Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-02-25
Encxrille 9ourual.
kNoxvTLLE, FEBRUARY IS, 1875
For the Enoxyiiie JNnrna
Letter from south Carolina.

BEAUFORT, s. G. Feb. IL, 1875.
The city OF Beaufort, on Por
Royal Island, in Beaufort county
or district, South Carolina, was II
1860 one Of the most beautiful ant
attractive locations in the State.
Situated on what is called Beanfor
river, but which Is only an EXTENDED
m OF the sea, and on high ground
above the highest tides, ten miles
from the ocean, 10 has long been
place Of aristocratic resort, especially
for the wealthy planters, In those
seasons Of the year most favorable
for social life, outdoor sports and
enjoyment.
Here the slave owners spent thelI
autumns and springs, retreating t.
their plantations in the cold months
OF January and February, and j
they dared tn meet expense, or be 50
long gone from business, flying t.
the North in all extreme hot wealth
err, or when threatened with contag'
ious disease or summer epidemics.
The houses Of the rich, looked up
on from the river as you approach
the city seem like great castles stand
ing in the air. Every one is set up
from the ground seven, eight or ten
feet, and supported on arches or col
umns OF brick or stone, leaving all
the space beneath an open area, serv-
ing numerous purposes: First, II
raises the house SO many feet from
the sandy, moist soil, and thus
avoids dampness and mould; sec
ond, it keeps the rooms cool and
well ventilated; third, it provides
shelter for cisterns, which are dug
large and ample beneath and supply
the inhabitants mainly with water,
whicl, is filtered, and thus made
pure and excellent. 1t Is also the
wood house, to0l-honse, cart.house,
and all vehicles whose tops do not
reach an altitude of over seven feet
take refuge under the mansion. This
medly is screened from the eye OF
the passer by in front by tight lattice
work, or some of the beautiful trail.
ing vines that are ever green, and
grow so luxuriantly In this " Isle OF
the sea-
But who shall describe these homes
of luxury and extravaganza Of the
olden time? The broad porches, We
rapdahs and balconies for GOODNESS
and comfort without; the immense
rooms, often twenty-five feet square,
with ceilings lofty in proportion,
three stories high; the broad, and
numerous windows; the heavy pan
eIed doors, bow windows and irreg-
ular walls; rooms starting out from
the main building rs II they were
starting to seek their fortunes, but
in reality to secure health and ven-
tilation; yet all in harmony and
good taste, till they seem like castles,
where one has only to imagine them
marble or stone, moss-grown and
old, instead Of wood and weather
boards, to fancy ones self among
the old baronial fortresses of the six
teenth century. These buildings,
except in the business part Of the
city, and even there an exception
need hardly be made, stand in plats
OF ground varying from one-half an
acre to u whole one, or two or three,
according TO the ability and taste OF
the owner. Many Of these houses
are from half century to century
old. Live oaks and magnolias plant
ed In the gardens or towns, or on the
streets, are sometime three feet In
diameter, and stretch their mon.
strous arms seventy-five feet to the
north, south, east and west, and veil.
ell from top to the lower branches
with the gray hanging moss of this
climate, with their deep green sprays
or limbs peering through, seem like
old and dreamy temples Of the Dru-
ids, or spirits of the days gone by.
No small houses, owned by men OF
small means were found here at the
beginning OF the war---only those who
had the skill to utilize the labor OF
fifty or hundred, or two hundred
or more slaves, dared to establish
homes in Beaufort. Behind the
great house, as the slaves called
the mansion Of the master, were the
small log or frame cabins of the
humble dspendants, whose rations
amounted to one peck Of corn per
meek, with proportionate amount
OF pork and molasses, and who per-
formed all the labor on the Island esq
tates, and were entitled to two suits
OF cheap clothing per year. If they