Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-11-06
Old Comrades Meet.
[Anderson Mail. Noyember q.

lAnuerBOn Mall, NoVomper a. -
Yesterday an old man, travel stained
and weary and with ono side of his face
disfigured by cancer, walked into tho
the local camp Of Confederate veterans.
Inquiry elioited from him the informa-
tion that his name was Hector Bruce, q
veteran Of the Second South Carolina
regiment, Kershaw's brigade, in tho civil
war. He enlisted from Charleston in the
old Brooks guards, under Capt. Burnett
Rhett.
He had q sad story to tell. He said he
had been living In Macon county, N. o.,
for some years and had boon teaching
school, but the cancer on his faco has
recently destroyed the sight of one eye
and he has been obliged to abandon
his avocation. He had no. relations in
OF employment soon became penniless.
He finally decided to set out on foot and
walk to the home of his daughter, who
lives at Elberton Ga.
He had walked from Macon county to
Anderson, coming by way Walhalla, but
on reaching hore his strength gave out
and he found ho would be obliged to ask
old soldiers and explain his condition
to them and ask them to help him on
his way. 1t was readily seen that this
was very much against his will and that
he had had no experience in begging.
Aftor some inquiry among tho old
soldiers it was found that DR.. r.. F..
Diver was the only veteran living in
Anderson who belonged to tho Second
regiment of Kershaw's brigade, and tho
old man was sent to DIR. Divveps home
The meeting between the two voterans
IS said to havo been an affecting one.
They did not know each other at first,
but after mutual inquiry thoy found that
Il
comrades in tho long ago and had gone
on many battlefield together and had
gono on picket duty side by side. Both
were overcome when the recognition
became mutual and both old mon wept
freely.
DR.. Divvor took him, homo and treated
him with such kindness and considera-
another. Mr.. Bruce spont tho night
there last night.
Yesterday afternoon DR.. Diver saw
several gentlemen in the city and ex-
planned the condition of his guest and
u nice purse was raised for him. To-day,
or whenever ho gets ready to leave. 20
will be given railroad ticket to Eiber-
ton, Ga, where his daughter lives, and
he will also have some money to carry
with him and a substantial addition to
his wardrobe as a reminder of his stay
in Anderson.
Tho II. E. Lee Chapter, Daughters of
tho Confedoracy, also heard of tho gen.
tleman's presence in tho city and made
up handsome donation for him.
Dr.. Diver camo up town for little
while yesterday afternoon, and while
talking about his guest the tears came
| into his eyes. "You don't know how /
| folt whom found it was Hector Bruce,'
he said. "It seems almost as though one
of my brothers had been raised from the
%l,,A i =
mcnt there was no truer, braver man
| than Hector Bruce, aud it makes my
heart acho to SEQ how unkind fortune
has been to him in his old age. There
| is no man whom / would feel moro hon
ored in entertaining, and wish could
keep him all of his days.
Tho meeting between tho two old vote
rams was entirely accidental, but for that
reason was mono tho less enjoyable.
They had not met since the war and tho
reminiscent nature of their conversation
may be imagined.