The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-13
[rRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE !

| VeislHS Will u StalWATG yoOnan, VINO RlOrleO
in his independence of the negro. He, his
wife and his children work in the field, and the
past year had made good crop, both of corn
aud Of cotton. The great trouble now was
to keep it from being stolen. He told me that
| some time ago, about Six miles from Darling
ton village, band of negroes attacked house,
shot promisouously and 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. IS
fattening hogs; then they came again, and car
| ried off his milch COW, and now they stormed
the house. People living at distance from
the centres Of population find it difficult to
&C. around in gangs of ten, fifteen or more.
They kill stock, steal cotton, in short carry
things with high hand generally. party
of these romantic jewellers has been known
to pick clean from six to eight acres of cotton
On single moonlight night. The difficulty of
guarding against these nocturnal marauders
will be better appreciated when it is remem-
bered that honest and industrious people who
work hard the live long day, and day afler day,
are fatigued when night comes, are apt to
sleep soundly, while these robbers, like the
beasts Of prey, lie close all day. aud go forth to
plumber at night.
hard working white men, my informant told
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.
get it out. have heard of several such in
stances, and may, perhaps, recur to the SUBJ
ject again in the course of these letters.
Society Hill, on the line of the Cheraw and
Darlington Railroad, about one hundred and
twenty five miles from Charleston, is one of the
Oldest and best known settlements in the east
ern part of the State. For more than half O
century it was the centre of wealth, intelligence
nT)6 fo1k ,.x~lx ....l.-.
IN saying that the society there was more
elegant during all that period than in any
place in the State outside of Charleston or
Columbia. Enjoying high and healthy loca-
no other spot in South Carolina, the wealthy
planters Of the Upper Peedee here at first
spent their summers, and then fixed their per-
manent abode here.
in the annals of the State, that have reflected
honor on Society Hill. The late j. j. Evans.
for years an honored judge Of this state, and
afterwards United States Senator, made this
his home, and here several of his sons now re-
side. The venerable DR.. Thomas Smith, still
among the living, has shed lustre for many
years on this small portion of his native State.
The names OF Gregg. Williams, Witherspoon.
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
glory for himself in the councils OF the nation.
must not omit mentioning the venerable bro
theirs Coker, 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.
Ihe village has received some valuable ac-
cessions since the war. foremost among whom
1 would mention Major B. D. Townsend,
breadth Of the State. ard far beyond her bor-
Ct q he Bsnk Of
raw and Coalields Railroad, and now Presi-
dent of the Cheraw 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, q most sensible pro-
ceeding on his part.
The merchants of Society lIill are as follows:
Messrs. O. Coker & Brother, A. Smoot, w. A.
Garrigan, i; A. Candy, Theo. sompayrac. John
others. There are two physicians here, who
appear to do good practice-Dr. s. II. Press
ley and DR.. P. p: Griffin. Lawyers there are
none here, but l am told that there is good
opening hero for one. There are two churches
here-the Baptist, Rev. Mr. Rice, pastor, and
the Episcopal, Rev. Mr.. Hay, rector. The
planters residing in Society Hill have formed
planters club. which meets monthly. for the
For years the Peedee River was the only
means Society Hill had of communicating with
Charleston, and this was slow and uncel tain,
duu bOlU0UluloS, III S6HSOQB OF low water. Alto
gether impractIcable. 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 few hours ride of Charleston. I
have always thought that there should have
Sbeen only one line and one company from
Charleston TO Cheraw, and think so vet. In
fact, think it Of more Importance now than it
ever was before. Rival interests will soon come
in and bid for privileges which now are natu-
rally, and by tacit pre-emption. ours. But
Charleston should not rest till this past and
present good will on the 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, there
fore, it would seem to an outsider be any in
surmountable 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 of
O ferry-one OF the most important because
most frequented on the river. Dublin, the
ancient Charon, who had poled the fat across
for many years, and who is an original charac-
ter worthy more extended notice than can
accord him here, is now put on the retired
list. His occupation is gone. The ferry is no
more. bridge has taken it's place. This
bridge bad been talked Of years before the
wax, but was not commenced till year after
the cessation OF hostilities. It was built by
Major J. B. Lasaile, of Columbia, at an expense
Of about $4,000. This amount, in tho then
impoverished condition Of the country, it was
Of course, not an easy matter to raise. Still it
was done, thanks to the unweaTied Efforts OF q
few public spirited men. But alas, after the
work had been completed, and in operation
only sixteen days, great freshet washed away
the centre pier, which dragged with it another
pier and two Of the spans. Previous ffeshets
had done considerable damage while the work
was in progress, but this last calamity seemed
irreparable. The old company was bankrupt.
ont and bid OF at $4,000 by some Of the
creditors Of the old company. A new company
was formed, capital about $15, 900, and the
or rooted. This will cost about $4,000 more,
and is to be done IN the course OF this year,
believe. The rebuilding Of the bridge is due
principally, II not solely, to the untlring and
aeif-sacriicing energy snd public spirit Of MIR.
w. A. Carrigan.
The bridge is splendid Job, q regular first