Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-07-07
Romance in the Sunny South.


All places signalized by memorable
events. that constitute, as it were, links
in the chain of historical associations,
necessarily afford a source of interest to
the general reader, says a writer in the
Chicago Inter Ocean. Merely local de-
velopments are Of no special signifi-
canoe, and furnish entertainment only
to those who, to the manor born, or
sojourning there at some period OF their
lives, derive natural pleasure from their
recital There is not, perhaps, in the
whole South city so replete with
stirring incidents of early colonial and
even later exciting times as the city OF
Savannah, Ga. It's preface, followed ny
SO many chapters of absorbing episodes,
many of which are tinged with deep
shades Of romance, opens with the
settlement of the State, in 1888,
when Oglethrope landed on Yamacraw
Bluff and started the youngest of
the original thirteen colonies. A hardy
race of pioneers, they bore their priva-
tions and the vicissitudes of that char
acter of self-sacrificing life with exem-
plary fortitude. Prior to that period the
territory situated between the Savannah
River and Florida was a sort Of wild
waste, occupied by Indians, and claimed
both by England and Spain. A grant
obtained from George II. by Oglethorpe
secured him a lease of that section Of
the country. His plan was the occu-
pancy of the disputed territory, and the
provision of an asylum for the poor Of
England and the Professionals OF the
world. 1t is authoritatively recorded
that none but those who were willing or
able to subscribe to the oath of trans
substantiation could become colOnists.
Roman Catholics were thus tabooed,
and only when Georgia, thirty years
subsequently, became royal province
were they admitted.
Oglethorne first selected the site for
the town in 1882, negotiating a treaty
with Toma- Chi Chi, the chief of the
Indian nation occupying the country.
In 1893 he landed with about ia colo
nists, who pitched their tents on the
bluff overlooking the river. The details
of the municipal divisions are not Of
general Importance. The insignificant
settlement merged by degrees into
town of large dimensions. The Salz-
burgers, who were driven by the relig-
ious fanaticism which not long after
ward broke out in Germany to seek pro-
lection and new homes in Georgia,
were welcomed by Oglethorpe and as
signed to place about twenty miles
west OF Savannah called EDeneZef, as a
memorial of their ultimate deliverance
from their intolerant enemies. To this
day the Lutherans OF the county look
upon this hallowed spot with touching
regard and tender reverence. The
Wesleys, John and Charles, arrived
about two years later, and the great
apostle of Methodism preached his first
sermon in America there. Their mis-
sion was rather unsuccessful because Of
their injddicious zeal, and on their re-
turn to England were succeeded by
George Whitefeld, whose efforts were
crowned with more pronounced VIC
tory, his greatest achievement being the
founding of the Bethesda Orphan House.
After passing through an ordeal OF
trying and vexatious vicissitudes the
little town, after Oglethorpe had re-
turned to England, had its charter
surrendered by the colonists, many of
whom, disconnected with the existing
condition of things, removed to the Car
oGnas and other places, and Georgia be-
came aroyal province. From this time Sa-
vannah entered upon it's more prosperous
career Among the earliest episodes in
the history of this eventful city were the