The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-10-27

out heavily frcightcd with the sea-
son S staple product long ago, when
things were conducted in lcisurcly
fashion, before the utilizing CT steam
or Of any labor saving and distance
anDihilatiDg inventions. In those
days vessel coming after cotton
knew that she could only make one
trip during the season, or, at the
most, two, and governed her move
mcnts accordingly. 1t was customary
when the rocks brought as ballast had
served their mission to dump them
overheard, and the spot on which
Sumter stands was such Il dumping
place. The boatnlan will tell you this,
he who rows you out to the fort, and
he will say, moreover, that his father
had boats to let before his time, and
knew every stocE and stone in
Charleston harbor
If you visit the fort in winter, in
the regulation tourist season, you
will 70 on regulation excursion
boat, at stipulated fare, along with
lot of other people, and share with
them whatever of interest the keeper
of the fort might have to say or show
to curious or thoughtful visitors.
When you go individually you have
the keepers t. ne all to yourself, and
the voyage scaward is made interest
ing by the boatmans communica-
tions. 'This is Fort Ripley" he
says, as his little craft rounds within
stones throw Of structure stuck
high up on stills, but looking strong
and martial. The people there raise
everything they eat, though there is
scarcely an extra foot Of ground in the
place" Then, laughing at his own
joke, he proceeds to point out Castle
Pinckney, the fortress that the Grand
Army is seriously thinking Of con-
vcrting into a sanitarium for infirm
and disabled pensioners. Castle Pinck-
ncy is we'll within the shelter of the
harbor. and Fort Ripley also. Sum
ter lies eway out, ready TO bear the
brunt Of wind and storm and fusilade.
The keeper at Fort Sumter tells you
how she stood the cyclone, or, rather,
how he stood it. He will take you
down through the dark, tunnel-like
passagcways, and up on the parade
ground, that you are surprised to find
SO large in view Of the apparent size
of the fort from the outside. He will
point out certain direful spots where
alien bullets hit or grievcus rents
were made, and then, after this con-
cession tn historic times, he will come
down to lattcr-day facts, and give a
feeling ac ,unt of his experience dur
ing the war Of the elements four years
ago. When you 60 over to Fort Moul-
tric you will hear more about the
cyclone, and be told how the resi-
dents Of the Island, Charleston 8 sum-
mer resort, regard Fort Moultrie as an
ever present place Of refuge in such
disasters, aud 60 to her the first thing
when the water is rising in their
lower floors and the wind is shaking
the very foundations Of their houses
houses that are always anchored wnen
built in order to guard against just
such perils.
Light-minded Charlestonians, those
who decline to take life seriously, de-
clare that their city never lacks a
catastrophe from which to date hap
penings and events. Long ago it was
the war that overshadowed everything
else; then it was the earthquake, soul
appalling horror; and now it is the cy-
clone. It is four years since the cy-
clone created such havoc On the wa
ter-front, and the docks and piers
show the ravages still. But that does
not dim the brightness of those sym
metrioal spires, nor alter the serene
appearance Of tho town as she looks
out on the sea.
Somebody has somewhere defined
poetry to be s'emotion rccollected in
tranquility" One is reminded of the
line on viewing Charleston from the
harbor entrance, though hers is rather
the self-poised calm won from con-
tcntions and calamities bravely borne
than the serenity of mere stagnation
or Of unconcern. The Impression is
dispelled somewhat when one gets up
into the city where the newly intro
duced trolley cars are whizzing, and
hears Of the new park that IS being
laid out, and the new buildings that
are in course of construction, and the
other things now under way; but Le-
gare street preserves its old world dis