The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-11-02
"A ROMANCE OF Sr. MIc11AEI's S;rEcprE


Tho romantic story of the bells of st.
Michners Church in Charleston. Soutl,
Carolina. which we copied Il day or two
ago from Mrs. Carson's book. reminds
US of an incident in relation to flat
church which probably has never l,sa,,
printed, or if it has, is old enough and
Interesting enough to be told again. We
heard 1t related long since by an old lady
VINO witnessed it when she was young
glrl-porhaps eighty years ngo.
Ihls lady, who was from Massachu-
setts, was on visit ut Charleston in the
latter pnrt of the last century. It WAS
at !" time when there occurred fire
which burned up considerable portion
OF the city, and which for many years
marked IN era in its history as "the
time OF tho great fre;" though, doubt
less, that ancient date has been wiped
out by events more recent and more dis
astrous. st. Michael's, however, was
then, es 1t bus always continued to be,
the pride OF the citizens Of Charleston,
who truly claimed that it served, from
Its helghS, as beacon to sailors APP
proachlng the coust, and was the last
thing sighted, far out ut sea, by those
who were outward bound. And not only
was 1t their pride, but it almost seemed
to them that Providence had the beauti-
lai old church i'll its special keeping,
when, tho morning after the great fire,
they turned their eyes upward to SEQ its
lofty splro almost piorc:ng the clouds,
while beneath and all around it lay in
biackoncd ruins the tuircst und largest
part oi their beloved city, and tho ashes
OF SO many Of the homes of the stricken
people. 1t had. however, barely escaped
destruction, and that by an uct OF hero
isE which is now, perhaps, forgotten in
Charleston, but Is recalled by u native of
massachusetts RS Il pleasant "Reminiscences
oI his childhood and Of tho venerable
woman who told of the brave act Q!
WHICH sho WAS an eyewitness.
Whio the lire was raging nul the
whole city seemed doomed to destruc.
tion, the Mayor and Aldermen sat in
solemn and nnXious council to devise
ways and means to stay tho con1agration
and 10 provide for those who had lost all
their worldly possessions, and who stood
h":f-naked aud shivering by tho smoul-
dcring ruins Of their homes. The news
came To them presently that st. Michael's
was In danger, for the fire WAS approach.
ing the square where it. stood, aud u
storm Of great burning brands was
showcred down upon its roof and hurled
ugainst its stecple. Men upon the roof
put out the fiery missiles as they fell.
and could reach mud dislodge those that
fastened themselves upon tho lower por-
ton Of tae spire; but the danger was
thnt some burning shirglc, borno fur up
i'll the air by tho gale, would mako
lodEmcnt out OF reach, ensuring, not
only the destruction Of the church, but
spreading the flaming messengers far
and wide, from tho great iLcight, over
parts OF tho city US yet untouched by the
rain ri fire. The fear was well founded.
II was not long before flying brand
caught and fastened itself upon the top
most height Of the spirc. The spcctu-
tors watched it anxiously, in tho vain
hope That it would drop heforc liz blaze
caught upon tho surrounding wood
work; but, held to it's placc, perhaps by
tho wind, it kindlcl brighter and bright
or, TIL 1t was plain thut unless some
human hand could pluck it down, the
spire and nil that would be involved in
its destruction were doomed. The help
less crowd looked up and watched the
burning brand, utnmong them nll there
was not ono man fearless enough or
active enough 10 attempt to scale the
siaaJ height. mho Mayor au,! :.ic
Council stood Ill the square below, pow.
erless and despairing like the rest bit
Offering large reward to any one who
would attempt tho dnrins; feat OF dis
lodging that speck Of humo that tlickercd
i'll the gallo at the very summit of the
steeple, and grew each moment brighter,
and would not fall.
But presently man appeared in the
bclfry Of the church, and leaning over
tho railing looked upward, as if measur-
ing with lis eyes the Distance of the
many feet OF almost perpendicular ascent
that still lay between him and the spot
OF flame above him. Then he nonuic,
upon the railing and stretched his hands
above him upon the stecplc From the
crowd Of thousands below went mp one
single mighty shout that almost shook
the air about him; then great silence
fell upon the multitude IS they held
their breaths, and their upturnrd faces
grew white i'll the ruddy light as they
watched his progress. Slowly, painfully.
carefully and steadily he crcpt up, un,l
mp, raising himself from one slight pro
jrclion to another, invisible to those be-
low, but which served him for i. foot
hold and whiol. his hands could grasp
All around for many squares tho tire
ragged unheedcl, aud men forgot their
blazing homes, RS l,y tho light of their