The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-06-20
HIS CONSTANCY WON.
BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE OF SOUTH
ALABAMA.
written for the Mobile Register, by Leila
Bacon Dickson, of Tupelo, Miss.l

Revolutionary family, early in the
%forties, emigrated from P~endleton, S.
c., to South Alabama, and settled on
the Bigbee river, where his rich and
fertile plantation frOnted the river for
miles, and in the harvesting season
broad fields of corn and cotton white
for gathering covered the river levels,
and hundreds of slaves, both men and
women, employed alike in gather
ing h fleecy staple. On one hand as
far AZ the eye could reach these black
forms could be seen thickly dotting the
fields. n their merry voices break
ing through the air, as they laughed,
chatted and gave jest for jest, and the
melody of h distant song, and cheer
full whistle proclaimed the happy
Southern darkey. On the other hand
swelled grassy upland pastures and
wooded hills wher the Indian had
chased not many years before the still
plentiful deer.
On a gentle rise from the river stood
the stately Taylor mansion, a typical
old fashioned Southern house with far
ing wings, many rooms, q wide hall
running through, with broad stair
ways, on either side, wide verandas
extended around, and unique pOrticos,
supported by immense colonnades. To
the real of the house were numerous
barns, sheds and out-buildings, and
still beyond were the negro quarters.
There hundreds Of small white-washed
cabins of uniform size fronted each
other for half u mile, and piccaninnies
of various sizes could be seen sporting
and gamboling upon the green sward.
AS the story. opens, April 30, 1857,
the %nuptials of the beautiful INC ac-
complished Mary Taylor we're being
celebrated, the only child and heiress
of this vas inheritage. The grand
old mansion was ablaze with splendor ;
carriages and horses lined the broad
grand danes with their
lovely debutantes, and chivalrous
Southern knights were mingled in the
gay throng and the lovely bride how
proud she looked in her far trailing
robes of moonlight silk, and diamonds
that rested lightly on the arm of the
happy groom. On they sped to the
voluptuous strains of the music, and
fair forms flashed by, whirling like
brilliant blossoms in the mad maelstrom
of melody, and "all went merry
as u marriage BELL" with all save
Phillip Saunders, the rejected sutton
of the happy bride. The consent of
her parents had been given, and their
troth had been plighted in early youth,
and he loved her with an ardor seldom
seen, but there came between them q
handsome, fascinating stranger who
had won her affections from her child
hoods lover, and she was now tho
happy bride of theofortunate rival.
This was to Phillip Saunders q
bitter sorrow, but he accepted his
defeat with seeming grace and noble
nessof spirit. His was an undying love,
however, and his heart was bowed and
crushed beneath the blow. There was
m 1piSfn lyo h1n solnacs rnlnrlri,n
his gay manne
AT early dawn the bride and groom,
with numerous friends and relatives,
and representatives from almost every
family in the surrounding country,
assembled on The river wharf, at War
saw and boarded the steamer Eliza
Battle, destined for Mobile to attend
the Carnival festivities. AS tho tender
farcwells were said the old fortune
teller shook her head m~eaningly, and
said before many hours the whole
country would be in mourning, but her
words werc unheeded by the merry
crowd, and those remaining, gathered
on the high bluff to wave Il last adicu,
and catch the last glimpse of the re-
ceding boat, and thought they had
never seen the Eliza Battle look so
pretty as she sailed grandly down the
wido and turbulent stream.
Many Southern beauties and gallant
knights ere gathered on board, and
never before were passengers more
light-hcarted and gay as they joined
in tho revelry of the night. Before
each guest the Drumming wine cup was
seen to shine, n as every cup was
raised on high, to his feet each gallant
sprang with Il joyous shout. "A toast.
a toast to the fair young BRIDE" But
hushed was the loud and gladstone cry,
as the fire bell sent chill to every heart.
+" Fire Fire - was echoed from every
lip. Cheeks rev pale, and eyes glis-
tened wild in the glare Of the light.
Fire ragged above and below and the
smoke i'll thick wrcaths mounted higher
and higher, II stern came the captains
command for all to march to the bow
of the boat. To the life boat" he
shouted, but what dismay and con-
stcrnatiOn when tho life boat was found
missing.
AS the tapping flames climbed closer
and closer, the sitting smoke and
%scorching heat we're no longer cndur-
ablc. An uproar of voices arose in tho
air, and wild wore the shricks and
cries of women and children, for now
an l~rrcvocable COON awaited them.
With II prayer to God to have mercy
upon their souls, and to be saved from
so horrible u fate, hopeless and despair
ing, the passengers with one accord
plunged into the dark, whirling
stream. Many sank to rise no moro,
while others, more fortunate, succeed
ed in getting on broken spars and
floating cotton bales.
The young husband and wife, in Il
close embrace, were seer to make the
fatal leap. The husband sank from
Wow, but as the beautiful face of the
bride appeared above the water, she
was grasped by the strong hand OF
Phillip Saunders, and, with q mighty
effort, he swan with his unconscious
burden to Il clump of trees many yards
distant. "Thank God rescued from
the burning boat" he cried, us ho
climbed above the waters edge and tied
himself and the unfortunate bride
securely to the dropping boughs. Oh,
God what q horrible night it proved
to be. The sky became overcast. and
IN n short time it was freezing cold,
the air vas thick with sleet and rain,
and u driving wind that pierced one
to the bone ; and in IL few hours the re-
naming survivors we're in q bcnumbed,
unconscious state, and ever and anon
there could be heard the dropping OF
m beings into the water as they
iloZe n fell from the trees. The SUI
ferers experienced u night of horror
and human anguish too graphic for
description.
The r%eScuing party, after crOssinr