The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-11-18
DAWFUSKIE ISLAND.
IT HAS A HISTORY AS THE SCENE OF
MANY INDIAN STRUGGLES.

MANY INDIAN S1RO60LGo'
The Extreme Southeastern Point Of South
Carolina-The Tragedy of Bloody Point,
That Wiped Ont 4 whole Tribe Of I'M
dams. +rj>- ,. !
A new candidate for public, favor Is
Dawfuskie island, one Of the islands
not far distant from Savannah and one
of the most interesting historically.
Dawfuskie is the Indian name OF the
island. It is some six miles in length
and four miles in width, noted for its
fish, oysters and crabs and famous ct
late years for it's deer hunting. The In
dams were very partial to .it-that. is,
Judging from the mounds, tomahaIks,
arrowheads and other relics Of that
race which are still to be found Oh the
island. 1t is the southeasternmost point
of South Carolina, and directly oppo-
site Tybee island, and in what was
formerly known as st. Luke's parish,
Beaufort district, but now legally desig-
mated as Yemassee township Beaufort
county. x
The island was at one time the prop
erty of the Mongin family, who settled
it about $780, and up'to the beginning
Of the late war it was divided into sew.
eral plantations and had a population,
in addition to tho plalfters' families, Of
about 1900 slaves. Several places on
the island are still owned by the de-
scendants Of the Mongins, Bloody Point
by Mr.. Mongin Stoddard and Meirose
! by Mr.. Alfred H. 'Stoddard, r. :.
The following story Of Dawfuskie As
land appeared in The Morning News Of
June 81, 1878. and is all Of its early
history that can be found; .::ta
"The massacre Of Bloody Point,
though previous to the Revolutionary.
war, is still interesting as relating to
the ancient history of St, Luke. The
islands Of Port Royal and st. Helena
were pretty thickly settled with white
population when Hilton Head; Dow
Dusky, Pinokney and the other neigh
boring islands were held in possession
by few isolated Indians or were alto
gether uninhabited. They formed kind
Of neutral ground between the white
and red men. The Indians from Georgia
were III the habit Of making frequent
inroads upon the, white settlements,
killing the inhabitants and carrying of
| whatever plumber they could gather, to
their remoter homes in the farther south.
They formed large war parties aud
would proceed as far north rs Hilton
Head. Here they would, skulk about till
fair chance offered, when they would
cross Broad river and ravage the neigh
boring settlements; hence the name Of
Skulk creek. (and not Skull, as is now
written). :!
1.-THE Indians were in the habit Of re-
turning to Skulk creek after these in
vasions and would elude pursuit among
its numerous hooks and windings. Upon
one Of these occasions, after having
committed number Of murders and
having loaded their canoes with what
ever plumber they were able to collect,
having secured q quantity Of fire wa
ter" it is presumed, from the sequel.
they passed through Skulk creek OH
their return south without stopping in
their old haunts and never halted until
| they reached Dow Dushy, 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
reaching Hilton Head they learned from
a few Indians of q friendly tribe that
their enemies had not halted, but had
proceeded On south. Having induced
these friendly Indians to join them as
guides. they continued their pursuit
farther 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
toward their enemies The Indians had
| put all their boats q short distance
up what is now known as New river,
to- avoid the surf which breaks upon
the point The Indians were at the ex.
IRENE point, enjoying themselves in an
unwonted round Of oonviyiality and
feasting The whites approached eau.
tiously and stealthily, and, having goi
between the Indians and their boats,
effectually cut of their retreat. A
I shower Of bullets was the first intima.
ton they had Of the presence OF an en-.
envy. They were shot down, bayoneted,
sabered and were finally driven into the
sea.
1.-THE surprise was complete; the mas.
sacre was dreadful; the white sands
were crimsoned with. blood, and the
earth was strewn with wounded, dying
and dead. A few, very few, escaped By
swimming, some to the opposite. marsh
and one swan entirely over to Tybee, Z
distance of three miles. From the dread
full carnage It this spot it received tht
name Of Bloody Point, which it retains
to this time, it being the extreme south
eastern point Of South Carolina Ate,
this decisive victory the settlements t.
the north Of Broad river received NJ
| further molestation from the southern
Indians, and soon after Hilton Head it
self began TO be settled by the whites
The Indians wht escaped, having col
lected after lapse Of some time, Re
turned to Hilton Head, and, finding
only two Of the tribe who had guidet
the whites in their pursuit, avenged TIL
downfall of their own tribe by destroy
ing both Of them. They then returnet
south and were lost sight Of ever after