The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-07-20
Indians In South Carolina

III iSSoiuB ShctCl, OF correct any matter
of detail or name.
Indians In South Carolina
Just below Nation Ford and the fine
bridge. of tho c., @. & A. Railway, the
Catawba River makes broad sweep to
the Southwark, thus partly enclosing a
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 tho growth OF
centuries, with here and there n large
country house.
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 its name from them, is the last
remnant of the tribe of Catawba Indians
in South Carolina.
The tribe now numbers about eighty.
five persons, and shows slight increase
within the past decade. Their reserya.
ton is something less than O thousand
acres. The question comes up, how have
they maintained themselves against the
onward march of the white race? The
answer is not hard to find-they have
been friendly with the white settlers from
time immemorial.
Some years ago the tribe moved West,
and sold to the State their reservation,
then much larger than Mt present; but
becoming dissatisfied there, they were
permitted to return; reservation was
given them which they are not allowed
to sell, and yearly pension granted
them, amounting probably to $500.
These sons of the forest speak imper.
feet English, but among themselves con-
verse 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 app-eciating a
Kindness. They still Keep up ihe 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 Meth.
odist churches, but it seems difficult to
keep up'a permanent religious interest.
A Union Sunday 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 regular.
ly 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 Indian peculiari-
ties, such as walking one behind the
other whilst they are on a journey.
A fondness for the fiery fluid is an In.
dian weakness, and has been probably
the chief obstacle to their complete
eyangelization. Now that the towns OF
Rock Hill and Fort Mill are "dry," fai
less temptation exists for them to indulge
this ruinous appetite.
1t makes one sad to view the gradual
decadence of the Red Men; here and
there We find remnant left unmolestei,
because they have always been friendly
to the whites; at most it is only rem.
nant. The rest arc far out in the West
ern wilds, pressed steadily towards that
vast ocean that rolls SO peacefully vet
nightly unon our Western ehosea.
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 rs our own.
There are in the Catawba River nu.
mercus islands, and on some of them are
to be found Indian relics going back ta
The time when the Catawbas, as mighty
tribe, roamed these hills, fishcd in the
clear streams, and fortified themselves on
the islands. Not far from Lands Ford
where the dashing river spreads out foY
nearly mile over the smooth, ehoaly
rocks, is Indian Mound Island. As the
writer sat fishing one day, and looked al
of century's growth upon it, he heard
Not far away on the island is lake, evi
dently artificial, and now overgrown with
trees, whence the earth must have been
carried and heaped up little by little tc
make the monument. When done /,
served perhaps, o two-fold purpose
burial place and an outlook against the
five feet high, and must have been much
higher, and is perhaps fifty feet broad a!
the top, while its base Is laid on broad
foundations. Near Its Southern base tn.
canvas tent of solitary trapper glistenst
in the evening light, making the pictur.
complete in its uniqueness, and suggest
luB tuose curly tlmeb tHht CeHniMoIt
Cooper loved to depict.
That mound is the silent monument O
power and prestige long since gone by
So the Indian race, its prestige and ID
glory is everywhere passing away. LIE
US seize the opportunity and send to then
3 Christian civilization, which shall gi7
them peace, prosperity and salvation, be
fore they are gone from US foreyer.-J
HAETwELL EDWARDS, in Baptist Cou
rier.
/ The hoirs of Micajah Martin, deceas
ed, living in Troup county, Ga, viii
bring suit against the city Of Atlanta t
recover 202f acres Of land In the yer,
heart of tho city. The Kimball Hous
stands on part of the property. Marti
bought the land when It was covered Wit
brushwood, and never sold or decided It I
anyone. The deeds are now in posse,
1 - % L. LnS~,