The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-04-22

ror of this tragedy, the woeful out
come of the saddest marriage ceremony
ofall those four long and terrible
years of war.
Throughout the war Douschke's
name was frequently heard. She be-
came the foster child Of the State
legislature and by special enactment
that body named her The Child Of
South Carolina Yet it was not un-
til the days following the war, those
days which were blaoker than war it.
self, that Douschka became the idol
Of the people.
Governor Pickens died in 1864.
On his plantation at EdgeGeld were
his slaves, which had refused to leave
him, despite the fact he had told
them they could 60 if they wished to
go. He called his negroes abon. his
death bed and chose from among the
Oldest of them his pall-bearers 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 tie South in the days follow
ing the war knows how the people
suffered at the hands Of the freed ne.
groes.
In the early 7O's the ex-slaves cf
Edgefeld County, South Carolina, be-
came threatening. A lot Of unprinoi-
pied white scoundrels had egged them
on to deeds Sf mischief and things
came to such pass that neither life
nor property was secure. AS condi-
tons grew worse the negroes gathered
at Edgefield. They swarmed through
the streets ard frightened the whites
from their humes. They eventually
formed drunken mob and threatened
to burn the town.
"Just as the town was about to be
destroyed something wierd and terri
flying happened. From the four winds
rode hundreds of strengthening be-
ings, clad inilong robes Of red that
hung from their heads to their feet.
In al 1900 Of them came, sll on
horseback, all dressed alike. They
gathered at the center of the town and
then formed in long coldAmn.
AT the head rode alight. red
robed figure. It was Dousohks. She
guided her great horse through every
street time and time again. The
superstitious negroes fed in terror
from the town, and hid in the woods.
The silent, 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 one word Of discomfort was ever
hea.d from the freed slaves Of Edge
fieldoCounty. Doasohkag was known
from that time as Joan Of Arc
"When it fell to Douschka's lot to
manage the plantations when she
grew 10 young womanhood she per-
formed her duties with matehleas
skill. She was q splendid horsewo-
man, and every day rode over the es-
tate. In the fox chase, d sport in
which she delighted, shesalways rode
the leading horse, and most often got
the fox. AS farmer she learned
everything that must be done about
the old plantation. To her belongs
the honor Of establishing the bonus
system of pay for freed slaves. In
addition to their salary she gave them
percentage of the proceeds.
"When Douschka grew to woman
hood she married DR.. Dugas. brill
liant physician of Augusta. Ga. To
them were born two daughters. Six
years ago, while she was visiting her
mother at 3Edge6eld, she sieIened, !,
apd died.
"Gray haired negroes who had been
her fathers slaves carried the caskes
in which she slept to the shade Of the
oaks, and there. beside the grave Of
her parent, another grave was waiting.
When the eesket was opened ct the
edge Of the. grave those who leaned to
take last look at the dead faoe Of the
woman saw about her neck beautiful
necklace which the eserina Of Russia
herself had hung there on the day the
golden -haired little girl left the
palace. ."-Chieago Inter. Ocean.