The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-30

station within the walls OF the fort, ana
the Government sustains hsntnouso
there. whose keeper Is employed py 'ne
Charleston Chamber of commerce u
signal the approach OF vessels 10 ine CITY
The old sergeant. who is a single man,
and the Acknowledgment family are
the only inhabitants of the place, but
they see a good deal OF company, as
little steamer runs out from Cnarics.on
every morning with tourists. ana olten
twice day. All visitors nave 20 De iai u,
ed In a small boat now, because the wharf
was blown away in the cyclone last sum-
mer.
1t is a gloomy, desolate place. The
walls are covered with weeds ana NOES,
the mortar and printing Is falling out
OF the creyices between the bricks, ana
there is an appearance OF total abandon
ment which you do not find at historic
places in the Old World. II Fort Sumter
were situated in Germany or Engianl CT
France there would be a fancy garrison,
a band for the entertainment or visitors.
booths for the sale of photographs ana
books, and frequent celebrations 10 I'M
press upon the people the lessons OF
patriotism that such scenes teach. But
here there Is not even a tablet 70 record
the heroism that has been exhiplted "lth-
in the decaying walls.
The Government OF the United States
would offend nobody and would DO an
act OF eternal justice II 1t would lnscrlDe
upon marble slab somewhere within
the precincts OF Fort Sumter the ames
OF the men who fought there under
Robert Anderson. for their defence Of the
place met one of the most desperate
emergencies In which human beings were
ever placed. and their bravery and deter
inination were never excelled
Fort Moultrie stands on Sullivan's ISL
and, across the water about mile away,
and IL, too, Is deserted, except for the
presence of an aged sergeant and n little
deg that scampers up ana down the
breastworks In most amusing way, ana
with intense energy and interest assists
his master In showing tourists through.
The little steamer that runs between
Charleston and Fort Sumter stops at
Sullivan's Island on the way In fact
1t Is a ferry between that place ana
Charleston. for good many people reside
there. and during the summer it's hum
dreds OF cottages are occupied by people
from the city.
A most forlorn-lookng old street car
meets the steamer al the dock, and It's
wheels roll over rusty rails between rows
OF Whitc-washed houses of nondescrlpt
architecture, which are built upon pins
to keep them out of the wet when high
tide comes in. This time Of year they are
mostly deserted, but in summer. l am
told. the place Is very gay. There are
evidences all around Of me damage done
by the recent hurricane.
Morris Island. where the famous
swamp angel that bOmbarded Charles
ton during the war was located. Is SAID
to be picking up. and Fort johnson, which
stands across the channel from Forts
Sumter and Moultrie, is now the quaran-
tine station.
1t gives one a melancholy feeling 10
visit Fort Moultrie and see the crumo-
ling classmates and the portfolios buried
under shifting sand. That fort is entitled
to a number OF tablets. IL should have
one to commemorate the memorable bat
tie that took place there In l16. There
Is a monument In Charleston 20 Sergt
Jasper and another in Savannah, but
there ought TO be some tablets In the
fort to tell how he leaped over the case
mates TO the beach and recovered the nag
that had been shot away I'm that action.
And there should be some record within
the walls OF Mai. AndersOn's courage. al
though | notice in the little guide book
that they sell here that "Anderson's spik-
Ing the guns at Fort Moultrie and taking
possession OF Fort Sumter constituted the
first act Of hostility in the war OF scces-
sion"
Without the walls and near the portals
Of Fort MOutrie Is the grave OF Osceola,
the famous Seminole chief. who died n
prisoner there In 1898. and the inscription
upon the stone describes him as pa
triot," which epithet is scarcely born out
by the records of the Seminole war.
IL is curious Illustration OF the char
acteristic conservatism of Charleston
that photographs OF Fort MOultrie or
Fort Sumter cannot be purchased at any
of the hotels or neWs-stands or book
stores, and / heard news dealer at the
Charleston Hotel tell four persons IN sue
cessiOn that he did not keep n stock on
hand because there was no demand for
them.