The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-10-02
GLIMPSE AT BEAUVOIR,
Jefferson Davis's Mansion on the
Gulf Falling into Decay.
GUARDED BY ONE CUSTODIAN
An E1-Confederate Takes Care of the
Deserted Place, Which is Barred
Up to Keep Out Curiosity
Hunters.

Hunters.
A correspondent Of the Times
says that short drige Of g
few miles down the beach Of the
Mexican Gulf and historic Beauvoir
is reached. It is one of the most
pleasantly situated country seats on
the coast, commanding as it does, a
fuH sweep and broad perspective.
AS I drove up the place looked to be
lonely, yet it is picturesque in its
raggedness. The house, a typical
Southern home, with it's wide, long
verandas, and high windows, looked
though it may be some feudal castle
commanding the ocean front or pal
ace gone to rack, around which had
grown forest. The building, about
a half century old, and its surround
ings, told the story of decay sad,
living sequel to that OF it's late owner
the leader Of the Lost Cause"
This old-style Southern mansion is
built after the manner Of the houses
Of the wealthy planters Of ante
bellum days. It is built on brick
pillars about six feet in height, large
doors, wide halls and high windows.
The gulf breeze sweeps under the
house and through it in every open
ing, so that it is always cool and
pleasant Being built on pillars Of
brick the building is not damp dur.
ing the rainy season.
There are groves Ct live oak trees
in the yard, some Of them Of a eentu-
ry's growth, which Iuxuriantly shade
the neglected grounds, and whose
dark green foliage and gnarled
branches twisted into innumerable
shapes by the batting elements,
seem to give to the lonely place a
more weird appearance.
The huge front gate is barred, and,
in answer to my summons, 8 man
came out of one OF the smaller build
ings. He eyed me with suspicion-as
curio collectors frequently called. I
told him that I was not in search Of
cuEios, but had merely come because
OF the historic associations Of the
place.
The custodian, Frank Niedei, an
eI-Confederate soldier, lives on the
place with his wife. He unlocked,
and unloosed' the chains
from some OF the doors, IS il re were
going into prison. The door Of Mr..
Davis's off1ce was donbly locked with
bolt and chain, for this is the central
point Of attack Of the eurio collectors.
They have cut splinters from the ta-
BILE where he wrote the Rise and
Fall Of the Southern Confederaey,"
have torn leaves from the books in
the library, and, few books have
been stolen.
The bookcases are now strongly
locked, but the custodian showed to
me some Of Mr.. Davis's choicest vol
umes, and the proof-sheets OF the
Rise and FALL" with corrections, in
terlineations, and additions in his
own bold style Of penmanship. "Here
Is where ne sat when he wrote bis
history" said Niedel, ''you can see
that by the ink stains on the carpet.
The old gentlemen had habit OF
throwing his Pen downward just az
sS! o1Sf40S ~ ~ slc 30A. @SyOc
that was because he had too much
Ink on the pen, but he would keep
doing this while he was studying
what to write, and sometimes he
would Miss the mat, and the ink
would fall On the carpet, as you see
the stains there"
In little room leading Of from his
study room is his soldiers cot, which
be seemed to prefer to the heavy, old
walnut bedsteads, with
which the mansion is literally sup
piled.
The pictures are packed, also all Of
The furniture except these huge,
heavy bedsteads. The settees are
covered with canvas, and everything
points to a removal. But whether it !
is contemplated by those who have
themselves from this
beautiful spot nothing is known here
oRcially.
The garden, where once bloomed
and blossomed so luxpriantly the
lowers native to the South. is now
overgrovn with rank weeds and |
oriars; the beautiful magnolia trees, |
he pride Of the South, bloom no
more; their branches are broken and |
into decay and death. |
Everything around and about the !
historic mansion wore the air Of de-
,ay and death and the most lone
'one-l looking, the saddest OF ell, is
;he historic mansion, Beauvoir, which |
recalls to mind the eventful history
If the late leader OF the lost cause.
And, after all, nothing remains but
iecay, desola tion, ruin. !