The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-13
rrRoM or,n OWN .connEspoNDENT.l

(FRoM QUE OWN CORRESPONDENT
SOCIETY HILL, February, 1s69.-on my way
from Darlington7 to Society Hill, was con-
versing With d atalwart yeoman, who gloried
in his independence of the. negro. he, his
wife and his children work in the field, and th
past year had made good crop, both Of corn
and of cotton. The great trouble now was
to keep it from, being stolen. he told me that
some time ago, ,.GbJdtslx} miles from Darling
ton village, q bandofnegroes attacked house,
shot promiscuouslgfeand put nine ball holes
through lady's dress hanging against wall.
One bullet came very near; killing child. A
few nights before they had taken Mr.. .--'s
fattening hogs; then they came again, and car
ried off his mich COW, and now they stormed
the house. People living at a distance from
the centres Of population find it difficult to
protect themselves against these outlaws, who
90 sround In gangs of ten, fifteen or more.
They. kill stock, steal cotton, in short carry
things with high hand generally. A party
OF these romantic jewellers has been known
to pick clean from six 30 eight acres OF cotton
en- single moonlight night. The difficulty Of
guarding against these nocturnal marauders
will be better appreciated when it is remeln-
bered that honest and industrious people who
work hard the live long day, and day afler day,
are fatgued when night comes are apt to
sleep soundly, while these robbers, like the
beasts OF prey, lie close all day, and go forth to
plunder at night.
By way Of showing mewhat can be done by
hard. working white men, my informant tod
me OF one of his neighbors who, with his little
son. last year made thirteen bales OF cotton, all
planted and cultivated by themselves alone.
In picking season he hired few hands to help
get it out I have heard OF several such IN.
stances, and may, perhaps, recur TO the SUBJ
Society Hill, on the line Of the Cheraw aud
Darlington Railroad, about one hundred aud
twenty five miles from Charleston, ,is one OF the
Oldest and best known settlements in the east
ern part of the State. For moro than half q
century it was the centre OF wealth, intelligence
and refinement. In fact, think risk nothing
In saying that the society there was more
place in the State outside Of Charleston or
Columbia. Enjoying high and healthy loca-
ton, dry, sundy soil, second Tor salubrity to
no other spot in South Carolina. the wealthy
planters OF the Upper Peedee here at first
spent their summers and then fixed thclr per-
manent abode here.
Many are the names, high and disting guished
in the annals Of the State, that have reflected
honor on Society Hill. The late il. Evans,
for years an honored judge OF this State, and
afterwards United States Senator, made this
his home, and here several of bis sons now re-
side. The venerable DR.. Thomas Smith, still
among the living, has shed lustre for many
wears on this small portion of his native State.
The names OF Gregg. Williams, Wltherspoon.
Wilson, Mcintosh, and others, who have lived
and died here, are known and honored in dis
tant parts of the State. 1t was here also that
General John Mcqueen died two years ago,
after having spent many OF his best years In
the service OF the State, and earned honor and
glory for himself in the councils OF the nation.
/ must not omit mentioning the venerable bro
theirs Uoker, the oldest merchants in the Pee
dee country, distinguished no less for their
honor and integrity than for their industry and
other sterling business qualities.
The village hns received some valuable ac-
cessiops since the war. foremost among whom
I would mention Major B. D. Townsend, o
breadth OF the State. and far beyond her bor-
ders. Major T., late President OF the Bank Of
Georgetown, otter $; rds President OF the Che
raw and Coalhelds Railroad, and now Pres-
dent Of the Cneraw and Salisbury Railroad, has
latterly in great measure Withdrawn from
public life, and is now pursuing the even tenor
OF his way as planter OF cotton, corn and po-
tatoes-in my opinion, o most sensible pro-
cceding OIL his part.
The merchants Of Society Till are as follows:
Messrs. q. Coker & Brother, A. Smoot, w. A.
Carrigan, T. A. Candy, Theo. Sompayrac. John
Douglas, Mr.. Wicker, together with few
others. There are two physicians here, who
appear to do good practice-Dr. S. Il. Press
lev and DR.. P. e. Griffin. Lawyers there are
none here, but am told that there is good
opening here for one. There are two churches
here-the Baptist, Rev. Mr.. Rice, pastor, and
the Episcopal, Rev. Mr.. Hay, rector: The
q planters club, which meets monthly, for the
discussion OF topics interesting to fal mers, &c.
For years the Peedee River was the only
means Society Hill bad OF communicating with
Charleston, and this was slow and uncertain,
and sometimes, in seasons OF low water, alto
gether impractlcable. In good time the North
eastern Railroad WAS built, and so also its con-
tlnuation, the Cheraw and Darlington Railroad,
which runs past Society Hill and has brought
it within O few hours ride of Charleston. !
have always thought that there should have
boon only one line and one company from
Charleston to Cheraw, and think 80 yet. In
fact, think it Of more Importance now than it
ever was before. Rival interests will soon come
III and bid for privileges which now are natu-
rally, anil by o tacit redemption. ours. But
Charleston should not rest till this past and
present good will on tho part Of her Peedee
friends is permanently assured to her, and
this can only be done by consolidating the two
companies. True, there may be difficulties in
the way; STILL the interests are sufficiently
identical to have the two roads managed by
the same superintendent. There cannot, thore-
fore, it would seem to an outsider, be any in
surmountabe obstacles to such union, and
earnestly hope that the nuptials may soon be
celebrated.
Society Hill heretofore was connected with
Mar boro', and the parts beyond. by means oi
q ferry-onc OF the most important, because
most frequcnted on the river. Dublin, the
ancient Charon, who had poled the fat across
for manr years, and who is an original charac-
ter sworthy more extended notice thau can
accord him here, is now put on tho retired
list. His occupation is gone. The ferry ls nc
more. A bridge has taken its place. Thls
bridge had been talked OF years before the
war but was not commenced till year after
tho cessation OF hostilties. It WAS built by
Major J. B. Lasalle, Of Columbia, at an expense
OF about $25,000. This amount, in the then
impoverished condition OF the country, 1t Was
of course, not an easy matter to raise. Still il
Was done, thanks tu the unwearied efforts of q
few public spirited Mon. But alas, after the
work had been completed, and in operation
only sixteen days, Z great irashet washed away
the centre pier. whicn dragged with 1t another
pier and two of the spaus. Previous freshets
had dono c1nsid erable damage while the wock
was in progress, but this last calamity seemed
irreparabe. Tho old company was bankrupt
What remdined of the bridge was sole
Out anu BID of OF $1,000 By some OF tht
creditors OF tho old company. A new company
vas formed, capital about SIS 600, and the
bridge rebuilt. e IS nos yet weathcr-hoardcc
or rooted. Ibis will cost about $1,000 more
and is 10 BE- done IN the course or lh:s year
l. A1;n.o fnhn rn;,nildinn of ti1e hridrn IL in.