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ATHENS, GEOBGIa; THURSDAY HOBNING, MARCH, 24, 1887.
AROUND LOWNDESVILLE.
“HOW DEAR TO MY HEART ARE
THE SCENES OF MY
CHILDHOOD.”
Attar Iftanv Tear* I Heintn w »r
Native XIcatb-An Experience Sim*
liar ta nip Van Winkle**—A His
,arte Old Neighborhood-Aft - Noted
Tree and Famous noch—HI.. Nun.
c. Maxwell—Tito Sod Story of Two
Unmarked Oraret In an Old Field
-True Patriotitn.'
Lowndesvillb, "S. C., March ■ 18.—
[Special Corretpondence.] -Perhaps it
trill not he uninteresting to the Banner-
Watchnan readers to he giren a de
scription of a little town and of people to
whom they are strangers; but in my let-
ter to-day I will endearor to strip it of all
incidents of such a character as to raise
a remit among our patrons. If I over
step these bounds, kind reader, only vis
it in mind the scene of your childhood
days and early struggles, and then see
if you cannot look with charity upon the
hatch of aged chestnuts that 1 am about
to give you.
“Lowndesville!’sang out the brake-
mar, on the Srvannah Valley road, and as
1 marched from the coach with m y va
lise and umbrella in hand, 1 looked
around to see if 1 could locate myself.
Had I fallen from a balloon in the heart
of Africa, I could not have been more to
tally lost or a greater stranger than I felt
here in the tow of my birth, [ could
not c til to mind any such spot as this near
the o d Lowndesville that I knew, and
where I went to sciiooi and over its
every surrounding hill and vale have I
played when a child. There were all
around mo new laces. A young man ap
preached and asked if ho could carry
mo to the Mosely House. Mosely was
the first familiar'word I heard: Then
my old friend Jiin Latimer stepped up
and spoke to me. I asked him where I
was—to unravel me. 1 then discovered
that 1 had often set bird traps on the
very grou id where the depot stood, and
had once gone to school within a stone's
throw of tlie spot, to a minister named
Davis. The town was about a quarter of
a (pile distant, and concealed by a hill.
I can remembog— when a child
seeing the stakes set for the Savannah
Valley railroad, and remember^ a
grand torch-light procession thut' fhe
towihof Lowndesville had nhcnthfi sur
veyors got there, and that my furrier rode
at the head of it on horseback. The
scene is as vivid in my mind as if it had
happened lust night A gr< at deal of
money was collected toward completing
the road, but it disappeared aml'the eti-~
terprise fell through Now after so many
years 1 return to find the road in opera
tion, and t aversing nearly the same
ground then staked off. J hero is an old
Baying that no railroad has ev.T been
surveyed but it is some time built, ami
this looks hke there is ground for the
statement. m t
‘ But few changes nrc noticeable in the
business part of old Lowndesville. A
new town is springing up at the depot,
and thor. is considerable rivalry between
the two divisions of the place; but I pre
dict that the history of Gainesville will
repeat itself here, and the new part of
., . ill a. lull I...——.1 ml wrilll
the town will soon he hill-boarded with
notices of “For Rent.”
Kind reader, did yon ever revisit the
home of your boyhood after an ab
sence of many years? If so you can
appreciate the keen intorost with which
I looked out for every inanimate object.
That chestnut tree, now dead and bark
less, I once fell from and . sprained my
shoulder; in that little bed of sand in the
road 1 had a fight with “Tile" Cunning
ham and got badly whipped; from that „■ .
tree I shot my first robbin; oh, the tire-1 Caulina, and from Which they would not
some hours I have spent in that church let even a riding switch be cut l he
my advent into this world, I fear that I
shocked the good lady by remarking
that I bad no recollection whatever of
any such event.
Lowndesville is a famous spot In the
history of South Carolina, ana this sec
tion of Abbeville district has given to
the world John C. Calhoun, George Mc
Duffie and Preston Brooks. It has Over
been a patriotic neighborhood, too, and
both in the Revolutionary and laat ware
hersona were first to respond to the call
of their country. My grandmother was
nearly 90 years old at the time ofher
death just before the late war, and was
born and reared within a few miles of
Lowndesville. Her father-and uncles
figured in the struggle for independence
by the American colr.Jsts, and the inci
dents and information she gave about her
section, relative to that memorableetrug-
itle, wa« authentic, as it came direct to
her from partfoa who knew tie truth in
regard to the incidents that I Will ret
late.
Leasthan a mile from Lowndesville,
on the old Bowman ferry road, stood one
of the largest poplar trees I ever saw,
that had a hollow commodious enough
to accommodate a man on horseback, and
that reached to its top. It was constantly
cracking as if m the act of falling, and a
tranger never passed it without whip-
iing his horse into a gallop and oongrat-
latinghimself on makings narrow es
cape. This old tree was revered aa
much by the people who knew ita histo
ry *.s the Charter Oak of Connecticut,
vnd while the timber around was cleared
off it waa left un listurbed in its majestic
and solitary grandeur. During the revo
lutionary war, and wheu this section of
Carolina was in possession of Cunning
ham and his Tories, the hollow ef this
tree waa used as a peat house
for . three American soldiers
who were afflicted with the small
waa a moopligbt, summer evehing, aqd
the scenes moat peaceful and And happy
one. Two Tories, who were hiding
around the neighborhood, had seen the
Maxwell boys trudging home, and trailed
them like Indiana. They sneaked with
in easy range of the little family groupe
beneath the tree. Two sharp cracks of
the unerring rifle were hoard, and both
young soldiers fell pierced to the vital!
with leaden messengers of death. The
Assassins made good their e«cape,andthe
next day the gallant hearts, stilled in
death, were laid side by side within
few steps of the house to which they
had hastened only a few hours before
with such joyous anticipations. When
relating their story jheoyea of Miss Nancy
blazed with fire and vongeance, and aha
would pronounce the most horrible mal
edictions against the whole Tory race.
She could not lolerate them down to the
last generation. She has pointed out to
me the very tree beneath which* the sad
tragedy occuri-ed, and then tenderly
showed me the spot where the two mar
tyrs to liberty lie sleeping. I hear that
this nld Held is new in cultivation, and
eotton is raised on the mounds of two
as brave men aa ever shouldered the
knapsack and marched to the call of their
country. While erecting costly monu
ments over the graves of those wha fell
in the late civil war, it seems to me that
a more fitting display of national grati
tude would be to rescue from desecra
tion the soil that holds the ashes of such
humble martyrs to liberty aa the Max.
well brothers.
Miss Nancy and Miss Jennie were
closely relatedtosome of the beet fami
lies in South Carolina, and they bad Ire
quently been offered a homo' and every
comfort, but preferred to lead their old
life of appearent wretchedness but inde
pendence. Miss Nancy told me that
Ided to enlist in
QUIETING DOWN.
lay marning tho duel was all
The Banner-Watchman was
when her brothers decid
of a Tory. The men recovered,and their
descendants are atill living in Abbeville.
I asked for this old tree, and was told
that after standing the storms of centu
ries, a few years ago it succumbed to the
fury of the elements, and by its crash
was split into tinder wood, so dry and
thin had its crust become. On a hill
just across the branch, three Tories were
afterwards captured and hanged to a
hastily constructed gibbet. I can re
member when the ghosts of these men
were said to haunt Pressiy’s hill, on the
brow of which they paid tho penalty for
deserti ng their country.
Another noted spot, that even timo
cannot obliterate, is a largo rock on Ihe
Deupreo place, now owned by Mr. Bow
man, and almost in sight of the depot
From,behind this stone.a mu! '
his freedom by waylaying am
a Tory leader. He knew thatthe Tory’s
house was near there, and that ho would
sooner or later traverse the path that
ilace. Ho waited
day and night for nearly a fortnight be.
fore his victim appeared, when a well
directed riflo ball penetrated his heart.
This mulatto was said to be a very brave
man, a id afterwards did good service in
tho American army. There is not
shadow of doubt about the truth of the
above events, or the exact localities.
I remember, when a boy, there lived
near my grandmother's, probably
miles from L .wndesville, two old spin
ster sisters, said to bo nearly an hundred
vears old, named Miss Nancy and Miss
Jenny Maxwell. They looked like witch
eB, were disgustingly filthy, and their
only dress, both autnmor . and winter,
wore wretohed old gowns formed of
rags. They lived in a cabin where the
water poured through the roof and you
could have thrown a dog betweon the
cracks in tho wall. Yet these old women
were far from being mendicants, for they
owned a largo belt of tho,finest lands in
listening to along sermon! These and a
hundred other long forgotten little inci
dents of my boyhood days crowded my
thoughts and awoke sometimes a sigh of
regret and sometimes a smile o! pleas
ure. I could hardly take time to partake
of an excellent dinner at the Mosely
House, when I started out to explore
the town and see what changes time had
wrought; On every hand I met rtrange
faces. Out of the entire population of
the place I did not see a half dozen per-
sons I had known when I lived here. As
famine" lel spot *to" another, I felt but .would only dispose of their P r " 1 “®*
like a modem edition of Rip Van Win- to soldiers or soldiers families, would
kle. Rip did find the same old sign, only
the bead of Washington torn substituted
for that of King George; but oven the
post had disappeared whore so long
swung the announcement of “Bell’s
Hotel." Major bell, too. who waa el-
ways kind to me, like his sicn, baa also
disappeared from the face of tho earth.
Peace to his ashes! I walked arrund to
ng
walnut timber alone on it would have
made thorn rich, if sawed into lumber.
In the veirs of tho Misses Maxwell,
too, [lowed the bluest of blue blood, and
two moro loyal or patriotic hoarts never
animated the breast of woman, or man
either. They were bard working old
women, and on little patches around
titeir house grew plenty of provisions to
do them. Besides, they had large flocks
and herds, that brought them in consid
erable money for people who had so few
wants. All during tho late War they
sold corn, wheat, bacon, wool and cattle,
accept only Confederate money, and sell
at prices thet ruled in times of peace.
They charged only ten cents a pound for
bacon, 75 centa for wheat and 60 cents
for corn, when these articles were selling
for ten and fifty times these prices. They
finely consented to let a large belt of
their cherished wood land be cleared
and worked, that they might ha**
A Cacti lO PIS ■sues i a N MI Baeva eta • un« »V w»u --“I — ~ v , ** ...
the school house, where 'Squire Giles I the more previsions for the ■oldiere.
once taught this young idea bow to Both these old women havo been called
shoot. Another teacher now occupies from a hard and self-denying life to that
his desk, and another generation of chil- land of peace and rest, where their little
dren are sitting on the same benches and frailties will be blotted out with oblivion
playing on the same ground the aarne old and only their noble deeds remembered,
pies that once I indulged In. The old Mias Nancr Maxwell,.who was the ruling
school house fa unchanged, and looks aa | spirit, waa a young girl during the Revo-
frowningly dark and gtoomy to-day as it Intionary war, and I uaed to del ght in
’ did thirty years ago. I imagined that I sitting on the steps of her cabin and
discovered the same pane of glass that I bearing her recount the thrilling inoi-
ebattered with a ball, an 1 that caused me dents of those time- ^he knew, the
so much mental atony, through fear of gsnealygy of ovary faurily In that district
«po"iire. *1 wandered for acme lima Snd exactly how “uch rory Woodeonrs-
areand tho .pot, and from the looks of ad in their veins;
the children peeping through the win- i too, worse than death, and surely she
dows, I judge that they thought I waa
up to no good. "**
[ cause for this bittern®!*# Within a
The moat notired change, few steps <“f. her 1 >®“* 11 U f ** f ,J Ur ^*
however "was in mv old home. The ground of the Maxwell family. ine
however, waa in Jf ««« it h „ j Saves ware enclosed injnde rml pens.
needed new clothes and there waa not a
yard of cloth in the house and none to be
had. But the same brave spirit that ani
mated the boys was also inherited by
the Maxwell girls. With her own hands
Miss Nancy went out into the pasture
and caught and sheared enough sheep to
supply wool to make two suits of clothing
whilo the other girls Bpun cotton into
thread ana got ready the loom. By day
light they had cardtf, spun, wove and
aewed into garments two full suits ef
clothing, and had them packed ip their
brother's knapsacks.
Had I space, ^1 could recount many
such events connected-with this aeotion
of Abbeville county. I give them be
cause I think they will prove of general
interest, «*>d P®™*r» >*» time serve to
——frqnpbliiien by redasiw- to-v*-****,
facts relative to the part that my native
county played In the memorable struggle
for American independence, that I think
worthy of preservation in the archieves
of history.
I will have to postpone my Greenwood
letter for to-morrow, when I will give
some information that our readers are
more directly interests! in. T. L. G.
The Affair of Honor Probably Am-.
Icnbly Settled' In Angnata.
Yostcrda;
tho talk, 'i
scoured for news and pretty soon the is
sue was exhausted. Tho wires were
worked for latest information and the
noonday papers eagerly scanned.'* These
issues contained but little new save the
announcement that a board of honor waa
in session in Augusta and that it waa
believed the matter would bo amicably
adjusted.
~ It is but fair to Mr. Tom Cobb to aay
that he did not anticipate the torn which
the affair has taken. Hia challenge was
proffered upon-tho idea that the usual
moating under Queensbury rules Would
follow. Whan the alternative of weap
ons was chosen by his antagonist, how
ever, he promptly accepted -the condi
tions,
It may also bojjust to Mr. Chisolm to
conclude that having already engaged in
one fisticuff with Mr. Oobb’a younger
brother,ha preferred to change the scene
of conflict to more neutral ground,and to
continue the contest under more decisive
regulations.
There is a matter touched in the print
ed reports and telegrams sent but from
Augusta which should be corrected. The
trouble did not arise from any charge
about “cheating in examinations" aa those
accounts declare. Bo fares « e can learn
there waa some discussion between Mr.
William Cobb and Mr. Chisolm about
the latter’! being prompted in, hia law
recitations by a fellow-student. Mr.
Cobb waa chaffing him and Mr. Chisolm
admitted that a companion bad suggest
ed an answer to an oral question in class,
but denied that he had availed himself of
such aid. It waa from this we learn that
the trouble arose whioh culminated in
the fight on the campus.
Examinations, aa tho Augusta Chaoni-
ele has correctly stated, are conducted in
writing under strict pledges of honor,
and a hint might be accepted in class
which would not be tolerated in these
reviews. This explanation we get from
the University studentaand the correct
ness of the statement we do not ques
tion.
PERSONAL AND MINOR ITEMS.
THE LATEST
OF LADIES MISSES AND CHILDRENS
CALL EARLY AND SEE THEM,
Broad Street, Athens, Ga.
Stbkxt Car Driveis at Loooer-
I1BAD8.—Tom Gann ani Grilfeth, both
drivers for the Street tail way Company,
are at loggerheads witheach other. Tom
aaya that Griffeth maybe a*Christian
and a brother, but he lon’t believe it,
Griffeth, on the other hind, aaya that a
meaner man don’t live tian Tom Gann.
It was expected the: a difficulty would
take place Tuesday figlt, but for
cause or other it aid lot come off. All
is quiet between the toys, and the only
' -n of unpleaaantnea is their injured
lance wheu the cat pass by. * Both
men are good drivers, and are popular
with the railroad patres.
An Intant PniNoxoNON.—Sunday
night a Mr. Suddath vho lives on Mr.
Pat Lester’s place nearjhena, had born
unto him a son whost Weight waa be
tween ten and eleven )unds. Twelve
hours after the child's hth it could turn
over on the bed and e closest watch
had to be kept upon it tprerentit from
rolling off. Though to days old the
youngster waa so muscur and athletic
that he could roll or three or four
times. The infant is tharender, of tha
neighborhood, and it foot definite!
settled yet whether it la I be John Sul
livan or Pat Kelley.
A Brother Bitej A>thir.—Two
colored men, brothers, w] work for Mr.
Staucil Berwick at the caty farm, got
into a fight yesterday mojng, and, as
usual with negroes, bit anshewed each
other in S very bad menu Out of the
participants bit tha upperj of the other
almost entirely off.
earns to the city immi
Dr. Lowry to dress hia
were vary painful. Ha
disfigured tor tha rest of
trium|ltiaotly announces ’
in the ring.
Returned Homs.—Potman Whit
ney and family, of Chicaj who have
beep wintering at the Comrdal Hotel,
in this city, leave to-day fificir .home
in the Northwest Whltnfraa one of
the policemen wonndtd in ( Haymar-
ket riot in Chicago. Ha tuhtirely re-
caverad from hia wound, ah in excel
lent health. He made mafrienda in
Athens during his stay hey
A Ladt Palm.—Yi
s well known lady was al
stops of Mrs. Howell Co'
While talking with soma
har balance and was paiz
falling t# the ground. It
one time that she waa sei
She was taken into Mrs.
where every attention waa
Any Small Boy With a Ac—Can
kill a. tiger, is the tiger haU to bo
found when only a tittle cube con
sumption, that deadliest and q feared
White beans and peas at Pittman’s.
The street force are still pegging away
at Prince avenue.
News from tha duelists was at a pre
mium yesterdny.
The city court was in session yester
day fora short time.
at ‘•-Augusts has been good &*(•
the laatday or
Judge Jackson, of Watkinaville, was
in the city yesterday.
Capt. Jere Hitch, of Jackson county,
was in the city yesterday.
A stiff wind made yesterday a rathe*-
rather uncomfortable day.
Mr. J. H. Fleming left yesterday for
an extended country trip.
Mr. Gantt, while still suffering from a
sprained wrist, waa out yesterday.
Mr. Jesse Daniel, of McNutt, was in
the city yesterday for a few hours.
Mr. T. W. Rucker, ef Birmingham,
Ala, is in the city for a few days.
Tho sick professors have all recovered
and are hearing their classes as usual.
Just received a new let of . handsome
flowers at Hirschfleld ft Blumentbal’a.
COSTUME VIGOGNE!
Plain,Skirt, bordered with deep band of Flush, Lon.'; J'aliller of Vigogne,
J*** 1 -' n **p**7i -aGiaotNiaB AfrA Cn*,,,, ' I’lu-li i: V..r-, 1 'o!hr.
Epaulets and Pari-meuta. •
HAT OR BONNET TO MATCH.
TRIMMED IN THE NEW SHADES.
EUCALIPTDS, AUBUSSON & V1EUX ROSE,
TO BE FOUND ONLY AT •
MICHAEL’ BROS.,
BROAD ani JACKSON 8T„ ATHENS, OA.
ROB RICHELIEU, PARIS.
marchlSilam.
ssas&sai
Baler pointed out the idantieal corner in war, and how tiiev hiad denorteuJJtwn-
Which stood the bed on which I mad* selves and upheld tha family
quored and
e’a “Golden M*
oyed early.
Very few people were ir. the city yes
terday, and but little trade waa done.
There waa ice again yesterday morn
ing, and a heavy frost along the water
courses.
Don’t forget to call and see Hirsch
fleld ft Blumenthal’s handsome stook of
imported flowers.
Conductor Hutchins, of the fast train,
makes hie runs regularly now. Hia
health is much improved.
The number ef the street care has not
been reduced yet, and the public are cor
respondingly happy. j
Be sure and call at Hirschfleld ft Blu
menthal’s and examine tha prettiest flow
ers in the city.
Very littlo water can be had a|. tha
mineral spring now, owing to the wM toll
ed condition of the pipe.
The coatnue of the colored ebildre n
whoattend the public schools ta to say
tha least very picturesque.
Mr. Daidrich Winter, on* of tha pro-
[reaaive merchants of Wintarville, waa
in Athens on avi.it yeatordar.
Burke’s April eheetnnt cards are im-
mcngely popular With tho boys and girls
already. Go early and gat one.
Tha “FsvSHte Preaeripton" of Dr.
Pierce cores “female weakness” and
kindred affections. By druggists.
Monday la the opening day at Bireeb.
field ft Blnmenthal’i, where the prettiest
fiewers aver seen in theeity win be dis
played.
The trucks and horses were out for an
airing yesterday afternoon, but the cold
wind prevented the tiller scat from being
occupied.
Mu BiU Beusac has slot of chickens
who will catch grains of corn thrown to
tbam in their nswtfei. JThia is something
unusual for ehickt4fC^))o.
Mr.TomHudiotfjdoeaitot frelirre all
the fruit hat beefi killed. Ha aaya he
has never known this to occur in Mi
The weather baa bean dry, whioh
prevented extensive damage.
If yon wish to got the very best meat
the market affords be certain to call and
examine my meat before yon buy else
where. Yoo 'w!!! not oiuy be likely to
cetbattvmeat but will also save money
by doing so. Alex Nabors.
The base ball game between the Flrat
Junior!and Sophs waa too one-sided to
be interesting. The gems waa aa un
even aa tha grounds. Two of the beat
falls from the
LIGHT AS A FEATHER,”
THE UTESt STYLES OF
PICNIC HATS,
TO BE 1 FOUND ONLY AT
IUP0UTKB8 Of
FOREIGN FL.O WEhS & HATS.
This week we will put on Exhibition (ho Prettiest Line of Flowers ever brought
to this market. Wo give yon a-cordial invitation to come and see them.
H R8CHFELD 4 BLUMENTHAL.
uar20dftw3m. No. 14, Broad Street, Athens, Ga.
Cl HP,
JEWELER.
FEED
-FOR-
BEST MADE—TRY IT!
We are heavily loaded on Corn, Flour, Oats,
AT-
ROCK son
