The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-12
nIsTORIC DAwFusKIE ISLAND.
The Scene of Many Indian Struggles
and the Battle of Bloody Point.

and the Rattle of bloody Point.
The Indications are that this season
will be remarkable for the many induce
ments offered Savannahians to spend the
summer at home, There are more steam
ers for excursions and the seaside resorts,
than ever before, and suburban places
reached by railroad are making extra
preparations In anticipation of a large
Increase in business.
A new candidate for public favor is
Dawfuskie Island, one Of the islands not
far distant from the city, and one of the
most interesting historically. Dawfuslde
is the Indian name Of the island. 1t is
some six miles in length and four miles
in width, noted for it's fish, oysters ana
crabs, and famous of late years for It's
deer hunting. The Indians We're very par
tial to it, that is, tudglng from the
mounds, tomahawks, arrow heads ana
other relies Of that race which are SIN
to be found on the, island. II is the south
eaSternmost point OF South Carolina. and
directly opposite Tybee Island, and IN
what was formerly known as ST. Luke S
parish, Beaufort district, but now legal
Iy DESIGNATED as Yemassee township,
The island was at one time the property
OF the Mongin family, who settled it
about 1850, and up to the beginning of
plantations and had population, in addI-
ton to the planters families, Of about
100 slaves. Several places on the island
are sun owned by the descendants CT
the Mongins. Bloody Point" by Mr.
Henry Mongin Stoddard and "Meirose' %
BY Mr.. Alfred II. Stoddard.
The following story of Dawfuskie ISL
ana appeared in the Morning News of
June "A, 1873 and is all of its early his
tory that can be found:
The massacre of Bloody point though
DTHNlOIE ~ arsFr ftyoVs fs ell
interesting as relating to the ancient his
tory OF st. Luke. The Islands OF Port Rove
az ana St.-Helena were ppSttsVt hiokly set4
yea with white population, when Hilton
Head, Dow Dusky, Pinckney and the other
nelghboring Islands were held in posses
sion by few Isolated Indians, or We're al
together uninhabited, they formed a kind
or neutral ground between the white and
red men. The Indians from Georgia were
in the habit of making frequent inroads
upon the white settlements, Killing the in
naDitants, and carrying off whatever plum
der they could gather, to their remoter
homes in the further south-they formed
large war parties, and would proceed as
far north as Hilton Head, here they would
skulk about till a fair chance offered
when they would cross Broad riYer-and
the name of Skulk Creek (and not Skull. as
is now written)
THE Indians were in the habit of return
ing to Skulk Creek after these invasions
and would elude pursuit among its numer-
Gus hooks and windings. Upon one OF
these occasions, after having committed
number of murders, and having loaded
their canoes with whatever plumber thew
We're able to collect, having secured a
quantity of Fire water" it Is presumed
from the sequel, they passed through
Skulk creek on their return south, without
stopping in their old haunts, and never
halted until they reached Dow Dusky
where they thought they would be beyond
the reach of the whites.
"a very strong and determined party OF
whites went in pursuit of them. On reach
ing Hilton Head, they learned from a few
Indians of friendly tribe that their enc
mics had not halted but had proceeded or
south. Having induced these friendly In
dams to join them as guides, they contin-
ued their pursuit further south-when
they had gone on as far as Dow Dusky
they discovered from the smoke OF their
camp, that the Indians had halted at the
southeast point of the island. The whites
landed on the northwest portion and
marched towards their enemies; the In.
dams had put all their boats a short dis.
lance up what is now known as New river
to avoid the surf, which breaks upon the
point, the Indians were at the extreme
point, enjoying themselves inian unwont.
ed round OF convlyladty and feasting. The
whites approached cautiously and Stealth.
| lily, and having got between the Indians
and their boats, effectually cut off theli
retreat-a shower Of bullets was the frs
intimation they had of the presence Of an
enemy-they were shot down, bayonetted
sabred, and were finally driven into the
"The surprise was complete, the massa.
ere was dreadful, the white sands were
crimsOned with blood, and the earth was
strewn with wounded, dying and dead-a
whole tribe was almost destroyed. A few
very few escaped by swim ming some tC
the opposite marsh, and one swan entirely
over to Tybee, a distance Of three miles
From the dreadful carnage at this spot. II
| received the name of Bloody Pointgwhich
it retains at this time-it being the ex.
treme southeastern point Of South Caro-.
lima. After this decisive victory, the set.
| Elements TO the north Of Broad river re.
ceiVed no further molestation from the
southern Indians, and soon after Hilton
Head itself began TO be settled by the
whites. The Indians who escaped havina
collected after a lapse of some time. re.
! turned to Hilton Head, and finding only
two of the tribe who had guided the whites
in their pursuit, avenged the downfall oi
they then returned south and Were LOS
sight Of ever after-such is the tradition il
St Iuke'S."