The Saint Paul globe., 1899-05-28

as in South Carolina. and was the
largest slave-owner in the country.
Now, within plain view of the gaunt
and blackened columns that mark the
site of MiIwood, a kindly, white
bearded old gentleman comes out at
intervals from the two rooms that
shelter him to feed his chickens. Even
in his old age-he is eighty -one-and
crippled By the loss of his leg, he is still
a handsome man of distinguished pres
ence, the Rupert of his state.
THE BURNING OF WILDWOOD.
A 1t was the war. of course
When it came Wade Hampton was
one of the leaders of his state. For the
inevitable conflict he raised the stand
ard of the Hampton Legion of Cavalry
daredevils and rough riders, every man
of them. ...
The Hampton Legion. simply fought
through the war; fought at every
chance for fighting; fought in the very
last skirmish.
In 1885 Wildwood was burned. Gen.
Hampton was practically impoverished.
The big stone columns of the portico
of the old house stood up stark and use
less, and still stand. Some of the hum
bier bricks from the ruins were dug out,
and with them a cottage of four rooms
was built in the Southern style, with
big exterior chimneys. In time two
more rooms We're added in the rear, and
the cottage then became to be known as
the Southern Cross-its shape was
rather that of a fat letter H
Here Cen Hampton lived in the inter
yals of public service as senator, gov
ernor and railroad commissioner. Here
he retired when too old for longer Of
fetal service.
In the recent fire the four older rooms
of this cottage were destroyed. The two
newer ones in the rear, connected with
= the older portion by a passage, were
saved.
Something else was saved, something
more valued than money The general
brought out his sword.
Gen. Hampton was awakened by the
cries of little Bruce. a pet collie dog only
a few months old, of which he was very
fond. He went to the hallway where he
Sept IN the back part of the house, and
: as he opened the door was driven back
by the steam and smoke.
BRAVE ATTEMPT TO SAVE A DOG.
He called TO the puppy, but he refused
to come, and he was obliged to close the
door. The puppy still cried, and Gen.
Hampton made a great effort to get into
the paSSa geway, but the flames enveloped
him and his hair and beard We're burned.
1 The failure of his plucky attemept to res
cue the puppy was what he most regret
ted in the fire.
IN the two remaining rooms of his cot
tage the general lives.
To the east of the house pine trees
guard. like sentinels, the spot where stood
his beautiful home.
Across the way is the home Of Col.
John c. Haskell, and in a cottage near
by live the three sisters of Gen. Hamp-
tor. They were forced to take refuge here
two years ago after the destruction by
| fire of their home.
When the people of South Carolina
heard of Gen. Hamptons loss, they
promptly and delicately offered to rebuild
| his home. To this offer he has just re-
piled:
- 1t is the duty of every citizen 20 serve
his state whenever called upon to do
so. and his sole reward should be the con-
sciousness of having fulfilled that obHga-
tion If my fell0w-citizens think that !
have been able to serve my state in any
[ manner L only discharged my duty in do
Z ing So and 1 am amply compensated for
any service rendered by their verdict OF
well done, good and faithful servant !
am. with heartfelt thanks for the great
4 kindness shown me.
Wade Hampton.
L.
Just before the burning of the Southern
Z Cross Gen. Hampton passed his eighty
first birthday. The manner Of its celebra-
tion proved in what regard he is held
The birthday dinner" was an informal
affair." where only his three sisters, his
children. grandchildren and greatgrand-
children and a few friends were present
Among these last were Capt. Thomas
Taylor, who entered the Hampton legion
as captain of a cavalry corps, and sub
sequently served to the close of the wal
as one of Gen. HamptOn's aides, and his
brother, DR.. b. w. Taylor. who went out
as assistant surgeon of the Legion and
became medical director Of the cavalry
corps.
There were various callers during the
birthday The first a Confederate vet
eran, Sc years old, drove out in a buggy
alone, and brought with him bottle OF
wine in which to drink the health of his
connrade. The Wade Hampton Chapter
Daughters of the Confederacy, held q