Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-03-06
BEAUFORT AND THE SEA ISLANDS.
Their History and Traditions.
NUMBER EIGHT.
BY j. A. ].

OTt hOydl lsldnu anu tue malu idiiu,
then called the Indian land, and after
wards erected into Prince Williams Par
ish, as l haO already narrated. J This
ferry was located at, or very near to, the
present crossing of the P. r. r. r. 1t
connected the plantation ofCol. Samuel
Prioleau, on the island, with that of
Thomas Innes, on the Indian Land. The
point at which the landing was established
ON Port Royal was then known as Patter-
sons Point. The Act establishing this
ferry, provided also for one over Comba-
hee river, whence two roads were ordered
to be opened; one to Purysburg, on the
Saya nah river, and the other to the
above mentioned ferry. Thus we see that
at that early day the Provincial authori-
ties saw the advantages Of our harbor,
and the importance of facilitating the
means Of communication between it and
the inland settlements. This ferry was
available only when the tide was up, in
consequence Of the extensive marshes on
the south bank. This great ineonven-
ience was not SO sorely felt while the only
courts OF the province were held in Char
lesion for, the residents of the Indian
land could readily reach that point by
private conveyance, overland; while
those upon the islands found it equally
agreeable and convenient to go in open
boats, by the inland passage,-a mode of
travel very common among them, and
continued until the advent of steam boats
among us, about fifty yearsago. The in
habitants of those islands in the imme-
date vicinity of Charleston, still use their
boats for that purpose.
In 1855 was passed the "Act for estab-
fishing county courts, &C., which was
soon followed by the erection of an eco
nomlcal modest court house of wood in
Beaufort. 1t stood near the centre Of
the public square, in frontof the market.
The remains of its foundation were visible
within the la quarter Of century. 1t
was accidentally destroyed by fire on n
Fourth of July; but whether before or
after the erection of its successor at Coo
sawhatchie, [ in 1889, | am unable to
say with certainty. [ believe, however,
it was not bnrned till 1904. Our patriot
ic ancestors were wont to commemorate
that national holiday with much Of "thc
pomp and circumtance of war J" and a
rocket is said to have taken course, as
cratic as we may presume that of its
managers to have been, after "a Fourth
OF July dinner and thus to have caused
its destruction. The presumption is
quite legitimate as it was, by no means,
a rare ocUurreure for the holiday soldier,
like Sir Lucius o O'Trigger, in the play, 'tO
20 off half cooked" This slittlsligression
does not serve to put out Of our view the
significant fact, that "the day we cele-
brate" is fast passing into oblivion. Hap
py those patriotic forefathers who, having
battled for freedom, thus honored the an
nual return of their country's natal day
and departed hence in the full assurance,
that they were leaving joyous inherit
ance to their sons! Had they survived
to behold the impoverished condition OF
their country men and their country,
would they not think their anniversary
celebration ''more houored in the breach
than in the observance.
I have mentioned above, the removal
of the site of our Court House in 17S9-
This was done for the accommodation Of
the residents on the main; the Act OF
1883 recitiLg, in the preamable. that,
"sundry inhabitants in Beaufort district
on the main have by their petition repre-
sented the great difficulties and inconven'
icnce they experience from the court
house and gaol being on the island o.
Port Royal; be it therefore enGc,cd" &c
While this change oflocation relieved tho
people on the main from "the great diff
culties and inconvenience" Of which they
complained, it served only to transfer
them to those residing on the island Sc
the necessity remained quite as impera
tive as before for better regulated ferry
and the people of Beaufort especially ex
perie"ced this need. In l795 therefore,
company ofone hundred persons wa
incorporated Ito make.the communities
ton between the island and the mair
'safe and convenient,' under the title o
"the Port *Republic Bridge Company.
This company expended large sums Of
money aud bestowed much labor on the
enterprise but in 1901 were so far fro
its compl ton, that it was deemed ncces
sary to obtain from the legislature, per
mission to use a ferry until such time as
the Jr6lgc should be completed, Thi.
privilege was renewed by Act of Assembl,
in 1905; the large and unwieldy company
of one hundred having,i 1902, grnnted
lease Of fifty years to William Elliott
Francis Saitus nad others. This new or
ganization was known as, "the Lessee
Company" The term of fifty years wa;