursionist*.
The picnic ahd fishing excursion. fpr
mieh It wan, hftd fully met, thus far,
the buoyant anticipations of tho*e con
cerned. Hut what a tlnale! The heart
droops ami la weighed down by the
most pun Kent sorrow at Its vecltal.
"A fiat boat of consUU?ralikOd*v had,
a short time previous, beenmuUt and
placed u|K?n the |s>nd for purposes of
pleasure. A goodly number (thirty or
Wore) of the coihpany embarked upon
this boat, Intending, to pass over and
ground the pond. These coiihIhUhI
chiefly of youiiK ladles, there l>elug but
u sutiieient numlter of gentlemen, as
was Hup|>osod, to manage tlie boat. and
afford company and protection for the
hulV'H.
"They had Ihhmi out some time, and
were near the centre of the pond, when
the boat ran on a snag. This ex
cited little or no fears, as It was sui>~
posed that a speedy extrication could
be effected. All was life and spirit?
all was ho|H? and happiness! Soon It
Was perceived that the great pressure
of the boat u|M>n the snag (In conse
quence ' of the number It contained)
1^1 Afla^tOi'lDg its lu>ttUUi and that tlie
water was making its way inside. Now
the excitement Itegan. Now fear began
to picture Its sad traces uj>on the just
now happy countenanced. Now the
tender and timid ladies called upon
their protectors for that assistance and
deliverance, which, painful to say,
they were unable to afford. Momen
tarily the danger became greater, and
momentarily the excitement of those
on board, as well as those on shore,
became more Intense. It seems that
deliverance would have come, and that
the boat would have probably been
pushed off and run near enough to
shore for many if not all to have es
caped, had It not been that those who
stood at eas)> end, ( a white man and
a negYo) , with their poles, laboring
with all their power, shoved, each in
the same direction, thus mutually de
stroying the effect of their effort^. Soon, >
In a few minutes, she began to sink ! j
When this wfts seen, and the fact that
she could not be moved became too
apparent, the scene became frightful
elndeed. The wildest excitement and
fact seemed to seize every heart, and
tyut few if any were sufficiently col
lected, to enable them to employ their
efforts for rescue advantageously. In
a few momenta, now, she sank, wlien
the scene may be better imagined than
described.
"Piercing cries and shrieks, and calls
for help, both from those on dhore
and those on the unfortunate boat, fill
ed the air. ' Sisters and brothers, pa
rents Tttnd children, relatives and
friends whose hearta were bound to
gether by the nearest and dearest of
earthly ties, and animated by the
warmest and most tender affection,
were there? some on the sinking boat
and some on the shdre. Oh 'how rudely
were those confiding hearts torn asun
der and ravished with wild and ach
ing grief!
"The boat seems to have committed
them to the bosom of the water, hud
dled together, mainly, in a mass. The
water is supposed to have been about
twenty feet in depth. Thus thrown
together, one clinging to the other,
with that grasp wnicn neiongs oniy
to those In a drowning condition, there
was little opportunity for the males
in the company to rescue the ladies
or even to save themselves.
"But a few, we have not been ap
prised of the exact numt>er, were nav
td, of those upon the boat. One act
of daring, -manly and gallant rescue,
which has been reported to us, and
which we believe true, demands es
pecial notice at our hands, and should
be rewarded by the lifetime gratitude
of those immediately concerned, as
well as the relatives and friends of
the same. Mr. Jones, a fireman upon
the Camden train, (this train, was as
well as we can learn, at the time of
the awful occurrence, near the spot,)
rushed to the spot, and by almost su
perhuman efforts, coupled with most
cool aijd manly courage, brought three
of the drowning persons to the shore.
We have not learned the names of
these.
"The following are the names of
those telegraphed to us from Camden
as the lost, being the number stated,
twenty-five with one exception :
"Miss Lizzie McKagen, (a lovely sis
ter of Mr. Isaac McKagen, of our
town), Willie McKagen, a younger
brother of th? same; Luke and Wil
liam LeGrand, brothers, one of them
a brother-in-law of Mr. McKagen above
mentioned; Miss Sarah Nettles, Two
Misses McCowns ; Miss Minnie 'Alexan
der, ( daughter of Mr. Isaac Alexan
COLD
COMFORT
can be taken in delicious iiQ*
uid draughts at' our Soda
Fountain. Ice Cream Soda
in all flavors and of a guar
anteed purity. Tempting,
satisfying, cooling, healthful
and the thought of it on
these hot days will make
your mouth water. The lit
tle cost of so muth comfort
will surprise you. Don't swelter when coolness is bo
easy to raj^h. Try a glass of your favorite flavor and be
cool and happy. ?
CAMDEN CANDY KITCHEN
T, . . . .
. (
tier, of Camden) ; Miss Howell, Mlsa
Indeed. The wlldeaf excitement and
brother, Mtsg Mary Jenkthii, Mr. Hi>
cott, Mr. Huggius, Mr. Jerry Md>eod.
Mr Jphn Oaks, MlsH Kelly. Little Alice
Robinson, (a uwiiet lUtle Klrl.)
"Mr. S. S. Rlchburg, (surveyor. for
merly of tills place.) Mr. Kichburg,
with noble devotion, lost his life as
we mulerstaiul, attempting to Have an
other. These, with two neproeH. com
plete the melancholy list,
"Two ladles, (Mrs. Carter and Mrs
Steakeh, the wlvm of engineers ui>on
the Wilmington and Manchester rail
road, not uih>u the Ixmt when about
to start, as we learn, hut thinking the
crowd too grout, determined not to
remain, thua, no doubt, narrowly ex
caplhg death.
"KtYorts to rescue the IhmIIcs of the
unfortunate drowned were Immediately
employed, Some were taken from tbc.
waters. other* could not he found
The flood -gates of the pond were soon
hoisted, but the body of water was
grout and could not l?e soon run oft'.
It was thought that It would lie snf
flclently dry on Saturday night to ad
mlt of all the bodies ladng found. We
have not learned the number that bad
been found, when our dispatch v was
sent.
"Camden Is shrouded in gloom, and
many of its citlxens overwhelmed by
the nii'S^ severe attllctlon ,and I ?e reave
ment
"At half i?ast three on yesterday,
eight bodies were at tile Methodist
church, where funeral ceremonies were
being jierformed, In the presence of a
large congregation. Almost every eye
was moistened by the tear of sympa
thy or bereavement.
"Mr. ltlllings,. one of those who was
u]K>h the boat and was saved, Hays
that twenty-seven i>ersons were drown
ed, This conflicts with the above
statement, as to number, and may be
correct.
"Wo expect further particulars by
telegraph to Klngvllle thin morning,
and will hasten to place before our
readers all information received by
us In regard to this truly terrible ac
cident, at the earliest moment"
WANT TILLMAN'S PLACE,
i ? ? ? ?
Some Seem To Think Senator Too Old
For National Committeeman.
For . nearly a quarter of a century
Senator B. R. Tillman has represented
the Democratic party of Souths Ottro
Una as member of the National Demo
cratic committee. There has been
some talk recently that the Democrats
of the state should have a new mem
ber of the committee.
No complaint has been hoard as
regards tbe service of Senator Tillman,
but It Is known that lie Is progressing
1n years and the argument has been
heard that while the Democratic i>arty
Is. In the ascendancy ia young man
should be elected in order that he
? a
might be ^learning the ropea lu or
der to give to the party tbe fullest
measure of usefulness in the future.
The names of several have been
beard, Congressman Lever's among
them, although some Democrats in the
state hold the opinion that this im>m1
tlon should go to the non-office hold
ing Democrats of South Carolina. Mr.
Tillman and Mr. Lever already have
a number of added responsibilities and
offices in addition to their positions
In congress ? such as college trustee
ship, etc.
Ex-Gov. John Gary Evans, who is in
the eity today to attend a meeting of
the state Democratic executive com
mittee of which he Is the chairman,
says that he has heard some of this
talk and had in fact discussed the
matter with Senator Tillman, who does
not wish to relinquish the place of
reresentative of the state upon the
national Democratic executive commit
tee. "He wishes to die In harness
there as In the senate," said (Jov.
Evans, whose kindly feeling toward the
senior senator is well known.
Mr. Mlllfe, a Spartanburg man, who
has been in Washington and i>; here
for a few days, says that he con
versed with Senator Tillman a few
days ago and that the latter is look
ing better than he has oeen him in a
long time. ? From Tuesday's Columbj^
Record.
Mrs. Winona Steele Gregory was
awarded a verdict of $5,000 against the
Graniteville Manufacturing company
in Aiken county last week, for Injuries
sustained five years ago When she was
caught in some machinery In, iho'flfrflf
where she was working.
STOCKTON NK\V8 N0TK8.
noykin. ?. e;r K u
Unstick has returned from a (wo
weeks visit lu Columbia.
Mix. U. j. Nee ley, of Hock IKU. who
bus Imvii visit Iiik her Mrs.
K. M. Workman, ban returned home.
Mm. Heboecfl Workman NjKUit a few
days this week with Mr. and Mr*. 11.
M . I Va r?H?.
Mr. au<! Mrs. K. IX IVarce, Mr. ami
Mrs.4 C. N'i Humphries, Mr. J, C, Hum
phries and daughter. Saw. Mr. l>. I*
Sowoll and slater. Miss Halllo How oil,
uttomhH^ tlu? quarterly conference hold
at Ha loin church Monday,
Mastor Tom Catoe, of Sumter, sjieiit
tho wt?ek olid with his sister, Mrs. 1).
I#. Sow ell.
Prof. A. L- Humphries s|>ent the
week end at tho homo of his parents,
Mi' and Mrs. C. N, Humphries.
Mastor Henry Owens, of Camden,
spent the week end at the home of his
ulster, Mrs. K. C. IVaree.
Mrs. J. K. Pea roe Is visiting hot*
mother, Mrs. It. J. Simpson, near Ches
ter.
Mrs. Jolin (Jlllls and daughter, Mrs.
Annie Turner, are visiting Mrs. Wil
liam ltush, near lAlgOfT.
Mr. C. 1>, HumphHes spent last Wed
nesday lu Columbia.
Mr. Hlehard Jolly, of Columbia, sjvent
a few* day# at the home of his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. It. J. Jolly last week.
The monthly Epwortli League moot
ing lias been eiianged from the tlrst Frl
day night until the second Friday night
on account of the exercises and tho loo
cream festival which will bo held at
the Stockton school house, Friday eve
ning, May. 5th., at six o'clock.
Mr. R. 1). Unstick is In Charleston
tlds week,
Miss Maud and Kdgar Gardner, Mr.
m utl Mrs. Eugene Owens. Mr. ami Mrs.
<?. W. Amnions and Mrs. W. 11. Gard- 1
tier attended the Baptist Union In Cam
den last Saturday.
Last Saturday the young folks of this
section had a straw ride and Huh fry
at Hoyklns pond. AH were very live
ly and was enjoyed by all. The party
ivnsited of Misses 11a Bearden. Salllo
and Ethel Howell, Jennie and Sara
Humphries, Salllo Pea roe, Katie Tur
ner and Ithalne Galloway, and Messrs.
Tom, Carl and Will Humphries, Tom
and Harry Jolly, Sam Howell and Joe
Wylle. Mrs. J. C. Humphries chai>or
oned tho party.
Tribute To The South.
(The following extracts are from an
address by Judge John H. Tillman, of
Arkansas, in support of a measure to
Iienslon veterans and widows of vet
erans of the Confederate army:)
."It Is a land of orchard and grain,
a land of rice and cotton, a land of
golden Indian summon, a land of gob
geous sunsets,' and tho moon aalls thru
the blue seas of her cloudless nights
like a ship of pearl. It is a land Of
enchantment and variety, here a stately
country home, there a big plantation,
with its broad,, fat acres laughing un
der a harvest of good things. The
mocking bird singB until midnight
among the fragrant magnolias, the pink
peach blooms, and the purple apple
blossoms. Here is the fragrant pine,
there the cedar, dusk and dim ; here the
virile white oak, there the branching
elm, there the stately mountain range;
there a lake of silver, there by the road
side A bubbling spring ever holding up
Its pouting lips to be kissed by the
thirsty traveler.
"(Jod made the South, and when He
had finished this masterpiece He- saw
it was good, and said, "Moreover this
is my country, my South, and behold
it was so."
"Let no Harry Hotspur of the South
say in this Chamber that he would
scorn to accept from this Government
any help for the Southern soldier. Why
not leave this matter of acceptance to
the soldier himself? And let no mem
ber from the great North say that dis
loyalty should not be rewarded. Such
declarations will tend to destroy th3
blessed peace that now hovers over the
two sections, and "pour tho milk of
conco'd Into hell."
"In a war museum In Chicago there
Is a certain miracle in lead. It waa
made by the Impact of two bullets tired
in one of the battles of the Civil War.
Two leaden messengers of death hjhmI
through the air frAm the opposing lines,
hissing the hate felt by those who fired
the shots, one from a Northern rifle,
the other from a Southern musket.
Meeting midway between the battle
lines they melted Into a solid leaden
star. This leaden star now exempljfles
the unity of the once hostile sections,
now happily welded together, emble
matic of the feelings prevailing among
peoples now claiming one flag, one coun
try, and one God.**
He Wat* Excused.
' "I want to be excuesd," said the wor
ried looking Juryman, addressing the
judge. "I owe a man $5 that I bor
rowed, and as he is leaving town for
years I want to catch him l>e
4Skre?|e to the train and pay liim
the money."
"You are excused," replied the Judge
in icy tones. "I don't want anybody
on the Jury who can lie like that." ?
Bellman. _
Russell Felder ls held In Jail at
OfniigehurK on the charge of murder
ing his wife.
WINTHROP COLLEGE
?? ? H i. ? i? V
Scholarship and Entrance Examina
tions Friday July 7th.
~The examination for the award of
vacant scholarships In Winthrop Col
lege and for the admission of new stu
dent* will be held at the County Court
Hottse on Friday, July 7, at 9 a. m.
Applicants must not be leas than six
, teen years of age. When Scholar
ship*. are vacant after July 7 tuey will
be awarded to those making the hlgh
yst average at this examination; pro
vided they meet the condition* govern
ing the award. Applicant* for Schol
arships should write to President John
son before the examination for Schol
arship examination blanks. '
Scholarships are worth $100 and free
tuition. The next session will open on
fiflpMnber 20, 1016. For fnfthsr infor
mation and catalogue address Pre**
dent D. B. Johnson, Book Hill, S. C.
Close attention to our business, studying thte wantfi of
our customers, persistently striving to better our effi
ciency, has made the success of our business, and coup
led with the above the 25 years of experience, with the
assistance of competent help, catering to the want# of
our customers, justifies the assertion that we are better
prepared than ever to serve our customers.
We handle a full line of Farmers Supplies. Har
ness, Heavy Groceries, Hay, Grain, Poultry and
Dairy Feeds.
Wagons. Buggies, Harness, Disc Harrows, Walk
ing Cultivators, Peg Tooth Cultivators, Cotton and
Corn Planters. Guano Distributors, Rakes, Mowers.
Southern Field Fencing, Barb Wire Staples.
Call and get our prices before making your pur
chases.
SPRINGS & SHANNON
The Store That Carrie* The Stock.
?FOR SALE
Pure Bred HEREFORD Cattle
"The Kind That Pay."
We are offering for sale 50 head of big bone J>ulls
of breeding age of highest quality and breeding.
Camden Beef Cattle FaIrms
LUGOFF, SOUTH CAROLINA.
FRED K. PERKINS, Special Partner HKNRY CUNNINGHAM, Mgr
Jf. W. MeCORMICK. Prop. R W. BOND, M MUf?r
McCORMICK & COMPANY
Funeral Director* and Embalmer*.
Night Phono tt. AMBULANCE SERVICE. Dmy Phone 7f.
Country Call* Answered Promptly Day or Nfight.
Camden Undertaking Co.
C. W. EVANS, Manager
\
FUNERAL DIRECTORS an J LICENSED EMBALMERS
AMBULANCE SERVICE.
City and Country Calls Attended Promptly
^ ^ . . - - ? - " - -- . f - T
DAY OR NIGHT
Office and Show Rooms at 535 DeKalb Street
" - ? ~~ f
Office Phone 91 Residence Phone 283-L '
. > . -c . ..-v ?- '? r
Sea 6 oardJvir
'The Progressive Railway of The South."
SCHEDULE:
Leave Camden ? - ? - ~ ^
6:59 a. m. > For McBee, Cheraw, Hamlet,
5:24 p. m. ) and intermediate Stations.
6:59 a. m. I For Cheraw, Hamlet, Raleigh,
6 : 5 1 p. m. Richmond and Eastern Cities.
* /
- ? ' ?? 1
11:15 a. m. ) For Columbia and interme
11 :19 p. m. > diate Stations.
n* l 'mi f 1 . 1
10:85 a. m. ) For Columbia, Savannah, Jack
11:19 p. m. > flonville and Florida Stations.
C. W. SMALL, D. P. A. Stnavk Ga,
s-1 > ? :i" ? ~ ? ?< v r V? VtHl i - f *nrrlT