The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-02-20
A GHOST OF A PLACE.
THE STORY OF ASHLEY HALL AND
HoSPlTABLE COLONEL BULL.

How the Planter Kept Ills Household
Goods Froiu tho Hands Of the "Raiders."
Pictures of n Benutifui suburb That All
visitors 60 Charleston Admire.
Woodlands thick with underground;
tranquil country stiffness, the stiffness
Of n bit of country comparatively nm
titled and unpasturod; roadways lined
with tall and stately troes-such the
scene as the clatter of horses hoofs echo
ing on the hard flooring of the river
bridge dies away into noiseless footballs
and tho wheels turn without sound in
the yielding soil of st. Andrews. The
murinured chorus of countless pines
charms ms into forgetfulness Of the city's
close proximity across the river. Ahead
the way unfolds TO us, broad and smooth,
winding between long battalions Of an
cient oaks, muffled up to their chins in
gray; ON through miles of the century old
trees, their massive trunks bound with
fibrous scarfs, as il to veil the scars of
successive seasons, every twig and
branch and spray hung with streaming
moss Grand old oaksl Autumnal
storms and April airs in turns have
tossed and kissed their rugged boughs,
yet the giant trunks stand firm. Scarce
q gap in the uniform line shows where
q grenadier has fallen out of ranks, and,
elbow to elbow, they guard the ancient
highway from encroachment of forest or
field.
Hero is an old gateway, tho entrance
to the grounds which once surrounded
Ashley Hall, ono of the proudest and
most spacious of tho ancestral homes in
this parish. We pass through the use
less massive portals into the driveway
beyond. In the shaded light the avenue
seems dreaming of the past, for these
great oaks stand guard over the wreck
of all they were intended to adorn. OF
the stately homo to which their beauty
formed fit approach nothing now ro-
mains but the crumbling marble steps
and tall, spirelike chimneys. Little
pickaninnies play hide and seek where
once the flowers in "my lady's garden"
grew in trim luxuriance. Only the Ash
ley is unchanged as it ripples by on its
way to the sea, its waves as blue and
sparkling as when it bore many boat
ing party from the mansion house.
Ashley Hall was the scene of munifi-
cent and lavish hospitality in antebel-
lum days Its owner possessed immense
plantations in Mississippi and Louisiana
in addition to his Carolina estates, and
the great halls and spacious drawing
rooms of tho st. Andrews mansion were
frequently thronged with gay CON-
pany of the most distinguished people
of tho state. The host was passionately
fond of the chase and delighted to as
semble about him those who shared in
his love of sport. Deer hunts, partici-
pated in by famous sportsmen from all
over the south, were features of every
season. The Same open handed generos-
ity that dictated q hospitality so marked
obtained between master and slave, and
the large retinue of servants at the hall
were happy, care free set. 1t was ira.
ditional that no one was ever sent away
empty handed who applied for aid at
the doors of this plantation home.
This old hall, in which seven genera
tions of the same family had dwelt liv-
ing almost ideal lives, met with tragic
fate. The organized struggle between
the north and south was at an end, but
the raiders" were in possession Of this
country They had already sacked and
destroyed every house in tho parish,
with single exception, and that plan
tatiou was occupied by an enemy more
dreaded even than demoralized soldiers
namely, smallpox. That frightened
even rough handed rapacity away, and
venerable Drayton Hall, today famous
for its wonderful gardens, was preserved
inviolate. The knowledge of the fate
that had overtaken the homes of his
neighbors, and which he felt that few
hours more would precipitate upon his
own, determined Colonel Bull. Calling
for kindling wood, surrounded by his
awestricken servants, he himself applied
the pine torch to his household gods.
Pictures, plate, antique furniture, val.
ned heirlooms-all were sacrificed save
the small number which could be has
tily secreted by trusted slaves when they
learned of his intention. IL is related by
an eyewitness that the stalwart planter
sounds of falling brick and crumbling
woodwork smote upon his ears. just
back of the house is an ancient monu-
ment erected to commemorate one Of
Cardinals colonial governors, an ances-
tor of the doughty colonel. 1t was on
the base of this shaft that the master OF
tho manor sat and watched the destruc-
tion of his home
We retrace our way along the ranks
Of rare old trees, passing through tho
ancient gateway, fit subject for poets
theme, into the open road, where we are
greeted by "a procession Of oaks as sym
metrical as those we left behind. Miles
of moss fringed trees, their somber cur
tains swaying far above, and again
dropping SO as almost to touch the earth
about their feet, continue oven to the
cleared strip of land Immediately in
front Of the bridge. Opposite lies tho
city, her cluster turrets and slender
spires outlined against the evening sky.
Asked how we like the oaks, we say
that f,,l b,,k NJ bn