Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-04-18

beautiful woman a few years ago.
I'm Carolina Douschka, mere tot,
became as great a favorite as she had
been among the splendid Russians.
Civil and military officers worshipped
the child, and it was this universal love
for her that made her historically, the
leading young moman Of the state and
Of the south.
when the days grew darker and
darker, and it was seen that war could
not be prevented, the Confederates at
Charleston prepared for conflict. The
Federals occupied Fort Sumter, and
Gen. Beauregard made every prepar-
alton to defend the city. When 1t was
finally decided that he should lombard
the Federal fort he invited Gov. Pick
ems to inspect the garrison and witness
the inception of hostilities. The gov
ernor visited the forts and gunboats,
and took with him his wife and child
Douschka. All the guns were in read
mess for the first fatal shot which was
to rend the nation in fratricidal strife.
when the governor had visited all
parts of the garrison, Gen. Beauregard
picked up the golden haired, blue-eyed
little girl and petted her for moment.
Then he placed a burning match In her
baby fingers and held her until she
touched the fuse Of cannon. Thus,
the child, at the tender age Of three,
born in the Russian palace. the pet OF
the nobility of all the nations and the
daughter Of the great war governor,
fired the first gun in the greatest war
Of modern times.
After the first shot the artillery
doomed for hours, but the child and
her mother had been taken to place
of safety. 1t is not necessary to deal
further with the conflict itself in tell
ing the story.
"ChiId of South Carolina"
Throughout the war, Douschka's g
name was frequently heard. She be-
came the foster child Of the state leg
islature, and by special engagement
that body named her The Child OF
South Carolina Yet it was not un-
til the days following the war, those
days which were blacker than war it
self, that Douschka became the idol Of
the people.
Governor Pickens died in 1864. On
his plantation at Edgefield were his
slaves, who had refused to leave him
despite the fact he had told them they
could go If they wished to do so. He
called his Negroes about his deathbed
and chose from among the oldest Of
them his pallbearers, and then gave
into their keeping his wife and little
Douschka. These slaves when freed,
were never the source Of the least
trouble, but any one who lived In the
south in the day following the war
know how the people suffered at the
hands of the freed Negroes.
I'm the early seventies the former
slaves of Edgefield county, South Car
olina, became threatening. A lot of
unprincipled white scoundrels had
egged them on to deeds Of mischief
and things came to such pass that
neither life nor property was secure.
AS conditions grew worse the Negroes
gathered at Edgefield. They swarmed
through the streets and frightened the
whites from their homes. They event.
ually formed a drunken mob and
threatened to burn the town.
Just as the town was about to be
destroyed something weird and terrify-
ing happened. From the four winds
Erode hundreds of strange looking be-
ings, clad in long robes Of red that
hung from their heads to their feet
In all 1,500 Of them came. all on horse
back. all dressed alike. They gathered
at the centre Of the town and then
formed in long column.
"Joan of Arc"
"At the head rode slight, red-robed
figure. 1t was Douschka. She guided
her great horse through every street
time and time again. The supersti-
tious Negroes fled in terror from the
town, and hid in the woods. The 81
lent, solemn march was kept up by
these red-robed members Of the Ku
Klux until every colored person had
left the town. From that day not a
word of discomfort was ever heard from
the freed slaves Of Edgefeld county
Douschka was known from that time
as Joan Of Arc
when it fell to Douschka's lot to
manage the plantation when she grew
to young womanhood she performed
her duties with matchless skill. She
was a splendid horsewomen, and every
day rode over the estate.
I'm the fox chase, sport in which she
delighted, she always rode the leading
horse, and most often got the brush
AS farmer she learned everything
that must be done about the old plan
tation. To her belonged the honor OF
establishing the bonus system Of pay
for freed slaves. In addition to their
salary she gave them a percentage OF
the proceeds.
when Douschka grew to woman
hood she married DR.. Dugas, a brilliant
banker, Of Augusta, Ga. To them were
born two daughters. Six years ago.
while she was visiting her mother at
Edgefield, she sickened, and after a
short illness, died.
Gray haired Negroes who had been
her fathers slaves carried her casket
in which she slept to the shade Of the
oaks, and there, beside the grave of
her great parent, another grave was
waiting. When the casket was opened
at the edge Of the grave, those who
leaned to take a last look at the dead