The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-06-10
SAID BEggELsy WAS p.:AlREop1sE.
a Promoter Who Told Fairey stories
or Mythical Town.

of Mythical Town.
The Charleston Post says the wilds
OF Berkeley county have never been
said to be the fine and glorious coun-
try, as one D. L. Risley, president of
the berkeley Railroad Company, has
represented the place to be, in his
efforts to induce settlers to buy pro.
perty and settle in the alleged flourish
ing colonies OF Chicora and Berkeley.
A few days ago Attorney Julian
Mitchell, Jr., representing William
Stofford, instituted proceedings :n the
United States circuit cor.o for re-
ceiver Of the Berkeley railroad and to
secure possession Of certain stock. The
numerous affidavitS which Mr.. Mitch
ell took in the preparation of the
papers to show that Risley is not the
proper party to manage the PROPERTY,
cast some interesting light on Risley's
character, and furnishes at the same
time some amusing reading. Never
before was Berkeley county represent
ed as a paradise" which Risley
claimed for 1t, and it will be news to
the public to learn that regular
weekly railroad service is operated
between Berkeley and Chicago. The
Berkeley railroad is a small affair,
running from Monck's Corner to Chi
cora, distance Of ten miles, and ac-
cording to one Garrit Dewipkel, a
llollander who sold out all his pro-
perty In. Minnesota and came South to
settle In Berkeley, upon Risley's rep
reSentations, the road is in such
condition that after getting the free
puss over the road which was given as
q further inducement for his settle
ment in South Carolina, he was afraid
to use it, and walked the distance OF
the road rather. than risk his life and
limbs on the cars.
The following affidavit Of Dewinkel
is similar to those filed with the court
which now has the matter under ad-
viSement, and 1T will be interesting
and amusing reading to those espec-
tally, who are acquainted with the
primitive conditions OF life and busi-
ness pursuits IN the county which is
pictured ia such glowing terms by the
promoter:
State Of South Carolina, Charleston
COUNTY Personally appeared Garrit
Dewirkel, who being duly sworn, says
he has been living at Springfield, Min
nesota. That he is a native OF Hol-
land, and not we'll acquainted with
the language and the country. That
he was induced by Mr.. d. L. Risley to
ccme down to Chicora, being induced
thereby by letters from Mr.. q. L
Risley to himself setting forth the
ilourishing colonies of Chicora and
Berkeley. That Berkeley was new
colony and that from the letters from
Mr.. d. L. Rsley and also from Mr.. j
L. Risley he came to the conclusion
that the country from its description
must be a paradise, and determined
to come down and buy farm. He
was also informed that they had
delightful house, barn, chicken house
and outbuildings which he could rent
very reasonable on the farm, and that
they also enclosed to him compli-
mentary pass over the Berkeley Rail
road Company. That efforts were
made to get him to pay down some
money before leaving his home, which
lie declined to do. That upon arriv-
ing at ChicOra he found no settle
ment at all at Berkeley, and none of
the facts stated in the letters to him
to be true, and that everything had
been misrepresented to him. That
the house they showed him was back
out In the wOods-there were no barn,
chicken house and 0utbuildings on the
farm and one could see through the
roof Of the house at almost every
point. That the railroad was in such
a condition that he was afraid to use
his complimentary pass and walked
back. That the whole thing as des-
cribed to him was fraud, and that
he, poor man, has been put to the
great expense Of using his savings to
come down for nothing That he in
tends to return to Minnesota. That
he sold out everything he owned in
the world at auction to come down
and buy this farm.
That he was also informed to bring
his machine and other appurtenances
Of bis trade as tailor-that he could
get number Of customers and do
lucrative business as tailor in this
new settlement. That on his trip up
to Chicora he never saw a single man
who had ever had a suit OF clothes
made or would ever have one made to
Jrdcr.
Found Charred Corpse.
Dotoptivnc Of Dalou,ro on,,rt, ,,l |