The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-12-28


but when one finds one who has pass
ed the one hundred mark by q fifth
of a century then it paaseth under
standing.
The good book, in all the wisdom of
its apostleship. allotted to man lon
gevity OF three score years and ten,
or seventy Years and yet, right here
in Brunswick, we find one who has
passed this biblical limitation by an
even half century
Marvellous.
In typical negro hut surrounded
with eyergreens ferns and other TO-
liage in the little city of Brunswick,
situated on Ellis street, near the cen
ter of The city there lives an old darby,
remarkable in every construction of
the word. Her name is Jane Cylar
and sne inst saw light at Frederick
now known as ST Simon island, in the
year 1892 Just six years atte Thorn
as Jefferson attached his signature to
the declaration Of independence that
rebuffed King George and gave to the
union glory OF thirteen states.
Aunt Jane, as she is commonly
called, was bred and born at Fred
erica, Her mother, full blood in
dian. was one OF the first to welcome
General 0glethorpe to that island, and
later when this distinguished founder
OF George builded him a home on this
famous isle Of the sea the mother
Aunt Jane was a trusted servant in
his household and was familiar with
every detail of the domestic felicity
of General Oglethorpe.
&c a wall lynnxyn historical ia af
that the only home that General Ogle-
thorpe ever owned was located
Frederick and here, even after the
ravages Of Bloody Marsh, the awful
massacre of the British and other
eventualities he lived for many years
on the chosen scene of his life, and
within gunshot, in fact, in sight and
sound of his magnificent military
works. this hero and maker Of tbs
Empire state of the South passed
many years OF perfect peace and quiet
ude. 81
So much for Aunt James mother,
now for Aunt Jane.
She long since has forgotten the
meaning of vitality. She lives in a
quiet little cottage with one Of her
grandchildren, who, herself, mas meas
red on Father Times scales to tn
extent OF about a half century.
All of her time is spent in a great
open-arm chair, and with head bent
lowly, supported by great oaken
cane, she manages to keep her head
erect. A casual observer ofAunt Jane,
even if he be Iayman, would discover
the fact that Indian blood flows in her
veins. Her figure is tall, erect and
decidedly straight and her hair fairly
sparkles with the touches of the Ra-
ven Her cheek bones are high, pro
nounced and projected, and the lnGAn
is manifest in the very flashes OF her
ewes. which, even at this remote fte,
are bright. piercing and penetrating.
Aunt Jane was seen by News e.
porter Christmas day. All OF her
memory is absolutely zone, and sac
reclines, with head erect II. comfe
tose condition. She seemed tosseal'ze
that It was Christmas lay il eNerai
times mumbled something mat scund,
ed like christmas. She finally leli
into a laxative mood and Spcke OF
the great hurricane in 1874 that sweep
over Frederick and did much damage
She says the slaves ran to helr mas
ter's hoaes for protection and mat ne
island was fairly seized with Dllds IndU
came in from the marshes ana sea7 lor
pfotection. sAunt Jane" says mat ON
This occasion thousands OF Wlld DeHS'S
and animals at large on the lanus sur
rounding Frederica came to the great
nlantation to hide themselves from
the fury. Many lives, she says, were
lost in this awful storm and she mas
a number OF interesting anecdotes re-
lating thereto which she tells in her
own broken way.
~Aunt Jane" was, OF course, Save
She saws her original owner was nam,
Cd Matthews, but later on she was sold
~ General Tom Butler King, and was
IL his ownership when Lincoln's eman-
cipation proclamauon gave hef IDelT
tv. She led on St. Simon for num-
her Of years afterwards, but thally re-
moved to Brunswick.
She was married to Tom Cyler' also
a King slave, and through this union
cave birth to twelve cheildren, al OF
whom are dead save one, ana rs,
some eia.nty years old, still lives on
81. simon island is strong and active
and is engaged IN farming pursuits.
was q married woman when the -lexl-
can war Of 1912 gave the union glory
She was in the eventide Of her life
during the Mexican war OF ~ sne
had passed over to the shadows when
the civil war Of the sixties ACQUIRED
and had crept on into the winter Oh
her existence when Dewey stoiInea
Manila and schley took Santiago.
When questioned as tofher posterity
Art .sIane was 'sfaply bewildered SIZE
could not remember anything Of her
grandchildren, gr 1T grand children
or great, great grandchildren put II
is safe to assume that II tney WeIe
,Iaced rs a CITY they would increase
the population by several hundred.
The writer has made an industrious
effort to ascertain the exact age OF
this very remarkable old darky and
the very Oldest inhabitants OF Bruins
wick remember Aunt Jane wneh ne
srir ri