El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-23
GENERAL WADE HAMPTON !
oft Homeless By the Burning Fighting
poverty He Offered Him People Of
South
>NHxN<ONSXO

Tn two tiny rooms on the "Sand
hills. near Columbia, South Carolina.
lives, ia his gray old age, one OF the
most distinguished men, one OF the
most dashing, Kuightly soldiers that
the south has ever boasted-
To this narrow home Is General
Wade Hampton driven by the recent
burning OF his cottage, the Southern
Cross.
The people of the state have offered
him q home, but the proud old general
has refused the offer.
General Hampton ia the head Of one
o. the most famous old families OF the
Palmetto state. His ancestral estate,
Wildwood, was one of the most beauti-
full in the south. Priucely hospitality
tn all corners was its rule, and pretty
nearly every visitor of Importance from
Europe to the United States was there
entertained. General Hampton's faith
er had vast estates in Mississippi as
we'll as in South Carolina, and was the
largest slave owner in the country.
Now, within plain view of the Raunt
and blackened columns that mark the
site of Wildwood, says the New York
World, q 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
leg, he is still g handsome mau OF dis
tinguished presence, the Rupert OF his
state.
THE BURNING OF WILDWOOD.
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
standard of the Hampton Legion OF
\ ~
every man of them.
The Hampton Legion simply fought
through the war: fought st every
chance for fighting; fought in the very
last skirmish.
In 1865 wildwood was burned. Cen
eral Hampton was practically lmpov-
erished.
The big stone columns of the portico
of the old house stood up stark and
useless and still stand. Some OF the
humber bricks from the ruins were
dug out, aud with them q cottage OF
four rooms was built in the southern
style, with big exterior chimneys. In
time two more rooms were added In
the rear, and the cottage then came to
be known as the Southern Cross-its
shape was rather that OF fat letter
"H"
Here General Hampton lived In the
governor and railroad commissioner.
Here he retired when too old for long |
err official service.
In the recent fire the four older |
FOOTE'S of this cottage were destroyed. |
The two newer ones in the rear, con- !
nected with the older portion by pas
age, were saved.
Something else WAS saved, something
more valued than money. The gene
raj brought out his sword.
General Hampton was awakened oy
the cries of little Bruce, pet collie
log ONLY a few months old OF which he
was very fond. He went to the hall
way where he slept, in the back part
If the house, and as he opened the
loor was driven back by the steam and
smoke.
BRAVE ATTEMPT TO SAVE A DOG.
He called to the puppy, but he re-
used to come, and be was obliged to
lose the door. The puppy still cried,
md General Hampton made great
.ffort to get into the passsgeway, but
he flames enveloped him and his hair
md beard were burned. The failure
4 his plucky attempt to rescue the
,uppy was what he most regretted In
he fire.
In the two remaining rooms OF his
ottage the general lives.
To the east of the house pine trees
'uard, like sentinels, the spot where
TODD his beautiful home.
Across the way is the home OF Col-
mel John @. Haskell, and in a cottage
earby live the three sisters or General