The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-03-31

Here We first saw them packing cotton.
We went into an establishment where
cotton bales are compressed or reduced
in size, so as to make them less bulky
for shipment; colored men rolled in huge
bales of cotton, just fresh from the plan
tation-singing all the time some planta-
ton melody, and they take large bale
Of cotton, roll it up to the press, pull a
handle, and the ponderous jaws bite
down upon it and squeeze it as thin as a
metaphorical pancake. 1t is then hust-
led out, taken on shipbOard and sent to
England or somewhere else. When the
bale is first brought from the planta-
ton to the compressor, it is about
seven feet in length and four feet in
width, but the powerful compressor re-
duces it in width to about IS inches in
one minute, and t is bound by narrow
strips of steel.
And the rice mills; what curiosity
they were. The rice is first threshed in
the same way we do our wheat. Then
comes the tug of war-how to get the
hull off; that's the question. For the
rice hull sticketh closer than a brother.
The way they do it is this: They take
the rice, hull and all, to the rice mills,
and it is put into mortars. There are
about thirty Of these mortars, each hold
ing about bushel of seed, and they are
pounded with large pestles, driven by
steam, which fall one after the other, in
quick succession making an awful din,
but making the chat a get up and git,'
and leaving the seed pure and white like
particles of ivory. 1t is no use to talk
while in rice mill, for you cannot be
heard. Nhe Founders have full swing,
and all that you can do will be to watch
them rise an fall and wonder if they ever
get tired of the business. One strange
thing about Charleston is the market
scavengers-the buzzards. And they
have fine markets there, too. But the
buzzards are as tame as chickens and
walk around as big as a general on full
pay; step up to the stall, watch what you
purchase; flop down again and consult
with each other; brush up against you
and almost say, "Get out of my way,
cam you They seem to know that
they are under the protecting wing of
the law of the commonwealth, for if a
person wanted to get rid of a tive-dollar
note in about five minutes time let him
amuse himself by killing one Of those un-
calmly scayengers, and he will be jerked
almost out of his boots, taken before
magistrate, and nothing will appease the
wrath of that officer of the law but IS
note and costs of suit. For my part l
would not give five dollars for all the
buzzards in Charleston, but l treated
them with profound respect. And what
an ungaiuly, impudent looking bird they
are. They strut about as if they were
very important; and they are important,
for they keep the market houses very
clean. But | don't like buzzard: they
are so ugly, impudent and conceited. If
some of them would only come North
and learn little manners, they might
do pretty well. But save us from
Charleston buzzard.
And we went to Fort Sumpter. At 10
o'clock in the morning we took the little
steamer "Pocosin,'' and in an hours
time we were landed at Fort Sumpter.
We were armed with letter of introduc-
ton to the chief officer of the fort, kindly
given us by the deputy-collector Of the
port at Charleston. The office. took us
under his especial care, and conducted
us all through the fort, and We looked
through every nook and Granny; we
looked into the battered easements and
saw where the balls of the enemy came
whizzing through knocking the guns and
gunners about like old bags. But now
the guns are rusting: the whole pace
has diiapidated look, and the officer
complained that the Government did not
furnish money enough to keep it in re-
spectacle condition, but to keep up ap-
pearances he was obliged to stay there
to keep the rats from running away with
it. presume. If all our forts were like
Fort Sumpter, it would be advisable for
the American people not to stir up strife,
for they might be sorry for it. We saw,
also, where the famous gun, the Swamp
Angel was placed, and from which
point Charleston was shelled, over six
miles away.
The next stopping place was Savannah,
beautiful Savannah l believe it is the
prcttiest city in the South. The streets
are so wide, regular and shady; the build
ings look fresh, natty and neat; the peo-
pie are so kind, pleasant and polite. The
climate is both meat and drink. would
like to live in Savannah through the win
ter season. Every public building was
draped in mourning for that good, inirm
old man-now dead-Alexander Hamil-
ton Stevens. He was remarkable man.
saw him once in Washington, in the
House of Representatives, and close
beside him stood his faithful colored at.
tendant, Alexander Keil. While going
down the St. Johns river got into con
versation with gentleman, who spoke
very ieelingly Of Governor Stevens. This
gentleman proved to be the attorney.
general for the STATE of Georgia and, il
| mistake not, he was at one time the at.
torney- general for the Confederate States.
| He told me tina. Alexander II. Stevens
was man of the largest, purest heart
very sympathetic, kind, and as gentle as
child. That during his whole life he
| pain for one single hour; that as weak as
| he was, he would resent an Insult and
| fight to the dt ath. This gentleman told
me of brutal attack that was made Oh
Mr.. Stevens by Jul ge Core, at Thomp.
sons Hotel, in Atlanta, Georgia. 1t ap,
| pears to have been a political fight.
Judge Core met Mr.. Stevens on the piaz.
"a of the hotel, September 4, 1913. Mr.
| Stevens was unarmed, but his burly an.
| tagonist, who was more than twice his
size and weight, attacked him with a
knife. Mr.. Stevens had only an umbrella
to defend himself with, and after receiv.
| iny several cuts ON the arms and breast.
he was overpowered by superior force,
thrown on his back, his antagonist had
his knee on his breast, his left hand on
his forehead, and in his right hand he
| held the knife and muttered these words