Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-04-18
DOUSCHkA PlCkENS.
Said to Have Fired tho First Shot OF
the War,

Said to Have Fired tho First Shot of
tho War.
Up from the Lone Star state there
came to Chicago last week pictur-
esque citizen Of Dallas, Tex, formerly
a resident Of Nacogdoches, with the
dramatic story Of the life Of Douschka
Pickens at his tongues end. This WIS.,
iting Texan was former Brigadier Cen
eral George A. Afford, Confederate SOL
dier, Indian fighter, legislator and
capitalist.
There is, perhaps no person living
who knows so we'll the story Of the life
Of the daughter of South Carolina's
war governor, for Gen. Afford was HIM
self once a sweetheart and schoolmate
of the mother Of Douschka Pickens.
During all the wears Of her life this
Child of South Carolina" was not once
lost sight Of by the stern Texan, who
wrote verses to her, championed her
wit and her beauty at banquet and In
legislative hall, and now accredits
himself her historian by right. Gen.
Afford tells the story of how the child,
Douschka Pickens, fired the first shot
Of the civil war, but no less interesting
is his recital Of the story Of the gran
deur surrounding her christening, OF
her part Is one of the saddest and most
tragic marriages Of war times and OF
her bravery as leader Of the noto-
rious Ku Klux Klan.
A Marvellous Career. i....-.
From the time Of her birth, in the
palace Of the Romanoffs, until her
death and burial beneath the great
oaks Of Edgefield, s. c., Douschka
Pickens had a marvellous career amid
the glamour and glitter of European
courts, in the war stricken cities Of the
Palmetto state and amid the bleak
and devastated estates that had been
scourged by contending armies.
Born in the imperial palace Of the
Russian Tsar, christened by an en-
press, made the idol Of hundred dip
lomats, this child later touched the
fuse to the artillery that doomed for
four years through Dixie. And when
war was over and the armies were dis
banded she became one Of the leaders
who toiled to solve the perilous prob
lens Of the post-bellum days.
To tell the story Of the life Of
Douschka Pickens it Is necessary to go
back to Nacogdoches, Tex, that Won
derful southern town that sent out into
the world so many people Of such
varied interests and abilities. Within
calling distance in Nicogdoches there
lived, years before the war, an inter-
esting company of young people. Tom
| Ochiltree, the red-headed raconteur
and bon vivant, sauntered through the
streets. Adelaide McCord, who be-
came known throughout the world as
Adah Isaacs Menkin, the Mazeppa, be-
gan her conquests there. It was the
home Of Gen. Sam Houston, the great
est Of all the great Texans. There
lived in the town, too, Lucy Holcomb,
the most beautiful woman in the state.
| General Affords Story.
Here begins the story told by Gen.
Afford. 1t is best told in his own
words. 1t was with great reluctance
that he recited that part Of the story
which deals with his own name. and
has not heretofore been made known.
II was one Of the Argonauts that
were enticed by dreams Of fortune to
the gold fields of California, he said.
when I left Texas I went with the
purpose Of enriching myself and then
returning to wed Lucy Holcomb, the
belle Of Texas. I remained in Califor-
mia for some time; went thence to
Panama, and from there down the
western coast of South America.
knew I was expected home, but the
fever Of adventure led me on, and
delayed my return for some months.
"In the meantime Lucy Holcomb had
become the belle Of the south. She in
fatuated all who beheld her. Once she
was visiting the family Of the famous
governor, John A. Quitman, at the Mis-
sissippi capital, she captivated the en-
tire state legislature. and when she de-
parted for New Orleans the general as
sembly adjourned and went with her.
Afterward she was married to the bril-
liant Col. Frank Pickens, of South Car
olina.
From the time I left for California
saw her no more as Lucy Holcomb.
When returned she was Mrs. Pickens,
and it was not long before I, too, mar
ried. first met her again at President
Buchanan's inaugural where she was
the most petted and patronized Of all
the beauties in Washington.
A Court Favorite.
president Buchanan appointed Col.
Pickens minister to Russia, and there
the beautiful southern girl became the
court favorite. The empress delight
ed in her society, and the woman Of all
the legations gave way for the capti-
waiting American. Later she was taken
to the imperial palace Of the Roman
offs, and there, in May, 1858, was born
the child that was destined to figure
so strangely in history.
"The Tsaritza claimed the privilege
Of being godmother to the infant.
When the day came for the christen-
ing all the grandeur of the Russian
court was brought into play, invita-
tions were sent to the representatives
Of all the foreign nations. The COM
pany was the most illustrious that ever
assembled for similar purposes in the
history Of the world.
when the officiating dignitary Of