Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-09-21
Whittling Down Hotel Grotesaue Mania
H for Relics.

GAlexandria (yirginia) Correspondence of ST..
Louis Democrat.
Wc stopped colored individual and en-
quired tho way to tho place where Colonel
Ellsworth was killed, and were informed that
the Marshall House was square further
on. There we found it, three story brick
building, old and dilapidated, aristocratic
enough, perhaps, for Virginia as it was, and
entirely typical of the old civilization. At
! the entrance, sitting upou the wooden stems
was tall hard.looking whito man in shirt
sleeves, surrounded by three or four "plain
people," like himself AS an excuse for en-
tering the house, We inquired the way to the
bar" and were directed by the first men.
toned individual to pass through the Office,
turn to the left, and 60 down stairs AS we
left The office and passed into the hall, We at
once recognized the scene of the murder, from
the pictures we had seen in the pictorial week
lies at the time Of the sad catastrophe. We
found the tall individual in shirt sleeves to
be ~. II. Ghecn, the proprietor, who has been
, running the machine since the spring of 1862
Alr. Ghecn kindly took Us through the whole
house, and showed us various evidences of the
recent civil war. For long time MIR. Gheen
was excessively annoyed by visitors, nearly
| every one of whom wanted something or 9TH
er to take away as a relic. He has had til .
stairway, banisters. mouldings, washboards
and flooring repaired throughout the house
twice, on account of visitors whiting away
tho wood to carry off as relics of the place
Since the last repairing we were shown further
| evidences Of the desire to secure some memo
rial. Many of the new banister rails were
Whitfield away to xite sticks, and about half
the cornicc and washhoard have disappeared
Even the steps have been cut into and in
some places pieces of the plastering which is
believed to have been rubbed by the shoulder
Of Ellsworth as he fell. Mr. Ghccn told us
he assured the people that that which they
| take away was recently placed there, and was
never touched by Ellsworth. but it will not
| satisfy the rapacity Of the relic seeker. In a
short time, even Mt the present rate of whit
Ting, the banisters and rails will have to be
renewed.
The flagstaff which Ellsworth ordered to be
cut down is still kept in the house, but the
flag was carried away by the Zouayes. The
floor stained by Ellsworth's blood was cut
away long ago, and that which took its place
| was disappearing SO rapidly, that the landlord
had to he constantly Oh hand to prevent the
complete disappearance of his house. Iu or.
| der to save his building, he told us that he
took tie remnants of old boards, cornioe, rails
and banistcrs and cut them into small pieces,
! which he bcsmeared with beef blood. Visit
ors were satisfied with this stuff as long rs it
lasted, aud the new banister rails are now II
curious spectacle, suffering they do from
the attack of many knives The room Oh the
second floor, out Of which Jackson stepped
when he shot Ellsworth, who was descending
from the third story was also shown us, as
was door, now permanently closed, through
| which Jackson intended to escape if he had
not been prevented by Sergeant Brownell. -
In this loom large pieces Of plastering and
wood have also been carried off. Of late
there have not been so many visitors, aud Mr.
Gheen is in hopes that he will bo left to en-
50 whatever pront he can reap in keeping q
first class loyal hotel, without the constant in
trusion of sight-secrs and relic hunters. We
took the hint and did not stay long, nor did
we white away any portion of tho stairway.
1