Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-08-14
aelistellaneous 8eading.
BILLY ROSES UNIQUE LIFE.

| Through Three Wars-Lohg state
Employee.
From the New York Times.
COLUMBIA, July 7.-One of the most
interesting figures in South Carolina
today is Billy Rose, the colored vete-
ran of three wars, who for more than
twenty years has filled the post OF
porter in the governors Office. Thou
sands of tourists have gone to the
State House for the special purpose OF
seeing him, and the people of Colum-
bia have in the course of time come to
regard him as one of their most inter-
esting curiosities.
The Governors Guards, the crack
military company of the city, elected
him an honorary member of their Or
ganization nearly generation ago,
and since that time he never has miss
ed parade, always appearing in full
uniform, and always accompanying
the guards on trips outside of the
state.
He is a very old man now, and his
snow.white hair, which reaches almost
| to bis shoulders, is in marked contrast
with his dark brown complexion, for
though a pure Negro, he is by no
means an ebony black one. He is so
old he no longer can walk with ease,
and when the guards were inspected a
few weeks ago, it was noticed that he
followed in carriage which members
of the company, who are fond and
proud of the old man, had furnished
for his convenience.
The history of this interesting veter-
an-the most popular Negro in South
Cardinals unique. Born a slave
Christmas day, 1918, he was boy of
13 when Lafayette visited Columbia.
He still remembers seeing the heroic
old Frenchman walk from the house
now occupied by Bishop Capers, two
squares, to the State House door, a
path literally covered with flowers by
little girls. A year later Billy's mas
ter named Barrett, apprenticed him to
carpenter; but during the following
year he became the property of Pierce
NJ. Butler, who made him his body
servant and took him to the Seminole
war in Florida when Butler went as
commander of the South Carolina vol.
unteers. Returning, Colonel Butler
was elected governor of the state, and
Billy held the proud place of his valet.
After the Mexican war broke out,
Ex-Governor Butler was elected to lead
the Palmetto regiment, and Billy went
to his second war. The Palmetto reg
ment covered itself with glory but the
gallant Butler fell at the battle of
Churubusco, near the City of Mexico,
and the task of bringing his body home
fell to his faithful servant. He proved
himself worthy of the trust, and the
bones of the gallant colonel now rest
in the old family burying ground at
Saluda.
In 1858 Billy narrowly escaped a
dreadful fate. One of the Butler es.
tates was sold for division and he fell
into the hands of Negro-traders, who
were buying slaves to ship to the Red
river and Texas. In dire distress Billy
appealed to Mr.. Goode, comrade of
bis dead master, and that gentleman
bought him to save him.
Three years later the Civil war COM
menced, and Colonel Maxcy Gregg,
who had known Billy for years, asked
his master to lend him to him as a
body servant. Mr.. Goode consented,
and Billy went to his third and last
war, Colonel Maxcy Gregg became
Brigadier- General Maxcy Gregg, and
Billy was the witness of a great deal
of hard fighting, for Gregg's South Car
olina brigade became famous through
out the army as its ranks thinned.
General Gregg was killed at the bat
tie of Fredericksburg, and the melan-
choly task of bringing another masters
body home devolved upon Billy. Be-
fore his death General Gregg gave
Billy his watch, which he still has,
refusing large offers for it from the
generals sisters, who live in Europe.
The watch was given as token, Billy
Saws, dIlu uc ulcduS W NSoi ~ obeii IN
dies. Then it will be returned to the
family.
The war over, Billy returned to the
trade of carpenter, to which he had
been apprenticed 40 years before. But
life was struggle with him, and when
General Hampton became governor, in
1876, he made him porter or Tsssen-
ger for the executive Office. Each sue.
ceeding governor, even Governor Till
man, who turned out practically all
the State House employees, retained
Billy. Probably Billy will hold the
place until he dies. He never was
married and has no relations; but
when he dies the Governors Guards
will build a monument to him after
they have laid him to rest in his bril-
liant staff uniform with military hon.
ors.