Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-08-19
Aistury nj s. Garolina,
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
Early Settlement of South Carolina.
By REV. ROBERT LATHAM.


Calanitics often befall nations us well as
individuals, in quick succession. The infant
colony of South Carolina was no exception.
Harrassed by designing men in her midst,
and surrounded by blood-thirsty neighbors,
her very existence was often in jeopardy.
The usurpation of few unscrupulous fanatics
nearly drove many of the best citizens from
the colony. They had heard of the mild and
just government of William Penn, and being
oppressed by set of mongrel ecclesiastical
tyrants, they formed the resolution to leave
the home of their adoption, and cast their lots
with the honest Quaker. But few actually
left the colony; still many had been planning
their departure. Two calamities befell the
colony, which, to some extent, caused the dis
turbances amongst the inhabitants to cease,
and united the advocates of the various creeds
in common cause.
In the summer of 1905, the yellow fever
again made its appearance in Charles Town.
This dreadful disease commenced its ravages
at an early period amongst the settlers Of the
New World. In St. Domingo, in 1494 and
1893, it prevailed amongst the Spaniards 1t
made its appearance in Boston as early as
1893, and two years afrerward in Philadel-
phia and Charles Town. Again, it appeared
with more virulence and with greater fatality
in Charles Town, in July and August of 1905.
In the city, for some time, FIVE and six deaths
from yellow fever, occurred daily. Many of
the prominent citizens were swept off. All
that could do so, left the city and retired to
the country. The Governor went to his plan
tation, which he called Silk Hope. Dissent
ers and High Churchmen, alike, fell before
the plague. With death all around them,
the inhabitants forgot their differences; or at
least ceased, for time, to cherish their hatred
for one another.
But at this juncture, another event occur
red, which still further tended to cause them
to lose sight Of their party quarrels. England
was at war with France and Spain. Both of
these powers laid claim to the continent Of
America. The claim of England rested upon
grant made by the Roman Pcntif' to the
English Monarch, and both France and
Spain based their claim to the same territory,
on priority Of discovery and occupancy. So
soon as war was declared in England by
Queen Anne against France and Spain, both
these nations turned their attention to wrest-
ing the country from the hands of the English.
1t was thought that the colony in South Car
olina would be easily captured. Impressed
with this idea, an expedition was planned by
the French fleet under the command of lie
Feboure. The plan was concerted at Havana.
The Governor of St. Augustine agreed to rem
der him his assistance in the enterprise. From
Havana, LIE Feboure sailed with frigate
and four sloops. He touched at St. Angus
tine to receive the promised aid. On arriving
at St. Augustine, it was learned that the yell
low fever was raging at Charles Town. This
was thought to be favorable to the undertake
ing. 1t was confidently expected that they
would find the inhabitants of Charles Town
unprepared. This was the case. 1t is true
that the city had been, paratively speak
ing, we'll fortified. But many of the inhabt'
ants were sick others were waiting upon the
sick and watching over the couches of dying
friends; whilst not few had fled from the
plague into the country.
A circumstance, trihing in itself, saved the
city from being attacked whilst in this un-
prepared condition, and saved it, perhaps,
from total destruction. The Governor had
sent out Dutch privateer, formerly from
New York, to cruise on the coast. The COM
mand of this vessel was given to Capt. Stool.
1t was known that vessel was to pass from