Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-11-12
A VOICE FROM OLD PlCKENs.
Joseph Burnett and Other Old Citizens-The
Whipping Post and Gailows Lot.

Old Pickens, November 8.-The
name of Joseph Burnett is familiar
to former residents of Old Pickens
and is more closely connected with
that valuable piece of property on
Little River, known as the "High
Falls" than any other. About fifty
years ago he came from Virginia to
South Carolina, purchased the High
Falls, erected large lanyard and
engaged in the tanning business
there until his death, shortly after
the war. He was of Irish descent, a
bachelor and a man of fine education
for those days. He worked labor
iously at his trade, accumulated con-
siderable money, which he invested
in lands around the Falls; but sad
to say and unfortunately for him,
near the close of the war he sold
this most desirable property for Con.
federate money, which soon became
worthless on his hands, and he be-
came laborer for hire, where he
had been the owner and landlord.
The savings of long life of unre-
hitting toll and self denial were
swept away, as it were, in the
"twinkling of an eye" How true it
is that the riches of this world "take
unto themselves wings and fly away"
He died penniless, but some time
before his death he joined the Bap-
tist church and was immersed in the
pure waters of Keowee river. In
the days when fortune favored him
he was very kind to the poor and
needy, and many poor individual,
suffering from tho cold, was indebted
to his charity for shoes or leather.
Another man of prominence in
those days was Alexander Bryce,
Sr., who was Sheriff of Old Pickens
District for one or more terms, and
was also Colonel of the militia Of
the District. The last years of his
life were spent in Walhalla, where
he served as Trial Justice and Mag
istrate for a long time. He is said
to have made good officer and was
a man of much force of character
firm in his convictions and deter
mined in the discharge of what he
conceived to be his duty.
While much of what has been
said in these "reminiscences relate to
the officials and prominent men of
Old Pickens, l recall one most wor-
thy character, whose name and ex-
ample should not be forgotten. This
man was James George, who worked
at the tailor's trade at Old Pickens
for a long time, afterwards removing
to Walhalla and engaging in the same
business until his death. Besides
being an excellent tailor, he was a
good man, pure Christian and a
most jealous Sunday school worker.
| remember him as man of most
pleasing appearance, gentle manners
and amiable disposition. His widow,
most estimable lady, and a daugh-
ter, Mrs. Dreher, formerly of Wal.
halla, and perhaps other children
survive him.
1t is within the memory of those
now living when there stood, near
the old Court House, a whipping
post at which certain malefactors
atoned for their misdemeanors under
the lash. This came to be considered
''relic of barbarism," and was abol-
ished by tender hearted Legisla-
ture, but there are many who still
believe this method Of punishment
would be more effectual in prevent
ing certain crimes than our present
Jail and chaingang system.
There is also within mile of the
Court House site small lot Of land
known as the "gallows lot" where
such criminals as were condemned
TO death were publicly hanged. This
has also been changed and the blood
stained villain, who by his criminal
conduct, forfeits his right under the
law to live, is privately executed,
and there are those who believe the
old manner of public execution
would be more efficacious in lettering
others from the commission of crime.
So far as / have been able to ascer-
tain, the first public hanging in the
Old District took place about sixty
years ago. The victim was negro
slave belonging to Nathan Boone,
his crime the most brutal and dia-
bolical, being criminal assault upon
a white woman. No gallows was
erected for him. He was suspended
from postoak limb, by raging
throng of Anglo Saxons, near the
spot where the crime was COM
mitted. 1t is said he was buried
face downward with his head down
hill. The negroes in this community
say the place is "hanted" and Won