Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1885-09-24
ROMANCE OF A ROSE.
A Curious and Interesting Flori-
dian Legend.
One OF the Mysteries with Which Nature
at Times Delights to AstonIsh Her Dew
otees--A Strange Flower which
Accentuatss Southern Tragedy.


at Times Delights to AstonIsh Her Dew
otees--A Strange Flower Which
Accentaates Southern Tragedy.
In the western part of Jefferson
County there grows and blossoms into
curious and magnificent beauty
rose that seems to be indigenous to q
small area of country, but which will
not flourish in other ATTITUDES. The
bush is a strong and vigorous ono and
the leaves are a very Fight but glossy
green. The petals of the flower curve
slightly inward and are the color of
bright, arterial blood. The odor is
pungent, but slightly sickening. The
popularity of this flower is that the
dew that drops therefrom is of faint
pinkish cast, a marvel seen in no other
flower, the battling wonder of those
who have witnessed it. It is called the
Grant rose and has sad and melan-
choly history. Its origin is one of
those mysteries with which nature at
times delights to astOnish her devotees.
In 1884 John Grant and Nellie Low
ry were married. Both were natives of
an adjoining county, where the record
OF their baptism and marriage is still
on file among the rude archives that
have been handed down from year to
year. John was young farmer, stout
and strong, splendid type Of Southern
manhood, comparatively well educated,
Injured to hard work, self-reliant and
quick of resource. Nellie was we'll
suited 10 be the mate of such man.
She was bright and pretty, the belle of
the little settlement, full of buoyant
health and spirits, strong of arm and
heart, fully skilled in household and
farm duties and stainless and pure of
mind and soul. At one of the pleasant
social gatherings of the neighborhood
they had met. 1t was a case of mutual
love at first sight, and coy as Miss Nell
lie was, it did not take young Grant
long to woo and win her.
They were married on the morning
of the Sd of June, 1884. For miles
around the neighbors tlocked to the
wedding of the popular young couple.
The wedding feast that followed would
have been tit to set before King. The
forests contributed their choicest game
and the river its most toothsome fish.
Chickens were plentiful and there were
loads of bread and cake. An open bar
rel of persimmon beer sparkled near
the doorway. In the afternoon, with
all his earthly goods packed in a huge
wagon drawn BY four oxen, his young
wife seated beside him, glancing tear
fully back at the dear old home she
was leaving forever, but smiling
through her tears, John Grant took up
the line of march TO the place he had
selected as their future home. 1t was
in Jefferson County, near the beautiful
Amelia River. Here he took up one
hundred and sixty acres OF fine virgin
soil, built a rough but comfortable log
house and settled down to the prosaic
duties of life. His sturdy oxen soon
broke up the ground. the seed was
sown. and with q patient round of labor
he waited for the rich results which
were sure TO follow. Meantime the
dainty taste of his young wife had made
cosy nest of. the rude house, and in
the little door-yard many homely, old.
fashioned flowers bloomed and bios.
somed. The nearest neighbor was five
miles and TIE nearest store was ter
miles away, but the couple did not lack
for either the necessaries or the luxuries
of life. Their larder was at their very
doors and near by the Amelia, roaming
downward to the Gulf, brought cool
ing breezes to them and delighted
their eyes with the glossy verdure thai
fringed its banks. Its beautiful water.
were like mirror and over sixty fee,
in depth the glistening sand was plain
y visible.
In the spring of 1885 child was borr
unto them and a new blessing added t.
the happy household, making life's du
ties pleasure and its varied response
bilities easier to be borne. But cloud
not larger than mans hand, soor
made its appearance, heavy with sor
row and disaster and fraught with dark
ness that enveloped and crushed the
happy family in its gloom.
The Seminole Indians, who had fo
some time been quiet and friendly ant
engaged in the peaceful pursuits of tn,
chase, the quiet of camp-fires and o
social intercourse, were secretly prepar
ing for an outbreak, under the insidi
Gus appeals of Osceola and some of III,
other young and fiery chiefs of the tribe
Their inilammatory appeals might
however. have failed of effect had the,
not resorted to desperate expedient
In the month of September, 1885
Charley Omothla, Seminole chieftair
of great influence, who had been ,
steadfast and much respected friend o
the white people, giving his voice ant
prestige to them on every occasion
while strolling through the woods will
Young daughter was waylaid anC
killed by some members of the Micasau
kce tribe. who had hid in ambush fol
that purpose. under the instigation o
the cruel and treacherous Osceola. Tn,
latter chief had this done for the pur
pose of netting the Indians to revenge
claiming that the murder was the worl
Of white men anxious to secure theiI
lands.
A son of the murdered Omothla, ex
cited by these incendiary appeals anc