, 1872-11-01
ST. k5lCHAEl'S STEEPLE.

ST. kilCHAEL'S S1EEPLE.
"Reminiscences OF Charleston, S. c.
From, the Eew York Er.ning Posi-:
The romantic story Of the bells Of st. Michae1s
Church in Charleston, s. G., which ne copied
dav or two ago from Mrs. Carson's book, reminds
us OF an incident in relation to that church
which probably has to
tod again. We heard it relatedl long since by an
cid 1ady who witnessed it when ahe was young
girl perhaps eighty years ago. g....u ..a
This lady who vas from n
century. It was at a time when there occurred
ire Which burned up considerable portion OF
the city, and which for many years marheo taa an
ora il its history yhona as 5n9 do9htleas mme that
tn.e the Great ATE Fire. has thpes beea Tped out By
events mora recent and more disastrous: st. |
Michaels, however, YVES then, as 1t has m always
continued to be, the pride OF the citizens It o.
Charleston who truly claimed taae ~ annroncb
inc the coast, and WAS the last thing sighted far
out at eea, BY those who we're outward bouno.
And not only waB it their pride, but It almost
seemed to them that Providence had me oeautla t,
ful old church in it's special keeping, when, the
morning after the great fire, they turned taelr
ewes upward to zee it's lofty Bpire almost piercing
tie Clouds while beneath and al around II layln ~
blackened ruins the fairest and largest part o. ot
| the homes OF the stricken people,.
It had however, barely escaped destrnction,
and that by an act of heroiBm which is now, per
haps, forgotten in Charleston, but is recalled by
| a natiye Of Massachusetts as q pleasant feni-
| nisceuce of his childhood and OF the venerable
woman who told Of the brave act OF which sne
| vas an eyewitness. 81.
While the fire was raging and the whole whole cn cty
| seemed doomed to destruction, the Mayor ana
| Aldermen sat in solemn and anxious councu 70
devise ways and means to stay the conf1agratlon
and to provide for those who had lost a1 their
worldly possessions, and who stood han nakeu a;ea
| and ahiyering by tho smouldering ruins Of their
| homes, The news came to them presently thai
st. Michaels Was in danger, for the fire was ap-
| nroachinp the square where itstood, and storm
Of great burning brands wss ahoWerea oo%n
Men upon the roof put out the fiery missiles n as
thew feli. and could reach and dislodge those
that fastened themselves upon the lower portion
OF the spire but the danger vas tna5 soho 4i,e
= hnrnine stipsle, borne far up in the alr py 1ne
os1e. would make q lodgment out Of reach, en-
ssnring, not only the destruction OF the chufch,
hut epreading the flaming messengers Tar ana ar
wide from the great height oyer y, Ps1.s Oh LIE
The fear was we'll founded. It was not lon9e
: before flying brand caught and fastened ltseE
mon the topmost height OF the spire. The spec
I tators watched it anxiously, IN the van nops
j the surrounding woodwork; but, held to I'll
/ mace perhaps BY the wind, it kindled br1ghtel
and brfchtor. till it Was plain that, unless somf
hand could pluck it down. the spre ans
all that #on1o n1 @ anso,1 irsoa, nrowd 1onked Il,
we're doomed: Inc neafen hTand Int among then
= all thoTe was not one man fearless enough ot ~
o tive enough to attempt to scale the glooai.
ne1gn., ape be,o1g 5nowerIess and despairng lk
the hqnafe @ netoms aT;m9 pGm9A1 1area reward to an
t1s ons Thc Tfs' would oa the dag isst Gi a. q
lodging that sPeea 1,,t " ~ tha staepe and gre7
q gale at me Sery yl.tar aeI amd ~ won1d not faIl
Il eaGn monlen. naat1n man anpeared in the belfr
. BY PfJhn1h' Poh,srnh and 1aaning over the railin
looked upward as II meus taeb III sonst "r narnsn
% 5;or,Ior aacent THAT still Law between him an
Is acu1er t aseean S a1na ahoVe him Then be ounte
sne spqh e raii;nr and stretched bis hands abov
r ham upon. In1 s'csp199 a,,9 m ona ein11e NIGH
9s thousancs De1o" WEI. aiaa r +ba a;r shont lin
T. shout . tnas aa ailuss fe ,,non tha multitude
- then s1gat .Ea;r breatba and their upturne
they nela I'LL h;+a ;1, +1a nidv Iieht az th,
faces g1eM npoaa mnlap aa s1ow1V painfully. car
~ Watcnea us t;E5iI1s 1.a crent ~ and m. resir
~ iy dI4 frn, ons a1;oht PROJECTION to anothe
OF hmsgl1 1loui one bnt which served hi
ii Far foofhold and which his hands could gras
~ Al atoulu W alaI5 1trot ~ e;- h]o1inr homes
ey heedea ana n1en R1r,;n1 +hav Tatched tb
le ny the nSot VI .nan h,,pareds ~ feet abo
~ 1pn1re ~ e. Hi;chaaTs ateep!e. At length t
orana "as WILL is sa;..ad 10 hlazinD mass vi
gne nanu ouIf fr,riaJ n + c1ear into the soua1e
1n. tne orn 1,5 }1a sn;ra stood ont black once nc
low, ana Lhe sPue ;.1 5toon " Toht Ga mnon Il erce
~ aays rcaaction o ee from tue burning houses.
But not yek uiu - ano ehaa1a "a wa saved for
'n- eaultatluM snat ~ ,-ea,,I,1, a,aclr haneath
1Ia a11 a a;cht of wRich sailors erected
H. far ont At SEA- s s9my, fnra dRcnt Gescant
8t6aAily Ae neGatA sA4o 1Ae. - c-l-, 80. =