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

Just below Nation Ford and the fine
bridge of the c., q. 6; A. Railway, the
Catawba River makes broad sweep to
the Southward, thus partly enclosinR Q
body of land familiarity known as Ehe
Bend. In it are fine plantations of the
olden time; open fields surrounded by
dense woodlands that are tie growth Of
centuries, with here AID there a 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 Lest
remnant of the tribe Of Catawba Indiane
in South Carolina.
The tribe now numbers about eighty.
i've persons, and shows slight increase
within the past decade, Their reserva.
ton is something leas than O. thousand
acres. The question comes I'D, 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 at present; but
becoming dissatisfied there, they were
permitted to return reservation wss
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 appreciating a
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 Meth
odist churches, but it seems difficult to
keep npia permanent religious interest.
a Union Sunday School uas recently
organized for. their benefit. which was
subsequently, removed to Richardson's
Chapel, q Methodist church near by, and
about thirty of the Indians now regular.
iy attend il.
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 dreas in the
same manner as their white neighhors.
They still retain some Indian peculiari-
ties, ouch as walking one behind the
other whilst they are on journey.
A fondness for the fiery fluid is an In
dian weakr ;as, and has been probably
the chief obstacle to their complete
evangelizatien. Now that the towns of
Rock Hill and Fort Mill are "dry," far
less temptation exists for them to indulge
this ruinous appetite. 49,
Il makes one Bad to view the gradual
decadence of the Red Men; here and
there we find remnant left unmolested.
because they have always been friendly
to the whites; ct most it 10 only rem
nant. Tho rest are far out in the West
Lern wilds, pressed steadily towards that
vast ocean that rolls SO peacefully yet
nightly upon 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 .ves nu.
merous islands, and on Some of them arc
to be found Indian relics going back to
the time when the CataWbss, as @ mighty
tribe, roamed these hills, fshed IN The
clear streams, and fortified themselves on
the islands. Not far from Lands Ford,
where the dashing river spreads out for
nearly q mile over the smooth, shoaly
rocks, is Indian Mound Island. AS The
writer sat fishing one day, and looked at
the high, conical mound with great trees
of o century's growth upon It, he heard
the story of its probable construction.
Not far away on the island Is lake, evil
IDENTIFY artificial, and now overgroWn with
trees, whence the earth must have been
carried ard heape6 up little by little to
make the monument. When done ii
served perhaps o tRo.fold purpose-a
burial place and an outlook against the
approach OF enemies. Ills now seventy.
five feet high, and must have been much
higher, and il perhaps fifty feet broad at
the top, while It's Base Is laid on broad
foundations. Neas ita Southern base the
canvas tent of a solitary trapper glistened
in the evening light, making the picture
complete ir its uniqueness, and suggest
ing those early times that Fennimore
Cooper loved to depict.
That mound Is the silent monument O!
O power and prestige long since gono by
80 tho Indian, race, It's prestige and ieS
glory 10 everywhere passing away. Let
US sei2e the opportunity and eend 60 them
q Christian civilization, which shall giye
them peace, prosperity aud salvation, bo
fore they are gone from us f0rever.--J
HARTwELL EDWARDS, u. Bdptis, noI
rier.
|. - The heirs of Micsjah Martin, decsas
ed, living In Troup county, Ga, viii
bring suit against the city OF Atlanta &
recover 202S acres Of land In the ven
hoars Of the city. The Kimball Hot;ai
stands on part of the property. Mastif
bought the land when itWeS covered will
brnshWood, and never sold or decided it 4
| anyone. Tho deeds are now in roases