The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-06-27

aEffss Dicey Langston.'s
peabody Memorial Day. was
ceIe ,rated at the Winthrop Train
Ing School, Columbia, by the read
Ing of sketches OF distinguished
women of South Caroline, by the
pupils.
On u first page we reproduce
a sketch OF "Miss Pamela Cunning
ham, by Miss Mary Miller, OF
Spartanburg.
The following, the subject of
which was O Laurens woman and
a relative OF the LangstOps, Dill
lards and other prominent families
of the county, was written and
read by Miss T.. j. Mcintyre.
The ADVERTISER Is Indebted to
Superintendent Johnson for a copy
of the pamphlet containing. the
sketch together with the others
read at the same tine.
aMISS DICEY LANGSToN.o
"There were many women I'm
South Carolina who distinguished
themselves for their bravery du-
ring the dark days of the RevOlu-
tionary War. Among these was
Miss Dicey Langston, Of Laurens
District. She was the daughter of
Mr.. Solomon LangstOn, and was
only sixteen years old at the COM
mencement Of the war. Miss Lang
stOn's father was a devoted patriot,
but could not engage In active
service on accOuut of his old age
and infirmities. Living surrounded
by Tories, many of whom were
her own relatives, Miss Langston
could with comparative ease, dis
cover the plans and movements of
the Tories, and never failed to COM
municate all information immed-
lately to the Wings on the oppo-
site side of the Enoree River. She
was ever on the alert, watching
every movement of the enemy, and
catching every word possible, and
In doing this she proved to be of
great assistance to the Wings. The
Tories soon became suspicious of
the active aid that Dicey was rem
dering to her country, aud they i'm
mediately warned her father that
hencefOrth his life and property
should be held responsible for her
conduct. Her father commanded
her to desist from her patriotic &C
lions. Miss LangstOn obeyed this
command for some time, but hav-
ing heard, by some accident, that
a company of very cruel Tories in
tended to make an i%ncursiOn on
the Elder settlement, where her
brother lived, she resolved to warn
them of their impending danger.
Knowing that her father would OBJ
ject to her scheme, she decided to
Keep her movements a secret. The
journey was long, dreary and diff
cult. When she crossed the Tiger
stream, it is said that the water
was up to her neck. This alone
would suffice to show us her BRAY
cry. However, she soon reached
the end of her journey and made
known to her brother the contem-
plated attack. The warning was
Immediately given to the neigh
bOrs. The next day, when the Tory
army reached the Elder settlement,
much to their dissatisfaction, they
found no n upon whom to wreak
their vengeance.
"Some time after this occurrence
Dicey's father almost fell a victim
to a band Familiarity known, on &C.
count of their cruelty, as the
"Blood-thirsty Scouts" Mr.. Langs-
ton was the only man at his home,
all Of his sons being engaged in the
great contest. AS the Scouts en-
tered MI. Langston's house one of
them stepped forward and pointed
a pistol at the old mans heart.
Just then a wild shrek was heard
Bnd Miss Langstou sprang forward
and clasped her aged father around
the neck, declaring that she would
receive the shot first. This heroic
act inspired noble feeling even in
the heart 9f 9 member of the
Bloody Scouts, and he spared the
life of her father.
"Miss Langston did great many
more deeds of equal bravery. AT.
the close of the war she married
MI. Thomas Springfield, of Green
vile, s.. g., and died some years
after in that city. AT the time of
her death she had thirty.two sons
and grandsons capable of bearing
arms, If need be, to defend the
country which was 80 dear to the
heart of their brave ancestor"