Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-08-03
S}|istellaueuns &eadiug.
INDIANS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

INDIANS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Just below Nation Ford and the fine bridge
of the c., G.. s. A. Railway, the Catawba River
makes broad sweep to the southwark, thus
partly enclosing body of land familiarly
known as the Bend In it are fine plantations
of the olden time; open fields surrounded by
dense woodlands that are the growth of cen
turies, with here and there large country
house. ...s.
About ten miles from Rock Hill, in the most
remote section of the Bend, and upon the
banks of the grand old river that takes it's
name from them, is the last remnant of the
tribe of Catawba Indians in South Carolina.
The tribe now numbers about eighty-fve
persons, and shows slight increase within the
past decade. Their reservation is something
less than thousand acres. The question
comes up, how have they maintained them
selves against the onward march of the white
race? The answer is not hard to ind-they
have been friendly withthe white settlers from
time immemOrial.
Some years ago the 3Eihas moved West, and
sold to the State their reservation, then much
larger than at present but becoming dssatis-
fed there they were permitted to return; a
reservation was given them, which hey are
not allowed to sell, and a yearly pension grant
ed them, amounting probably to $500.
These sons of the forest speak imperfect
English, but among themselves converse in
the Indian tongue. They are peaceable and
quiet, and live by hunting and fishing, while
they also work small crops, or labor for wages
in the fields of their white neighbors. They
are proud and reticent, seldom speaking unless
spoken to, but always appreciating kindness.
They still keep up the art of making Indian
pottery, and bring to town clay pipes, flower
pots, and perhaps other little articles, for sale.
At different times, members of the tribe
have united with Baptist and Methodist
churches, but it seems difficult to keep up Il
permanent religious interest. Union Sun
day School was recently organized for their
benefit, which was subsequently removed to
Richardson's Chapel, a Methodist church near
by, and about thirty of the Indians now regu-
larly attend it..
The Indians live in log huts very much after
the manner of frontier settlers, and these are,
for the most part, scattered along through the
forest they dress in the same manner as their
white neighbors. They still retain some In
dian peculiarities, such as walking one behind
the other whilst they are on journey.
A fondness for the fiery fluid is an Indian
weakness, and has been probably the chief OBJ
stacle to their complete evangelization. Now
that the towns of Rock Hill and Fort Mill are
"dry," far less temptation exists for them to
indulge this ruinOus appetite.
1t makes one sad to view the gradual decad-
ence of the Red Men. Here and there we find
a remnant left unmolested, because they have
always been friendly to the whites at most it
is only remnant. The rest are far out in the
Western wilds, pressed steadily towards that
vast ocean that rolls so peacefully yet mlghtl-
ly uDOn OUR Western shores.
Should we not feel deep sympathy. for the
Indian and help him to the higher and better
life? His soul is as precious in Heavens sight
as our own.
There are in the Catawba River numerous
islands, and on some of them are to be found
Indian relics going back to the time when the
Catawbas, as a mighty tribe, roamed these
hills, ished in the clear streams, and fortified
themselves on the islands. Not far from
I.andsford, where the dashing river spreads
out for nearly a mile oyer the smooth, shoaly
rocks, is Indian Mound Island. AS the writer
sat fishing one day, and looked at the high con-
ical mound, with great trees of a century's
growth upon it, he heard the story of it's prob
able construction. Notfar away on the island
is lake, evidently artificial, and now over
grown with trees, whence the earth must have
been carried and heaped up little by little to
make the monument. When done, it served
perhaps two-fold purpose-a burial place and
an outlook against the approach of enemies.
1t is now seventy-five feet high, and must have
been much higher, and is perhaps fifty feet
broad at the top, while it's baseis laid on broad
foundations. Near it's southern base the cam
vas tent of a solitary trapper glistened in the
evening light, making the picture complete IN
it's uniqueness, and suggesting those early
times that Fennimore Cooper loved to depict.
U,i. l. g, ,.1o nf
er and prestige long since gone by. So the In
dian race, it's prestige and it's glory is every
where passing away. Let us seize the oppor-
tunity and send to them a Christian civiliza-
ton, which shall give them peace, prosperity
and salvation, before they are gone from us
forever.-J. IARTwELL EDWARDS, IN Baptist
Courier.