The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-07-30
A Sad Incident Of the War.

The Charleston Mercury of April "A, relates
the following tragic incident of the siege of that
city
shell into the city and no one pays any attention
10 it. But chance has wished yesterday that q
bomb should throw all our society into mourning.
Miss Anna Pickens, the daughter of our old
Governor. has never wished 10 leave the city. In
spite of the representations of Gen. Beauregard
she has remained here. Drawing the bombs and
the Greek fire. taking care of the wounded and
cheering everybody by her presence. Among the
officers whom she had occasion TO take care of
was NJ. Andrew de Rochelle, who is descended
from one of the most distinguished Huguenot
families, who had formerly taken refuge in our
city.
The young man was full of gratitude for his
nurse from gratitude he passed to a more tender
sentiment his wishes were listened to; Governor
Pickens gave his consent, and the marriage was
fixed 70 take place Yesterday, the 23d of April.
Lent. Rochelle was on duty at Fort Sumter in
the morning, and il was decided that the cere-
mOny should take place in the house of General
Bonham at seven O'Clock in the evening.
Almost at the moment when the EPISCOPAL
ian minister demanded of the betrothed ones if
they were ready TO listen to him, u bomb broke
on the roof of the house, penetrated the room in
which the parties were, burst and wounded nine
persons, among others Miss Anna Pickens. The
scene which followed is more easy to imagine
than describe. Order was soon restored, the
OOiiAC nClO NtI I"C III IlE, WIG
lay without movement ON the floor. Lieutenant
Rochelle, bending over her, wept bitterly, and
endeavored to stop the blood which flowed from
q horrible wound over her left breast. \ surgeon
was called, and declared that Miss Pickens had
but two hours to live. We will not attempt to
depict the general despair.
L" When her senses returned she wished to
know her fate, and as they refused to tell it to
her, Andrew she said, addressing her future
husband, . L pray you to tell me the truth. If l
am to die, l wish to die worthy of you The
tears of the young man replied for him, and Miss
Anna, recalling all her energy, made an effort to
smile. Nothing could be more touching than
the agony of the courageous woman, struggling
against the agonies of death and against great
physical suffering.
"Mr Pickens, whose courage is known, was
almost senseless and Madame Pickens' eve was
like that of a person whose reason had fed. NJ.
de Rochelle was the first to speak, and, address
ing himself to his betrothed, Anna he said,
Il, too, may soon die, but L wish that you should
die my wife. There is yet time to unite u.s. The
young lady did not reply she had not strength
enough. A slight blush colored for an instant
her pale face-joy and sorrow divided her soul.
d" Stretched upon a divan, bleeding in her nup-
tial dress, she had never appeared more beautiful.
Without being able to prevent it, NJ. de Rochelle
took her hand and prayed the Rev. Mr.. Dicken-
son TO proceed with the ceremony. When it was
the turn of the dying one to say yes she opened
several times her lips without being able to arti-
culate a word. She finally succeeded, and a light
froth appeared on her mouth. The last agony
approaching. lie was only in sobbing that
the minister could finish. One hour more all was
over, and the nuptial chamber was transformed
INTO 4 chamber of DEATH